Link to:
Clerics | Photos & Coordinates | Sources
A small group of people held a church service in a cottage at 542 Maryland Street, between Sargent Avenue and Ellice Avenue in Winnipeg, on 9 November 1902. Initially a mission of the Young Methodist Church, it was formally established as the Maryland Street Methodist Church (later shortened to Maryland Methodist Church) on 28 April 1903 through the efforts of local resident Mary McKillop Dunfield (1852-1930).
Architectural plans for a church building to be built at the southwest corner of Maryland Street and Ellice Avenue were prepared by Joseph Greenfield and construction commenced in late 1903. The $3,500 facility was dedicated and opened by Rev. O. Darwin and Rev. Dr. Stewart on 3 January 1904. The congregation expanded quickly to fill the church’s 350-seat capacity, and less than two years later, the building was given a $10,000 expansion based upon designs of architect Henry E. Ewart. The church re-opened on 8 January 1906.
By October 1913, with Sunday School classes being held in three nearby buildings including the Icelandic Hall at the northwest corner of McGee Street and Sargent Avenue, further expansion of the church was warranted. Three ajoining lots were purchased and construction of a wood frame structure designed by John N. Semmens began in the spring of 1914. The new $65,000 edifice had a seating capacity for about 1,200 people. In 1935, the building was refurbished, repainted, and re-decorated but, by late 1942, the building needed repairs and the United Church decided there were sufficient other churches in close proximity to serve local demand. The final sermon was given by Rev. R. E. Spence on 27 December 1942, after which the congregants dispersed to other churches. By mid-1943, the manse was sold, the bell tower was disassembled, and the church building was demolished.
A memorial tablet honouring members of the Maryland Methodist Church congregation who were killed in the First World War was unveiled on 23 May 1920 by Lieutenant-Governor James Albert Manning Aikins. Its current location is unknown.
Period
Cleric
1902-1904
James Wilfred Melvin (1877-1965)
1904-1908
Robert Erastus Spence (1867-1957)
1908-1912
James Charles Walker (1858-1914)
1912-1916
Rev. Andrew Hamilton
1916-1919
James Lumb Batty (1860-1922)
1919-1922
Rev. A. S. Colwell
1923-1926
Eber Crummy (1852-1939)
1926-1929
Rev. George L. Waite
1929-1937
Ernest Howard Smith (1882-1940)
1937
Herbert Thomas Reynolds (1885-1951)
1937-1942
Rev. W. T. Brady
Maryland United Church (1943)
Source: Winnipeg Tribune, 15 June 1943, page 13.Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89637, W97.16016
denoted by symbol on the map above
Name
Occupation
Service
Rank
Birth Date
Death Date
George Herbert Armshaw
[Great West LIfe, Next of Kin]Clerk
78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Private
20 March 1897
9 April 1917
Norman Harold Bell
[Ashdown Hardware]Clerk
78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Private
26 January 1881
31 October 1916
John Percy Bradley
[Bank of Toronto, Next of Kin, Vimy Ridge]Bank Clerk
44th Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Private
31 August 1893
26 June 1917
Thomas Allan Bennett
Carpenter
78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Private
8 April 1895
11 August 1918
Charles Lloyd Cawston DCM
[Next of Kin]Carpenter
52nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Corporal
30 April 1891
14 August 1918
Alexander Hamilton Clegg
[Next of Kin]Soda Fountain Dispenser
5th Canadian Mounted Rifles
Private
25 March 1897
31 October 1917
Robert Hutton
[Next of Kin]Bricklayer
16th Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Private
3 February 1880
1 October 1918
Wesley Williams Irvine
[Brandon College, Hartney, Wawanesa, Wawanesa, Wesley College]Teacher
43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Lieutenant
5 April 1893
28 September 1918
George Harold Martin
[Lakeside, Neepawa, Neepawa Methodist, Newdale]Bank Clerk, Union Bank of Canada
31st Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Private
30 April 1897
6 November 1917
Robert Edgar Morley
[Next of Kin]Clerk
Canadian Corps Cyclist Battalion
Private
26 February 1894
10 November 1917
John Frederick Moody
[Next of Kin]Lather
44th Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Private
17 June 1884
25 October 1916
Robert Neazor
Railway Clerk
Canadian Cavalry Machine Gun Squadron
Private
16 August 1894
12 October 1918
John Orr
[Next of Kin]Clerk
8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Private
10 June 1889
29 April 1917
Garfield Russell
[Next of Kin]Lather
78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Private
10 September 1895
9 April 1917
William Benner Thorne
[Next of Kin]Clerk
78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Private
12 January 1898
29 October 1917
Avard Austin Wallace
[Next of Kin]Farmer
44th Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Private
19 July 1892
11 September 1916
David Wilson
[Carman, Next of Kin, Roseisle]Tinsmith
8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Private
3 September 1896
17 July 1915
Robert Brown Wilson
Sign Painter
43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry
Private
29 May 1889
21 September 1916
“Methodist extension,” Winnipeg Tribune, 31 August 1903, page 5.
“Sunday services [Maryland Street],” Winnipeg Tribune, 5 September 1903, page 11.
“Church opening,” Winnipeg Tribune, 2 January 1904, page 7.
“Maryland Street,” Winnipeg Tribune, 28 March 1904, page 3.
“Maryland church social,” Manitoba Free Press, 1 July 1904, page 14.
“Coming events [Owing to the church enlargement the Maryland Methodist Church ...],” Winnipeg Tribune, 23 November 1905, page 12.
“Street lamps in use,” Winnipeg Tribune, 8 January 1906, page 1.
“Maryland Methodist Church,” Winnipeg Tribune, 24 January 1906, page 4.
“Farewell sermon,” Winnipeg Tribune, 27 June 1908, page 16.
“Comes to Winnipeg from Leamington,” Manitoba Free Press, 29 June 1912, page 5.
“Want new church; subscribe $24,000,” Winnipeg Tribune, 23 January 1913, page 2.
“Maryland Methodists,” Manitoba Free Press, 10 October 1913, page 26.
“Maryland Methodists may build,” Manitoba Free Press, 5 June 1914, page 24.
“Sunday School in 3 buildings,” Winnipeg Tribune, 6 June 1914, pge 19.
“Twelfth anniversary,” Manitoba Free Press, 19 October 1914, page 16.
“The late Rev. J. C. Walker,” Winnipeg Tribune, 28 February 1914, page 24.
“Maryland Methodists make rapid strides forward,” Winnipeg Tribune, 1 July 1916, page 21.
“Maryland will unveil Honor Roll,” Winnipeg Tribune, 12 Mary 1917, page 37.
“Maryland Methodist progresses,” Winnipeg Tribune, 1 June 1918, page 25.
“Special services held at Maryland Church,” Manitoba Free Press, 25 May 1920, page 6.
“Maryland Methodist Church memorial to soldiers unveiled,” Winnipeg Tribune, 25 May 1920, page 10.
“Maryland Methodist Church,” Winnipeg Tribune, 21 January 1922, page 16.
“Maryland Methodist Church congregation welcomes new pastor,” Winnipeg Tribune, 16 September 1919, page 3.
“Pastor leaves to recuperate,” Winnipeg Tribune, 7 November 1922, page 10.
“Life found in love returned in service,” Winnipeg Tribune, 27 August 1923, page 9.
“Receives call,” Winnipeg Tribune, 22 May 1926, page 8.
“Pioneers of Maryland United Church,” Winnipeg Tribune, 19 February 1927, page 9.
“Will celebrate 25th birthday,” Winnipeg Tribune, 19 February 1927, page 9.
“Maryland United Church observes 25th anniversary,” Manitoba Free Press, 19 February 1927, page 22.
“Accepts call,” Winnipeg Tribune, 12 October 1929, page 16.
“Receives call,” Winnipeg Tribune, 6 November 1929, page 2.
“Sunday School will celembrate 28th birthday,” Winnipeg Tribune, 24 May 1930, page 16.
“Memorial meet to be held for church founder,” Winnipeg Tribune, 14 June 1930, page 27.
“Church will be reopened for services,” Winnipeg Tribune, 30 March 1935, page 15.
“Receives call,” Winnipeg Tribune, 10 April 1937, page 28.
“Receives call,” Winnipeg Tribune, 4 September 1937, page 32.
“"Propose sale of Maryland United Church,” Winnipeg Tribune, 22 September 1942, page 1.
“Closing service,” Winnipeg Tribune, 26 December 1942, page 4.
“Yuletide spirit is emphasized in Winnipeg church services,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 December 1942, page 5.
“Post-war problems confront Presbytery of United Church,” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 January 1943, page 3.
[Photo caption; Landmark to disappear], Winnipeg Tribune, 15 June 1943, page 13.
“News briefs,” Winnipeg Tribune, 3 july 1943, page 13.
“Curtain rung down on Maryland United,” Winnipeg Free Press, 21 September 1943, page 5.
“30 years ago - March 30, 1935,” Winnipeg Free Press, 30 March 1965, page 12.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
We thank Barbara Carson Jardine, Katherine Macedo, and Darryl Toews for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 21 October 2021
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