McDougall United Church explained

McDougall United Church
Coordinates:53.5397°N -113.4931°W
Location:
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 2B7
Denomination:United Church of Canada
Previous Denomination:Methodist
Website:mcdougallunited.com
Former Name:McDougall Methodist Church
Founded Date:1871
Founder:Robert Rundle
Dedication:George McDougall
Dedicated Date:1910
Status:Church
Functional Status:Functioning
Architect:H.A. Magoon
Style:Italianate
Materials:Brick

The McDougall United Church is a church located in Downtown Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, at 10086 MacDonald Drive NW.[1]

History

McDougall United Church was founded as a Methodist church in Edmonton. Methodists started coming to Alberta in 1840, when Robert Rundle came to Fort Edmonton. He was an itinerant missionary; later, another missionary by the name of Peter Campbell came to Edmonton in the 1860s. It was still 10 years before Edmonton had a resident Methodist. George McDougall established a school in 1871, to teach English to the children of the Hudson's Bay Company employees, because the most used languages then were French, Gaelic and Cree.[1]

The McDougalls were a family of Methodist missionaries: George and his son John started missions to the native people in Pakan (north east of Edmonton), and Morley (west of Calgary). After the smallpox epidemic of 1870, in which many of the McDougall women and children died, the survivors moved to Edmonton before moving to Morley. The second Methodist church was built in 1892 and called "McDougall Church" in honour of the now deceased founder.[2] The current brick McDougall Church was built in 1910 and dedicated to the honor of George McDougall.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Ivany, Kathryn. History Walks of Edmonton. Red Deer Press. 2004. 113, 114, 115. 0-88995-298-1.
  2. Book: Diamond Jubilee of McDougall United Church, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 1871-1931. 1931. 11.