Formerly located at the southwest corner of Hargrave Street and Qu’Appelle Avenue in Winnipeg, this church was designed by local architect Joseph Greenfield and built in 1882 by contractor John Alexander Girvin. Known originally as First Congregational Church, it was renamed Central Congregational Church in 1887.
In 1905, the church was enlarged with plans drawn up by local architect Alexander D. Melville and built at a cost of about $26,000. The following year, further alterations and an addition to the building, designed by the architectural firm of Darling, Pearson and Over, were built at a cost of about $40,000, with stonework completed by contractor William Horner and the rest being completed by the Claydon Brothers Construction which increased the seating capacity from 900 to 1,600 people.
The church was demolished in 1936 and the site is now occupied by a parking lot.
Among the clerics of the Central Congregational Church was James Logan Gordon (1905-1914).
Postcard view of the Central Congregational Church (circa 1910)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2015-0057Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89566, W97.14644
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Joseph Greenfield (1845-1910)
Memorable Manitobans: John Alexander Girvin (1851-1931)
Memorable Manitobans: Alexander D. Melville (1873-1949)
Memorable Manitobans: Walter Percy Over (1874-1944)
Memorable Manitobans: William Horner (1860-1916)
Manitoba Business: Claydon Brothers Construction Company / Claydon Construction Limited
“To contractors,” Manitoba Free Press, 21 February 1882, page 8.
“Will enlarge central church,” Manitoba Free Press, 6 July 1905, page 9.
“Unanimous for church extension,” Manitoba Free Press, 7 July 1905, page 7.
“The central congressional,” Manitoba Free Press, 6 December 1906, page 41.
The Churches of Early Winnipeg by James B. Hartman, Manitoba History, Number 45, Spring/Summer 2003.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Jordan Makichuk.
Page revised: 23 March 2024
Historic Sites of Manitoba
This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only.
Browse lists of:
Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | OtherInclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner.
Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes.
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca.Help us keep history alive!
