St. James United Church (Montreal)

Saint James United Church (French: Église Unie Saint-James) is a heritage church in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is a Protestant church affiliated with the United Church of Canada. It is located at 463 Saint Catherine Street West between Saint Alexandre and City Councillors Streets (McGill metro station), in the borough of Ville-Marie. It was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1996.[2][3]

St. James United Church
French: Église Unie Saint-James
St. James United Church on Saint Catherine Street in Downtown Montreal.
St. James United Church
45.5054°N 73.5686°W / 45.5054; -73.5686
Location1435, rue City Councillors
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
H3A 2E4
DenominationUnited Church of Canada
Previous denominationMethodist Church of Canada
Websitewww.stjamesmontreal.ca/
History
Statusactive
Founded1803
Architecture
Architect(s)Alexander Francis Dunlop
Architectural typeGothic Revival
Groundbreaking1887
Completed1889
Specifications
Capacity2,000
Number of spires2
Administration
PresbyteryQuebec Presbytery
SynodMontreal and Ottawa Conference
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)Rev. Arlen John Bonnar
Laity
Organist/Director of musicMr. Joel Peters and Mr. Norman Boie
Official nameSt. James United Church National Historic Site of Canada
Designated1996
Patrimoine culturel du Québec
TypeClassified heritage immovable
Designated1980
Reference no.92747[1]

The Gothic Revival church was designed by Montreal architect Alexander Francis Dunlop. It is noteworthy for its false apse housing church offices and for its Casavant Frères organ.

History

When it was built in June 1889, it was the largest Methodist church in Canada, with 2,000 seats; it was nicknamed the "Cathedral Church of Methodism." It now belongs to the United Church of Canada, into which the Canadian Methodists merged in 1925. Its congregation founded the first YMCA in North America on November 25, 1851 (before the present church building was built) and led an active campaign for women's suffrage early in the 20th century.

A World War I memorial window (1924) by Charles William Kelsey depicting a trench scene at St. James United Church (Montreal) was dedicated to 32 members who were killed overseas and 267 others who served in the Great War. The side lights represent the cardinal virtues, Justice, Prudence, Temperance and Fortitude.

In 1927, to cover upkeep costs, the church permitted a commercial building to be built in front of its Sainte Catherine Street façade. The building, adjoining the church's structure, concealed the church for over 78 years, the church itself being announced by a large neon sign.

In 2005, as part of an $8-million restoration effort sponsored by the city of Montreal and the Quebec government, a portion of the commercial buildings were demolished, once again revealing the facade of the church as well as a new public square designed by Quebec architect Claude Cormier.[4] Access has also been restored to the rear lawn from Sainte Catherine Street.

  • The church interior in 1892.
  • Church interior.
  • The church exterior in December, 2016.
  • Frontal view.
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See also

References
  1. Ministère de la Culture et des Communications. "Église Saint-James". Répertoire du patrimoine culturel du Québec.
  2. "St. James United Church". Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada. Parks Canada. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  3. St. James United Church. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  4. Affleck, Gavin, "IN FULL VIEW: PUBLIC SPACE IN MONTREAL", Canadian Architect.
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