St. Ann's Church - Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 42° 00.439 W 071° 30.108
19T E 292823 N 4653616
Historic former Catholic Church now art center in and social building in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
Waymark Code: WM4ZNB
Location: Rhode Island, United States
Date Posted: 10/18/2008
Views: 12
St. Anne's Church (R.C.), 84 Cumberland St., originally an offshoot of the
Precieux Sang Parish, is itself the mother church of three other churches in the
predominantly French Social district. It was dedicated in 1891. The architects
were W. F. Fontaine and Sons of Woonsocket. The church, a large buff-colored
stone structure with both Romanesque and Renaissance architectural features, is
rectangular in plan, with two high towers at the front corners. These towers
have large openings at the top, and are surmounted by classic cornices supported
by columns. The towers are surmounted by cupolas with arched openings and
pointed domes. The front facade with its portico, pedimented door, large arched
window over the entrance, and its parapet along the gable end, appears
impressive below the soaring corner towers. - Rhode Island: A
Guide to the Smallest State, 1937, Woonsocket section, pg. 316
The original church was dedicated in 1891, however the church described in
the Guide was built between 1913 and 1917.
The church was designed by Walter F. Fontaine in a modern French Renaissance
style. During the 1920 over 40 stained glass windows design and built by French
artists were installed. The interior walls, vaults, and ceilings of the church
were completely covered in fresco paintings by Guido Nincheri, a native of
Florence.
The parish added a convent in 1925 and a parish house in 1936 both also
designed by Fontaine.
In 2000 the Diocese of Providence announced the closure of St. Ann's and an
effort was made to save the building. That effort resulted in the formation of
the St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center. The center holds various social events,
banquet facility to preserve the historic building and its art.
The church was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.