First Presbyterian Church (Edmonton) Explained

Building Name:First Presbyterian Church
Location:
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 1C8
Religious Affiliation:Presbyterian Church in Canada
Status:Church
Architecture Style:Late Victorian Gothic Revival
Year Completed:1912
Architect:Wilson and Herrald
Capacity:>300
Materials:Red brick, Sandstone

First Presbyterian Church is a historic Presbyterian Church in Canada congregation and Gothic Revival church building in the city's downtown core of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.[1] [2] The congregation celebrated its 125th anniversary in November 2006.

History

The Organizational Meeting for this congregation was held on November 3, 1881, and the first building opened at 104 Street and 99 Avenue a year later. The second structure was completed and dedicated in July 1902 at 103 Street and Jasper Avenue. The present building was completed in November 1912.[3] In September 1978 the building was designated a Provincial Historic Resource.[4]

Notable ministers

A notable minister was The Rev. David George McQueen, DD, LLD who served for 43 years, starting in 1887 upon graduation from Knox College, University of Toronto, and guided the formation of numerous congregations in the area. He served as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1912 (hosted by First in the second building) and as "Interim Moderator" in 1925, before Ephraim Scott was elected to resume the "Continuing Presbyterian Church".[5] McQueen's predecessor and FPC's founding Minister was Rev. Andrew Browning Baird, DD, who arrived in Edmonton before the arrival of the railway, but left Edmonton for a professorship at Manitoba College (and like his successor, was also PCC Moderator, in 1916).

It is said that McQueen was a staunch opponent of Church Union in 1925, and that First Presbyterian Edmonton was the seat of the "rebellion" which saw 1/3 of the Presbyterian Church remain independent of the newly formed United Church of Canada.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Munro, Kenneth J. First Presbyterian Church, Edmonton: a history. 2004. Trafford Publishing. Victoria, B.C.. 978-1-4120-2337-5. 55973862. 2009-05-07.
  2. Web site: First Presbyterian Church, Edmonton . live . https://archive.today/20240416191810/https://hermis.alberta.ca/ARHP/Details.aspx?DeptID=1&ObjectID=4665-0514 . 2024-04-16 . 2024-04-16 . Alberta Register of Historic Places . Government of Alberta . Object Number: 4665-0514, Designation File: DES 0494, Heritage Survey File: HS 24094 . Alberta Culture and Community Spirit, Historic Resources Management Branch, Old St. Stephen's College.
  3. Web site: First Presbyterian Church (Edmonton, Alta.). Our Roots / Nos Racines. University of Calgary, Université Laval. 2006. 2007-06-30. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110615064147/http://www.ourroots.ca/e/page.aspx?id=858291. 2011-06-15.
  4. Web site: Historical Walking Tours of Downtown Edmonton. Edmonton. Alberta Community Development, Heritage Resource Management Branch
    The City of Edmonton, Planning and Development Department
    . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927220144/http://tprc.alberta.ca/heritage/resourcemanagement/archaeologyhistory/inventoryprograms/pdf/Edmonton2004.pdf. June 2004. 2007-09-27. 2009-05-07. 28.
  5. Web site: Historical Vignettes: Presbyterianism in Western Canada. 2003. The Presbyterian Church in Canada - Archives and Records Office. 2009-05-07. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110706193824/http://www.presbyterianarchives.ca/Exhibit1page5.html. 2011-07-06.