Historic Sites of Manitoba: St. Alban’s Anglican Church (486 Rathgar Avenue, Winnipeg)

Link to:
Clerics | Photos & Coordinates | Sources

No sooner was St. Luke's Anglican Church built in 1904 than attention turned to providing an Anglican facility for those living further south in Winnipeg. During the summer of 1906, two lots in the Lord Roberts area were purchased from real estate developer Martin T. McKittrick for the establishment of a mission church. Local fundraising began immediately and a new church building, designed by architect (and a member of St. Luke's) John Woodman, was constructed in the summer of 1907. It was a south-facing, one-storey, wood frame structure measuring 24 by 40 feet, with a small bell tower and three dormer windows on each site.

The first service in the new church was held on 8 September 1907. Just three years later, a large wing designed by architect Victor William Horwood was added to the existing structure, making it an L-shape with the altar in the east end. In 1911, a new room was added to the northwest corner, financed by the Women's Auxiliary, to providing a room for a meeting and sewing room. It was later used as a robing room by the women of the choir.

Plans to replace the original wooden church with a more substantial brick building were shelved due to financial pressures of the First World War and the Great Depression. However, in 1915, two additional lots were purchased from Martin T. McKittrick and only the church hall designed by architect David WIlliam Fair Nichols was built from his large plan on one of them. The space between the hall and church was used for tennis courts.

Fundraising to build a new church continued through the Great Depression and Second World War, motivated from earlier sketch plans by parishioner Gilbert C. Parfitt. Finally, in April 1947, approval was given to begin the project and Parfitt was approached about making working drawings for the building. He declined and the project languished until 1950 when architect Edgar Prain made new plans with his associate James Thomas Laurance “Laurie” Ward. The $60,000 building would adjoin the existing hall. J. R. Bugby Construction was the builder of the new church. The old building was then demolished.

The first sod for the new church was turned on 5 November 1950, the Grand Lodge of Manitoba laid its cornerstone on Whitsunday 1951, and the church was dedicated by Reverend Louis Ralph Sherman on 5 December 1951. A service of consecration, led by Reverend Walter Foster Barfoot, was held on 25 September 1957.

In 1957, church fundraising began again in earnest when the need for a better facility arose to house a Sunday School registration of around 400 children. Architect and parishioner Adrian Philip Wedding was one of the Church Wardens who oversaw the choosing of Ward and Macdonald as the architectural firm and general contractor A. Rebiffe Construction Company to demolish the old hall and build the new one on the site of the 1915 building. It was completed by March 1961.

In Spring 1998, when an aging congregation required better access to the altar, Adrian Philip Wedding designed a new altar at ground level from the sanctuary. Numerous other church volunteers assisted in its operation in manifold ways, including conducting Bible studies, tending to the boiler, and ensuring the security of the building.

The final service was held on 15 April 2007. After the church closed, its military Honour Rolls were transferred to St. Luke’s Anglican Church.

Clerics

Period	Cleric
1912	Rev. A. E. Cousins
1913-1914	Rev. J. Morris
1914-1923	Rev. H. Cawley
1923-1928	Rev. P. Heywood
1928-1962	Frederick Hughes (c1888-1971)
1962-1965	Rev. R. K. McKean
1965-1971	Rev. C. L. G. Rowland
1971-1973	Rev. R. H. Calderwood
1974-1982	Rev. T. Evison
1982-1992	Rev. J. Njegovan
1993-2005	Rev. D. Ball
2006-2007	Rev. V. Luke

Photos & Coordinates

The original St. Alban’s Anglican Church building (1910) Source: Jean Rockey / Steven Canvin St. Alban’s Anglican Church following additions in 1910 and 1911 (1912) Source: Jean Rockey / Steven Canvin St. Alban’s Anglican Church (1927) Source: Diocese of Rupert's Land. File W.008, © Diocese of Rupert’s Land. St. Alban’s Anglican Church (1947) Source: Jean Rockey / Steven Canvin Interior of the original St. Alban’s Anglican Church (no date) Source: Jean Rockey / Steven Canvin Interior of the new St. Alban’s Anglican Church (1951) Source: Diocese of Rupert's Land. File W.008, © Diocese of Rupert’s Land. Interior of the new St. Alban’s Anglican Church before alteration of the altar (1998) Source: Diocese of Rupert's Land. File W.008, © Diocese of Rupert’s Land. Interior of the new St. Alban’s Anglican Church after alteration of the altar (1998) Source: Diocese of Rupert's Land. File W.008, © Diocese of Rupert’s Land. Interior of the new St. Alban’s Anglican Church prior to the final service (April 2007) Source: Gail Singleton St. Alban’s Anglican Church (June 2020) Source: Jim Fryza St. Alban’s Anglican Church (June 2020) Source: Jim Fryza Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.86159, W97.13302 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: St. Luke’s Anglican Church (130 Nassau Street North, Winnipeg)

Sources:

The History of St. Alban’s Anglican Church Fort Rouge, Winnipeg by Rolyat, April 1948 [Diocese of Rupert’s Land, St. Alban’s, W.008, Research File: 4a].

In This Place: The First Hundred Years of the Parish of St. Luke, Winnipeg 1897-1997. Winnipeg: St. Lukes, 1997, pages 19-20.

We thank Jean Endersby Rockey (1928-2018), Steven Canvin, Jim Fryza, Gail Singleton, and the Diocese of Ruperts Land for providing information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 22 January 2023

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