St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church was established in Brandon in 1889. In 1902, the cornerstone of this stunning Gothic church was laid. The new church opened and was consecrated on August 29, 1903, with ceremonies being held over two days. The first designs were drawn by local architect W.H. Shillinglaw, however these plans were altered and then completed by St. Boniface architect Mr. C. Cusson. With its pointed arches, towers, and buttresses, the design boasts a distinctly Gothic style. Like other Gothic churches, the design places an emphasis on height; the church is surmounted by a majestic 40-metre steeple peaking at a cruciform finial. The main entrance is adorned with blazons and inscriptions. The exterior is decorated with brick corbelling and pointed windows with decorative sills and voussoirs. Also contributing to the detailed exterior are ornamental and stained glass windows.
St. Augustine’s houses a crypt in the basement, honouring parish priest Fr. William M. Godtz, who was one of numerous men to die of exposure in the harsh winter of 1904. The church is also home to a 1914 St. Hyacinthe Casavant Bros. organ. Major restorations to the church were completed in 2008.