COLEMAN, John J. (1837-1897) was active as both an architect and builder in St. John's, Nfld. from 1870 and much of his work was executed for the Roman Catholic Diocese in St. John's and elsewhere in the (then) colony of Newfoundland. He was '.... an architect of rare ability, and many of the churches and parochial residences, both in the diocese of St. John's and Harbour Grace, grew into graceful proportions under his supervision' (Evening Telegram [St. John's], 27 Sept. 1897, 4).
In 1877-78 he designed and built the parochial residence at King's Cove, Nfld. and was also involved in the design and construction of the presbytery at Brigus, Nfld., c. 1880. In 1877-80 he designed and supervised construction (with Charles Kickham) of St. Patrick's Hall, Queen's Road, St. John's, a Roman Catholic social club built for the Benevolent Irish Society (burned 1892; rebuilt by Greene & Pearson). His best known work was the Romanesque Revival design for the Chapel of the Sisters of Mercy, Military Road, St. John's, Nfld., 1892, situated immediately east of the Roman Catholic Cathedral. Coleman died in St. John's on 26 September 1897 (obit. Daily News [St. John's], 27 Sept. 1897, 4; inf. Shane O'Dea, St. John's).
KING'S COVE, NFLD., parochial residence for the Roman Catholic clergy, 1877-78 (list of works in obituary, Evening Telegram [St. John's], 27 Sept. 1897, 4)
RIVERHEAD, NFLD., design and construction of two altars inside St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, c. 1880 (list of works in obituary, Evening Telegram [St. John's], 27 Sept. 1897, 4)
MOUNT CARMEL, NFLD., Our Lady Roman Catholic Church, on the Salmonier River, c. 1880 (inf. Shane O'Dea, St. John's)
BRIGUS, NFLD., presbytery for a local church, c. 1880 (list of works in obituary, Evening Telegram [St. John's], 27 Sept. 1897, 4)
(with Charles Kickham) ST. JOHN'S, NFLD., St. Patrick's Hall, Queen's Road, for the Benevolent Irish Society of St. John's, 1877-80; burned 1892; rebuilt by Greene & Pearson (Terra Nova Advocate [St. John's], 27 Aug. 1879, 2, extensive architectural description, with credit to both John Coleman and Charles Kickham as architects; list of works in obituary, Evening Telegram [St. John's], 27 Sept. 1897, 4)
ST. JOHN'S, NFLD., Belvedere, a Roman Catholic Girl's Orphanage, Queen's Road, 1884-85 (Evening Telegram [St. John's], 24 April 1884, 2, t.c.)
ST. JOHN'S, NFLD., Roman Catholic Chapel for the Sisters of Mercy, Military Road, 1891-92 (Evening Herald [St. John's], 23 June 1892, 4, descrip.)