John E. Belcher

John Edward Belcher was born on 20 February 1834 in Cork, Ireland. He was educated at Queen's College Cork, and articled with his father, Samuel R. Belcher, who was also an architect. Belcher apprenticed with John Benson before emigrating to British North America in 1858. He built a number of Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian churches in Peterborough and its surrounding area. In 1885, despite being an Anglican, Belcher was appointed diocesan architect by the newly formed Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough. In this role, he expanded and renovated the Cathedral of St. Peter-in-Chains and built parish churches in Peterborough, Cobourg and Douro. Belcher married Clementina MacDonald in 1842 and they had four children. He died in Peterborough on 20 August 1915 and is buried in Little Lake Cemetery. ==Notable works==

• St. Luke's Church, Ashburnham, Ontario, 1877 (gutted by fire 1959) • Morrow Building, Peterborough, Ontario, 1879 • St. John the Evangelist Church (chancel and parish hall), Peterborough, Ontario, 1879–82 • Cathedral of St. Peter-in-Chains (sacristy and renovations), Peterborough, Ontario, 1884–85 • Market Hall, Peterborough, Ontario, 1889–90 • All Saints Church, Peterborough, Ontario, 1890–91 • Canadian Bank of Commerce, Peterborough, Ontario, 1892 • Pagoda Bridge, Jackson Park, Peterborough, Ontario, 1895 • Peterborough Collegiate, 1907 • Sacred Heart Church, Peterborough, Ontario, 1907–09 • Peterborough Public Library, Peterborough, Ontario, 1910–11, with William Blackwell (now part of Peterborough City Hall) ==Gallery==

File:Morrow Building, 442-448 George Street North on the corner of George and Brock St..jpg|Morrow Building File:St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, 118 Hunter Street, Peterborough, ON Canada. The hall of the church..jpg|St. John the Evangelist Church Parish Hall File:Ptbo clock tower.jpg|Market Hall File:Pagoda Bridge in beautiful Jackson Park..jpg|Pagoda Bridge, Jackson Park File:Pcvsfront.JPG|Peterborough Collegiate File:Église du Sacré-Coeur de Peterborough en Ontario BAnQ P748S1P2220.jpg|Sacred Heart Church ==References==