Holy Name of Jesus Complex
Why it's listed
Holy Name of Jesus Complex is a group of five brick buildings along Illinois Street in South Worcester, facing University Park. It served the third French Roman Catholic parish in the city, founded in 1893 to meet the needs of a growing French-Canadian population. The school, begun in 1893, is Romanesque Revival, and the church, finished in 1916 after funding delays, has paired towers and contrasting granite trim. The convent of the Sisters of St. Ann (1922-1924) and the rectory (completed 1928) are Georgian Revival. A brick garage was added later. Worcester architect O. E. Nault, who also designed other French-Canadian institutions in the city, is credited with the church and probably the other buildings. Rev. J. Edmund Perreault led the parish for thirty-two years, and it grew to one of the largest congregations in the diocese, with 900 students in the school. The complex was listed for its link to the French-Canadian community and for its architecture.
Significance in brief: It is tied to Worcester's French-Canadian community, as the third French Roman Catholic parish in the city, formed in 1893. It also has architectural value, with Romanesque Revival and Georgian Revival buildings designed by Worcester architect O. E. Nault. The nomination considers it locally significant and says it retains integrity.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 88000721, listed June 9, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Illinois St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | June 9, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000721 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1890-1925 |
| Architect / builder | O. E. Nault (architect of the church, and probably of all buildings in the complex) |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival (school and church) and Georgian Revival (convent and rectory) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Other-Ethnic |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | General condition is stated as good; present uses are church, school, convent, rectory and garage. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.24600, -71.82061 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 88000721.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5885822
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.