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Clerics | Photos & Coordinates | Sources
This Winnipeg church began as the Elmwood Mission which gathered at Martin School in November 1903 under the leadership of Thomas B. Kilpatrick, a professor at Manitoba College. The Elmwood Presbyterian Church was formed on 16 March 1904 with 19 charter members and Reverend Daniel Norman McLachlan (first appointed as a missionary) formally assuming Pastor duties in October 1904. Arising from the need for greater capacity, scouting began for a new church building, and a new site was identified on the west side of Kelvin Road (now Henderson Highway), just north of Riverton Avenue. A wooden frame structure was erected there in 1904 and expanded in 1907.
By 1912, that site was outgrown so the congregation acquired this Cobourg Avenue site and a new church was built in three phases. A stone basement, with seating for 700, was designed by architect George Gaspar Teeter and built between 1912 and 1913 by contractor James Worswick at a cost of about $13,500. It was dedicated on 18 May 1913, at which time the name was changed from Elmwood Presbyterian Church to King Memorial Presbyterian Church (shortened to King Memorial Church), in commemoration of the late John Mark King.
In 1914, the second phase, consisting of the expansion of the foundation with twin wings on the east and west sides, measuring 14 feet by 56 feet, was designed by Teeter and built by contractor Worswick at a cost of about $3,200. An $8,500 pipe organ was also installed at that time. During the First World War, 33 of the 273 congregants who served in the military were killed.
The congregation worshiped in a covered basement for 14 years while raising the necessary funds to complete their envisioned structure. In 1927, the third phase consisting of a superstructure designed by Teeter and built by contractor Arthur John Bonnett. The work began with a cornerstone-laying ceremony on 9 April 1927. The church was opened and dedicated by the congregation’s former Reverend McLachlan on 2 October 1927. With seating for 550 on the main floor and a further 200 in the gallery, the east and west wings were designed to allow a main sanctuary capacity increase to 1,000. When finished, the structure contained 25 classrooms for Sunday School classes. The total cost for the building was some $100,000, including around $66,000 for the new edifice.
The name was later changed to King Memorial United Church. Following a decision in March 1967, Winnipeg Presbytery approved the merger of the King Memorial United Church and Gordon United Church (commemorating cleric Andrew Gordon). After amalgamating in April 1967, the church was renamed to Gordon-King Memorial United Church.
Period
Cleric
1903-1904
Thomas Buchanan Kilpatrick (1857-1930)
1904-1920
Daniel Norman McLachlan (c1875-1943)
1920
Hugh John Robertson (1868-1952) (acting)
1920-1929
Edwin Gardiner Dunn Freeman (1890-1973)
1930-1942
David Gavin Paton (1892-1990)
1942-1947
Rev. William G. Berry
1947-1950
Rev. Harry S. Dodgson
1951-?
Rev. H. G. Tolton
?-?
Rev. Ernest P. Johnston
?-1967
?
1967-?
Rev. W. N. Higham
Gordon-King Memorial United Church (May 2017)
Source: George Penner
Gordon-King Memorial United Church (January 2024)
Source: Jordan Makichuk
Interior of Gordon-King Memorial United Church (May 2017)
Source: George PennerSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.91553, W97.11598
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: Andrew Gordon (1830-1922)
Memorable Manitobans: John Mark King (1829-1899)
Memorable Manitobans: George Gaspar Teeter (1874-1949)
Memorable Manitobans: James Worswick (1878-?)
Memorable Manitobans: Arthur John Bonnett (1874-1942)
“Ladies' Aid will be at home,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 January 1904, page 3.
“Sunday services in Winnipeg churches [Elmwood Mission],” Winnipeg Tribune, 16 July 1904, page 3.
“Elmwood,” Manitoba Morning Free Press, 18 January 1905, page 15.
“Site for church secured,” Winnipeg Tribune, 16 February 1911, page 5.
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 2928/1912, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“King Memorial Church,” Winnipeg Tribune, 10 May 1913, page 12.
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 722/1914, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“Rev M'Laughlan back to city,” Winnipeg Tribune, 11 July 1914, page 25.
“Rev M'Laughlan will come back,” Winnipeg Tribune, 20 June 1914, page 25.
“M'Lachlan praised for work as Pastor,” Winnipeg Tribune, 23 June 1920, page 3.
“Rev. Freeman, Toronto, called as Pastor of King Memorial Church,” Winnipeg Tribune, 21 September 1920, page 13.
“Fire damages former Elmwood church home,” Winnipeg Tribune, 11 December 1922, page 5.
“Board will consider building new church,” Winnipeg Tribune, 5 November 1926, page 18.
“King Memorial plans for new church edifice,” Winnipeg Tribune, 26 February 1927, page 14.
City of Winnipeg Building Permit 634/1927, City of Winnipeg Archives.
“King Memorial corner stone will be laid,” Winnipeg Tribune, 9 April 1927, page 2.
“Church to buy $8,500 organ,” Winnipeg Tribune, 13 April 1927, page 6.
“King Memorial Church edifice is complete,” Winnipeg Tribune, 24 September 1927, page 18.
“New Elmwood Church,” Manitoba Free Press, 1 October 1927, page 20.
“King Memorial Church to hold dedication meet,” Winnipeg Tribune, 1 October 1927, page 10.
“King Memorial will celebrate 32nd birthday,” Winnipeg Tribune, 3 October 1936, page 15.
“King Memorial congregation to celebrate,” Winnipeg Tribune, 6 October 1934, page 6.
“36th anniversary,” Winnipeg Tribune, 5 October 1940, page 8.
“King Memorial induction Thursday,” Winnipeg Tribune, 4 November 1942, page 13.
“King Memorial United,” Winnipeg Tribune, 29 January 1943, page 5.
“Farewell services at King Memorial,” Winnipeg Free Press, 21 June 1947, page 10.
“Rev. H.S.Dodgson to succeed Berry,” Winnipeg Free Press, 21 June 1947, page 10.
“Rev. H.S. Dodgson,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 December 1950, page 8.
“Pastor expected at King Memorial by June 1,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 March 1951, page 17.
“King Memorial United Church,” Winnipeg Free Press, 2 October 1954, page 31.
“Rev. H. Dodgson Still at Knox,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 July 1962, page 39.
“Gordon-King Memorial holds first service,” Winnipeg Free Press, 8 April 1967, page 30.
We thank Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer, Gordon Goldsborough, and George Penner.
Page revised: 24 May 2024
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