Early Beginnings
The first St. Peter's was erected in 1924 at the intersection of Parent and Niagara Streets, serving the Windsor Maronite community for decades. In 1976, the Antonine Maronite Order established its first Ontario Maronite mission in Windsor, strengthening the community's roots in the region.
Our Church Building
The current church building at 166 Tecumseh Road West was completed in 1931, designed by renowned local architect Albert H. Lothian. Originally built as St. Clare of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, it is Windsor's most outstanding Art Deco style building and is believed to be the only Art Deco church of its kind in Canada.
The structure features intricately patterned buff-coloured brick with an imposing aluminium-clad bell tower reaching 30 metres. Lothian designed every detail of the interior, from the light sconces and pews to the painted Stations of the Cross.
A New Chapter
By the late 1990s, the St. Clare of Assisi parish faced declining membership and the building was threatened with demolition. In 2000, St. Peter's Maronite Catholic Church purchased and restored the property, ensuring its continuance as an exceptional house of worship and preserving a landmark of Canadian architectural heritage.
Heritage Designation
The church received Municipal Heritage Designation under the Ontario Heritage Act on March 19, 2001, and was listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places on January 18, 2008. It is protected by City of Windsor By-law 99-2001.
Today
St. Peter's Parish continues to be a vibrant Maronite Catholic community serving Windsor and the surrounding areas, celebrating the Divine Liturgy in both English and Arabic and carrying forward the rich traditions of the Maronite Church.