A Catholic Parish on Sherman Avenue Since 1906

Humble beginnings

St. Ann Parish was established in 1906, as part of the observance of the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Hamilton. At the time of its founding, our parish was composed of 45 families.

The influx of workers to the industrial port of Hamilton saw the parish quickly grow, and within two decades a larger building was needed.

Building our church

On June 17, 1923, the cornerstone of the current building was laid in a ceremony presided over by the Most Reverend J. O’Brien, Bishop of Peterborough. Completed in just 397 days, the church was blessed and officially opened on May 11, 1924 by His Grace Archbishop N. McNeil of Toronto, with 1,500 in attendance.

Built in the shape of a cross, our church comfortably seats 850 people. The floor gently slopes toward the altar, and the roof rests on steel beams and two-foot-thick walls rather than columns, so there is a clear view of the sanctuary from every pew.

Standing the test of time

Most of the original furnishings at St. Ann’s are preserved and still in use today. The altar rails and all of the pews are original quarter-sawn oak.

The altar and shrines are crafted from white marble and scagliola and remain in their original form. The tabernacle is original and was professionally restored in 2024.

The church’s design and decoration reflect the Great Shrine of St. Anne in Beaupré, Quebec.