Architect of City Hall, St Mary’s Cathedral

The Very Reverend Ignatius Cory Scoles SJ. Priest, Architect, Missionary, Painter And Writer

By Lennox JuLian Hernandez

Rev Ignatius Scoles (1834-1896)

December 23 this year would be the 125th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone for City Hall, Georgetown. And July 1, 2014 (just over two years away) would be the 125th anniversary of the official opening of this iconic building in our capital city.

One naturally assumes that the relevant authorities have begun preparing for the celebration of these two related events. This first article preceding the celebration of these events looks briefly at the life of the architect of City Hall, Rev Ignatius Cory Scoles SJ, who came to what was then British Guiana as a Catholic priest.

The City Hall, opened July 1, 1889, is Rev Scoles’ most important contribution to Guyana’s architectural heritage. Scoles designed the building and supervised its construction: he had entered a competition for the design of a Town Hall in Georgetown and won the BG$50.00 prize.

Then Mayor James Thompson, in welcoming Governor Rt Hon Viscount Gormanston KCMG, who opened the building, tells us of the high regard they had for the newly built City Hall and its architect:

” … The talent of the Very Reverend Ignatius Scoles has in many ways helped to elevate the standard of taste in architectural talent; but in the Town Hall he has surpassed all his former efforts and placed upon us a debt of gratitude which we shall hand down to our successors …” (CatholicStandard, March 1957)

Reverend Scoles

Rev Scoles first came to British Guiana in 1868 and spent six years. He returned in 1880 and died in July 15, 1896. He was also a self-taught painter and a writer.

The eldest son of architect Joseph John Scoles FRIBA, Reverend Ignatius Scoles was born in Hammersmith, London, December 1, 1834. His father was at the time engaged in the construction of the Catholic Church at St Ignatius in Preston, and it is said that this is how the Reverend got his name. He attended schools at Hodder and Stonyhurst, and later became a pupil in his father’s architectural practice; he was elected an associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects in1856.

However, his religious calling was stronger than his architectural interests were; he began his novice ship on October 9, 1860 and was ordained in September 1866.Two years later, he came to British Guiana, having volunteered for mission service overseas.

St Mary’s Cathedral: Scoles’ crucifixion painting over sanctuary arch

Rev Scoles’ missionary work had top priority: he spent many days with the poor and often slept for only a few hours; he was always busy with his instruction classes and visits to homes. He served on a committee for the prevention of cruelty to children and seemed to have much influence over his congregation. Scoles’ hard work and dedication to the Catholic Church was recognised, and he served long years as vicar-general and administrator of St Mary’s Cathedral (predecessor to the current cathedral).

The majority of Rev Scoles’ architectural works were for the Catholic Church, not only in Guyana, but also in his homeland and in at least two Caribbean islands. In Great Britain, his earliest work is said to be the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows, St Bueno, Flintshire in 1866, done during his theological studies. Another example is St Wilfred Church in Preston, Lancashire, where he made improvements and additions (1878-1880) to the building.

In the Caribbean, he designed the Catholic cathedral in Castries, St Lucia, and did some works at the Ursuline Convent in Barbados.

His early contribution to ecclesiastical architecture in Guyana was the interior decoration to St Mary’s Cathedral on Brickdam, unfortunately destroyed by fire in 1913. This building, constructed 1868-1871, was designed by Cesar Castellani,and Rev Scoles designed the pulpit, the marble high altar, the sanctuary and other internal features. Rev Scoles also designed a metal shrine to the Virgin Mary that was placed in the topmost pinnacle of the steeple. The statue survived its fall during the fire of 1913 and now adorns the western entrance to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Brickdam.

Scoles also put his ability in painting to use for the church: at St Mary’s, some examples include the painting above the sanctuary arch and paintings on the walls, including fullsized panels near the altar. Elsewhere, his paintings decorated the churches at Moruca and Henrietta.

Credit must also be given to Rev Scoles for his contribution to the written history of our architecture. In particular, his 1885 article entitled ‘The Architecture of Georgetown’, published in the Timehri journal. Scoles’ love of writing allows us to read of his observations during the construction of the greenheart foundation for St Mary’s Cathedral in 1868: his comments even include the chant rendered by the labourers as they worked. Scoles did not write on architecture only – he was zealously interested in the country: its people, scenery, flowers, and all things generally. He contributed articles to the local newspaper, some of which were later reissued in book form in 1885 with the title “Sketches of African and Indian Life in British Guiana”. (Taken from Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)