Well, it was intentional - yes. There is a story behind the mess. But it's a rural story, not an urban one. It was supposed to be down by the water originally... but it was - and I kid you not - purposely moved to the top of the hill solely to diminish the Basilica. (Danny Williams was our first Premier FROM St. John's. You can't imagine what it was like from 1949 until the 2000s in a province where the capital voted overwhelmingly against joining Confederation, and rural, overwhelmingly Anglican areas, mostly for it. There was a lot of payback.).
So The Rooms, in its current location, is an Anglican shot across the bow against the appearance that Catholics dominate St. John's. On purpose. And, hilariously, officially opened by Danny.
ANYHOW, my point is... you won't "get it" from visiting St. John's. You'll get it if I take ya out into the middle of nowhere to fishing villages.