Historic Sites of Manitoba: Kildonan Presbyterian Church and Cemetery (201 John Black Avenue, Winnipeg)

Link to:
Clerics | Photos & Coordinates | Sources

In 1854, the first Presbyterian Church in Western Canada was completed. It was erected by stonemason Duncan McRae under the direction of Reverend John Black, first resident Presbyterian minister. Black came to Kildonan in 1851, 37 years after the arrival of the first Presbyterian settlers from Scotland. Prior to this event the settlers attended Church of England (Anglican) services. A plaque was erected near the church by the Historic Sites Advisory Board of Manitoba. The church building is a provincially- and municipally-designated historic site.

Among the noteworthy people buried in this cemetery are A. G. B. Bannatyne, John Black, George Bryce, Charles W. Gordon, John M. King, James McDiarmid, Gilbert McMicken, Margaret S. McWilliams, Roland F. McWilliams, Alexander Ross, James Ross, and John Sutherland.

Honours rolls for congregants who served and were killed in the First World War and Second World War are displayed at the nearby Nisbet Hall.

Clerics

Period	Cleric
1851-1882	John Black (1818-1882)
1882-1886	John Pringle
1886-1889	W. H. Spence
1890-1892	C. D. McDonald
1892-1896	William McKinley
1897-1908	J. H. Cameron
1908-1918	Hugh Hamilton (1863-1941)
1918-1925	D. D. Millar
1926-1927	W. J. Forbes-Robertson
1928-1932	John Hart
1932-1936	Supply
1936-1948	P. Ferguson McSween
1948-1953	Donald E. Flint
1953-1956	P. Montgomery
1956-1961	?
1961-1966	D. C. Hill
1967-1969	M. Melton
1970-1981	James D. Marnoch
1981-1991	Dennis I. Carrothers

Photos & Coordinates

Kildonan Presbyterian Church (1882) Source: Kildonan Presbyterian Church Kildonan Presbyterian Church (no date) Source: Archives of Manitoba (MHS 1979 Photo Exhibit) Aerial view of Kildonan Presbyterian Church and Cemetery (June 2021) Source: George Penner Kildonan Presbyterian Church (May 2010) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Interior of Kildonan Presbyterian Church (June 2017) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Stained glass window in Kildonan Presbyterian Church (May 2018) Source: George Penner First World War Honour Roll of Kildonan Presbyterian Church (November 2019) Source: Nathan Kramer Second World War Honour Roll of Kildonan Presbyterian Church (November 2019) Source: Nathan Kramer Kildonan Presbyterian Cemetery (May 2010) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.95305, W97.09902 denoted by symbol on the map above

First World War Casualties

Name	Occupation	Service	Rank	Birth Date	Death Date
Donald Gordon [Next of Kin]	Gardener	8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry	Private	6 August 1896	16 April 1915
James Masterton [Brandon Armoury, Next of Kin, Typographical Union]	Printer	78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry	Company Quarter Master Sergeant	27 January 1873	9 April 1917
William Gladstone Murray	Farmer	16th Battalion, Canadian Infantry	Private	5 January 1897	16 August 1918
William Alfred Winch [Next of Kin]	Automobile Mechanic	8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry	Private	7 July 1888	2 September 1918

Second World War Casualties

Name	Service	Rank	Birth Date	Death Date
William Brodie Anderson DFC [St. John’s College]	429 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force	Squadron Leader	26 February 1914	8 June 1944
James Robert Booth	115 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force	Flying Officer	5 March 1923	28 January 1944
John M. Brown	?	?	?	?
Richard Alexander Angus McDonald	HMCS Valleyfield, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve	Able Seaman	24 January 1924	7 May 1944
William Milton McDonald	Royal Canadian Air Force	Leading Aircraftman	12 September 1904	16 June 1941
William Moar	?	?	?	?
Owen Parsons	434 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force	Sergeant	5 May 1920	14 October 1944
William Reading	?	?	?	?
Lloyd George Sinclair	77 (RAF) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force	Sergeant	18 March 1919	21 September 1941
Rolla Louis Thompson	Regina Rifle Regiment, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps	Rifleman	6 December 1919	18 February 1945
Edward Allenby Vince	8 Provost Company, The Canadian Provost Corps	Lance Corporal	14 February 1921	18 July 1944

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Provincially Designated Historic Sites

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Municipally Designated Historic Sites

Sources:

“Minister holds farewell service at Old Kildonan,” Winnipeg Tribune, 12 September 1932, page 3.

“Congregation to consider appointment of Pastor,” Winnipeg Tribune, 13 September 1932, page 2.

“Rosedale United to name Pastor at an early date,” Winnipeg Free Press, 13 September 1932, page 3.

“Kildonan Presbyterians postpone calling pastor,” Winnipeg Free Press, 24 June 1933, page 12.

“Kildonan Presbyterian,” Winnipeg Tribune, 17 January 1935, page 16.

Old Kildonan Presbyterian Cemetery, Manitoba Historic Resources Branch

A list of burials in this cemetery is available from the Manitoba Genealogical Society, including a searchable online database available to members at the MGS Manitoba Name Index (MANI). Some additional information is contained in the 1996 MGS publication Carved in Stone: Manitoba Cemeteries and Burial Sites, revised edition, Special Projects Publication, 106 pages.

We thank Nathan Kramer and George Penner for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 2 September 2023

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