Historic Sites of Manitoba: St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church / St. Paul’s United Church / Central United Church (321 Eighth Street, Brandon)

Link to:
Clerics | Photos & Coordinates | Sources

In 1900, a brick church building was constructed at this site on Eighth Street in Brandon to replace a small, one-storey structure dating back to the 1880s. Designed by local architect Walter H. Shillinglaw and completed in January 1901, with seating capacity for over 1,000 people, the congregation of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church voted in 1925 to join the United Church of Canada, becoming St. Paul’s United Church. In July 1969, it united with First United Church to become Central United Church, the largest United church in western Manitoba.

Destroyed by fire in June 1986, the present church building that incorporates some elements from the preceding building was constructed on the same site on a design by noted architect Étienne-Joseph Gaboury. In January 2022, the congregation decided to disband as a result of declining attendance. The final service was held on 24 April 2022 and the building was put up for sale.

Clerics (St. Paul’s Presbyterian)

Period	Cleric
c1880-1882	Rev. J. Ferries
1882-1887	James Moffat Douglas (1839-1920)
1888-1894	Rev. A. Urquhart
1894-1903	Rev. A. E. Henry
1903-?	Rev. R. W. Dickie
?-1907	Rev. Duncan McLeod
1907-1925	Rev. J. George Miller

Clerics (St. Paul’s United / Central United Church)

Period	Cleric
1925-?	Rev. J. George Miller
?-1931	Rev. Philip Duncan
1931-?	?
?-?	Rev. G. MacGregor Grant
?-?	Rev. H. E. D. Ashford
?-?	Rev. George Goth
?-?	Rev. Walter Spence
?-?	Rev. J. C. Cronin
?-?	Rev. Kenneth Micklethwaite
?-?	Rev. W. C. Davis
?-1968	Wallace Ross Donogh (1887-1968)

Photos & Coordinates

Postcard view of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church in centre with First Methodist Church at left (circa 1912) Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2021-0096 Postcard view of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church (circa 1910) Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2014-0061 Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.84507, W99.94830 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: Walter Henderson Shillinglaw (1864-1957)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: First Presbyterian Church (339 Twelfth Street, Brandon)

Sources:

Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.

“Two churches amalgamate as Central United Church,” Brandon Sun, 28 June 1969, page 5.

“Central United burns,” Brandon Sun, 26 June 1986, page 1.

James Moffat Douglas, Dictionary of Canadian Biography.

Our Past, Central United Church.

St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Heritage Brandon.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 15 October 2022

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. SEARCH the collection Browse lists of: Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | Other Inclusion 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. Search Tips | Suggest an Historic Site | FAQ Help us keep history alive!