Joseph Connolly

He is known for the churches he designed throughout Ontario, mainly for the Irish Roman Catholic community, though he also produced some industrial and residential buildings.

• Name — Joseph Connolly • Born — 1840 • Birthplace — Limerick, Ireland • Died — 1904 • Significant Buildings — Church of Our Lady Immaculate, Guelph, St. Peter's Cathedral Basilica, London, St. Paul's Basilica, Toronto • Illustration — Ontario's Historical Plaque For Joseph Connolly

After completing training with James Joseph McCarthy, the 'Irish Pugin', Joseph Connolly advanced to become McCarthy's chief assistant in the 1860s and subsequently went on a study tour through Europe. He started a practice in Dublin in 1871, but moved shortly after to Toronto where he partnered with surveyor Darrin Martin, an association that lasted until 1877. From the 1880s, he worked with Arthur W. Holmes. Joseph Connolly died of bronchial asthma in 1904.

Though he also designed secular buildings, Connolly is known for his Gothic Revival churches. He emulated J.J. McCarthy and George Ashlin, the most successful Roman Catholic church architects in Ireland during Connolly's formative years. His work bears some similarities to his contemporaries in Ireland such as William Hague.

• Church Name — Location — Year Completed — Image • St. John the Evangelist Church — Arthur, Ontario — 1874. — • Illustration — St. John the Evangelist Church • Church of the Immaculate Conception — Formosa, Ontario — 1875. — • Illustration — Church of the Immaculate Conception • St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church — Hamilton, Ontario — 1875. — • Illustration — St Patrick Catholic Church, Hamilton - Exterior • St. Peter Church — Ayton, Ontario — 1876. — • Illustration — St. Peter Church • Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate — Guelph, Ontario — 1877-1926 — • Illustration — Church of Our Lady Immaculate, Guelph • St. Joseph's Church — Macton, Ontario — 1878. — • Illustration — St. Joseph's Church • James Street Baptist Church — Hamilton, Ontario — 1879. — • Illustration — James Street Baptist Church • St. Peter's Cathedral Basilica — London, Ontario — 1877-1926 — • Illustration — St Peters Basilica • St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church — Toronto, Ontario — 1881-1905 — • Illustration — St. Mary's Church, Toronto • St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral — Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan — 1881. — • Illustration — St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral • St. Patrick's Church — Kinkora, Ontario — 1882. — • Illustration — St Patrick's Church • Holy Cross Church (now Église Sacré-Coeur) — Georgetown, Ontario — 1885 — • Illustration — Église du Sacré-Cœur - Georgetown, ON • St. Basil's Church addition — Toronto, Ontario — 1886. — • Illustration — St. Basil's Church, Toronto • St. Joseph's Church — Chatham, Ontario — 1886 — • Illustration — St. Joseph's Church, Chatham • St. Mary's Cathedral enlargement — Kingston, Ontario — 1889 — • Illustration — St. Mary's Cathedral, Kingston • Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church — Kemptville, Ontario — 1889 • St. Paul's Basilica — Toronto, Ontario — 1889 — • Illustration — St. Paul's Basilica, Toronto • St. Michael's Cathedral redecoration and alterations — Toronto, Ontario — 1890 — • Illustration — St. Michael's Cathedral (Toronto) • St. Paul's Church — Dornoch, Ontario — 1890. — • Illustration — St. Paul Church - Dornoch • St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church — Gananoque, Ontario — 1891. — • Illustration — St. John's Catholic Church, Town of Gananoque • St. Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Church — Picton, Ontario — 1892 — • Church of the Good Thief — Kingston, Ontario — 1892 — • Illustration — Church of the Good Thief, Kingston