Adrianus Cyriacus Bleys, sometimes spelled Bleijs, was born in Hoorn in 1842 as the son of a carpenter. He received his education as an architect at the Royal Arts Academy in Antwerpen, Belgium, where he graduated in 1864, after which he worked at the office of P.J.H. Cuypers for a while as a drawer. A disagreement with his boss got him fired, after which he set up his own office in Hoorn.
Bleys was one of only a few catholic architects who did not totally comply to the neo-Gothic standard for catholic churches. Although he built several neo-Gothic churches he became best known for churches in other styles. Some are neo-Romanesque style, others are neo-Renaissance, a style that was typical for protestant churches at that time, not for catholic ones. Besides churches, of which he built fourteen, he designed numerous other buildings, including two hospitals in Amsterdam.
In 1903 Bleys quit architecture and became a civil servant in 's-Hertogenbosch. He died in Kerkdriel in 1912.

The following is an incomplete list of his work.

1872 Hoorn (NH): cemetary chapel

Small chapel in neo-Gothic style.

1877-1878 Nibbixwoud (NH): church St. Cunera

Three-aisled neo-Gothic cruciform basilica in a style that resembles that of A. Tepe.

1877-1879 Gouda (ZH): church O.L. Vrouw ten Hemelopneming

Three-aisled neo-Gothic cruciform basilica. Stepped gables on the transept. Demolished in ca. 1965.

1880-1882 Hoorn (NH): church St. Cyriacus en Franciscus

Cruciform basilica in neo-Renaissance style. Crossing-tower with dome. Front with two polygonal towers.

1882 Diemen (NH): presbytery

No further details.

1884-1887 Amsterdam (NH): church St. Nicolaas

Cruciform basilica in neo-Renaissance style. Crossing-tower with dome. In many ways a bigger and more refined version of the church in Hoorn, only with two square towers at the front.

1887 Assendelft (NH): church St. Odulphus

Cruciform basilica in neo-Romanesque style. Main entrance in transept.

1888-1890 Amsterdam (NH): Sint Elisabethgesticht

Hospital consisting of several buildings, including a chapel, a presbytery and a Lourdescave.

1888-1892 Bussum (NH): villa Gooilust

No further details.

Three-aisled cruciform basilica in neo-Romanesque style.