Alberta Register of Historic Places

McDougall United Church

Edmonton

Other Names:

Statement of Significance

Description of Historic Place
The McDougall United Church is a two-and-a-half storey brick church built in the Italianate style. It is situated on a prominent corner in downtown Edmonton near the edge of the river valley at 10025-101 Street. The main façade is centred on the gable end of the auditorium and features a central entrance, flanked by square towers of different height on the northwest and southwest corners. The building is anchored by the southwest bell tower, which rises three storeys with louvred openings on the bell chambers and a bracketed cornice. Pilasters divide the north and south walls into bays consisting of arched and segmented windows, while an intersecting gable wing extends from the south wall.

Heritage Value
The heritage value of the McDougall United Church rests in its association with the establishment of early religious institutions in Alberta. It is further significant as an example of early twentieth-century ecclesiastical architecture, and for its identity as a landmark cultural facility in Edmonton.
McDougall United Church represents one of the oldest religious institutions in Alberta. The earliest church on this site was a modest wood structure established by Reverend George McDougall in 1873. The church was part of a larger effort by McDougall to anchor the Methodist church in Alberta on a permanent rather than itinerant basis as the region transitioned from the fur trade to agricultural settlement. A second wood-frame church was erected in 1892 to accommodate growth in the congregation. During the pre-World War One settlement boom in Alberta, Edmonton’s population swelled and a much larger place of worship was needed. The current church opened in November 1910 and was at that time one of the largest Methodist churches in Western Canada. In 1925 the church became known as the McDougall United Church after Methodists, Congregationalists and Presbyterians joined to form the United Church of Canada. The McDougall United Church is thus associated with one of the earliest and longest-active Protestant congregations in Alberta, and has long been an essential part of the province’s religious and social history.
Designed by prominent architect H.A. Magoon, McDougall United Church is a commanding structure built on a scale that reflects the aspirations of a booming, pre-World War One Edmonton. The towers give the church a massive presence, while features such as the pediment-like gable end, brick pilasters, rusticated brick piers flanking the main entrance, and bracketed cornice on the southwest tower reflect the influence of classical architecture on the church’s elegant form. The relatively unadorned interior of the church features elements common to early twentieth-century Methodist churches in Alberta. The rectangular plan, high vaulted ceiling and numerous windows create a sense of spaciousness and grandeur, while the auditorium-style seating and U-shaped upper balcony optimized space, maximized the visibility of the service for worshipers, and helped to foster an atmosphere of community and fellowship within the congregation. The kitchen and banquet hall in the basement provided additional space for church and neighbourhood events, further contributing to the building’s role as a social gathering space. The interior design thus reflects the modest, egalitarian and participatory nature of Methodist worship, while the scale and grandeur of the building convey the optimism of a growing congregation in the heart of one of western Canada’s major urban centres.
Over the course of its history, the McDougall United Church has served not only as a place for religious worship, but also as an important social and cultural centre. The facility has hosted a number of significant events, including political debates and rallies for social justice. It is also well-known for its superb acoustics and represents one of the city’s premier music performance venues.

Character-Defining Elements
The character-defining elements of the McDougall United Church include its:
- siting at a prominent corner location in downtown Edmonton;
- form, scale, and massing;
- main façade consisting of auditorium gable with returning eaves; large round-arched window with prominent keystone; and raised one storey main entrance with rusticated brick piers and paired windows;
- red brick exterior;
- concrete string courses and keystones;
- pressed metal cornices;
- fenestration, window pane arrangement, and glass;
- door openings, doors and hardware;
- brick pilasters;
- louvred openings on the southwest bell tower;
- configuration of plan;
- large, open worship space with slightly-sloped floor overlooked by a U-shaped balcony on the north, west, and south sides;
- barrel-vaulted ceiling over the auditorium;
- curved banks of wooden pews on the main floor and balcony;
- organ components pre-dating the modern replacement;
- lath and wood plaster wall finishes;
- wood paneling, doors, and details;
- wood staircases and bannisters;
- lighting fixtures;
- riveted metal frame roof structure; and
- bell chamber and associated extant bells and mechanisms.

Location

Street Address:	10025 - 101 Street NW
Community:	Edmonton
Boundaries:	Block F, Plan 9825826
Contributing Resources:	Building

ATS Legal Description:

Mer	Rge	Twp	Sec	LSD

PBL Legal Description (Cadastral Reference):

Plan	Block	Lot	Parcel
9825826	F	N/A

Latitude/Longitude:

Latitude	Longitude	CDT	Datum Type
53.539831	-113.493096		NAD83

UTM Reference:

Northing	Easting	Zone	CDT	Datum Type
334797	5935217

Recognition

Recognition Authority:	Province of Alberta
Designation Status:	Provincial Historic Resource
Date of Designation:	2015/06/22

Historical Information

Built:	1910 to 1910
Period of Significance:	1910 to 1954
Theme(s):	Building Social and Community Life : Religious Institutions
Historic Function(s):
Current Function(s):
Architect:
Builder:
Context:

Additional Information

Object Number:	4665-1373
Designation File:	DES 2354
Related Listing(s):	4664-0390
Heritage Survey File:	HS 5194
Website Link:
Data Source:	Alberta Culture and Tourism, Historic Resources Management Branch, Old St. Stephen's College, 8820 - 112 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P8 (File: Des 2354)