Historic Sites of Manitoba: Sperling United Church (Sperling, RM of Morris)

This building in Sperling, in the Rural Municipality of Morris, was constructed by volunteer labour in 1943 using lumber salvaged from the former church building. That structure, originally a Methodist Church built in 1903, became a United Church following the 1925 unification of Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregational faiths in Canada. The church closed in 1993. The building was sold and renovated into a private residence and art studio.

Among the clerics who served at Sperling United Church were H. Gilbert, Manson Doyle, Dr. Coleman, D. Clare, William Bunt, A. Farnsworth, Graham Tench, and J. F. Palmer.

An Honour Roll listing Sperling community members killed during military service in the First World War, once displayed in the church, is in the possession of a Sperling Legion member.

The former Sperling United Church

The former Sperling United Church (Fall 2011)
Source: Lorne Thompson, RM of Morris

The former Sperling United Church

The former Sperling United Church (Fall 2011)
Source: Lorne Thompson, RM of Morris

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.50699, W97.70482
denoted by symbol on the map above

Community Members Killed during the First World War

Name

Occupation

Service

Rank

Birth Date

Death Date

James Paton Buchanan

Farmer

28th Company, Canadian Forestry Corps

Private

9 October 1890

17 October 1918

John McPherson Buchanan

Farmer

43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Lance Corporal

11 November 1884

22 February 1918

Henry Alexander “Sandy” Burnett

Farmer

1st Canadian Mounted Rifles

Private

2 April 1898

7 April 1917

D. Campbell

?

?

?

?

?

Noah Davison

Farmer

16th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

4 August 1890

25 September 1916

Frederick Foote
[Rosery School]

Farmer

78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

26 September 1880

9 April 1917

Morley William George Hobbs
[Pharmacy]

Farmer

1st Depot Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

28 March 1898

20 August 1918

George Clarence Kinnear

Laborer

44th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

25 August 1892

11 May 1917

Fitzroy Donald Maclean

Farmer

2nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Corporal

20 July 1895

9 November 1917

Wesley Webster Manary

Teamster

78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Lance Corporal

19 June 1887

31 October 1917

William Smith Marshall

Clerk

10th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

1892

9 April 1917

George Mellis

Farm Servant

2nd Battalion, Scots Guards, British Army

Private

1883

20 March 1915

Alfred Ernest Morison
[Electric Railway, Roland]

Conductor

78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

28 February 1891

9 April 1917

Wilmot Smith

Butcher

50th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

17 November 1881

10 April 1917

James Wilson

?

?

?

?

?

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Sperling War Memorial (Sperling, RM of Morris)

Sources:

Carman Larger Pastoral Charge, Church History.

We thank Ralph Groening (Rural Municipality of Morris) for providing information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Darryl Toews.

Page revised: 30 January 2024

Historic Sites of Manitoba

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