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St. Georges in the Pines
Banff
Statement of Significance
Description of Historic Place
St. Georges in the Pines Anglican Church is a Gothic Revival style building constructed in 1889 at the corner of Buffalo Street and Beaver Street. The character defining elements relating to the context and location of the structure include its stone construction with stone buttresses and three adjoining volumes, steeply pitched roof and bell tower with spire, stained glass windows, a rectangular nave, a polygonal apse at the east end of the building and the partial concealment by trees and its setback location on the property.
Heritage Value
The heritage value of St. George’s in the Pines lies in its long and distinguished history as a place of worship, and its status as only one of two churches in Canada to contain a set of 11 Taylor Peal Bells. The church structure was designed by architect Frank P. Oakley of Manchester, England. The church has continued active use for weekly worship and ceremonies such as weddings and funerals. The space also serves as a venue for musical and theatrical performance. Over time, the church has had many distinguished guests. Most notably, George V and Elizabeth II.
St. Georges in the Pines is the oldest active church in Banff and Anglican services were first held here as early as 1887. Lady Stanley of Preston and Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley, then Governor-General of Canada, laid the cornerstone in October 1889. It was built on a "pay as we go" basis in several stages with the chancel completed in December 1897. In 1901, two bays of the nave were added, followed by a third in 1909 and a fourth in 1918. The tower and spire were completed in 1926, with the latter donated in memory of Isabella Thompson Brewster. Dr. Robert Brett donated 11 peal bells in 1927, the largest weighing half a ton. The bells were cast by John Taylor and Company Bellfounders, in Loughborough, England, and were shipped to Banff via the Panama Canal. The bells were the first of their kind to be installed in Canada. They do not swing and are attached to steel beams and struck by clappers controlled by baton leavers on a clavier within the steeple.
Notable architectural features include the bell tower and an extensive collection of over 50 painted stained glass windows set within sandstone and/or wood tracery. Over half of the windows are lancet design, featuring a slender pointed arch at the top. Typical of gothic ecclesiastic structures, the stained glass windows at St. George’s in the Pines are paired or set in groups of three with the tallest window at the center. Also notable are the churches stone buttresses which are positioned to support and act against the lateral forces of the roof. The building is defined by its distinctive steeple, stained glass fenestration and use of rubble construction exemplifying high quality craftsmanship.
In 1901, the future Queen Mary worshipped here, followed by Edward, Prince of Wales in 1926. In May 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth attended services with Prime Minister W. L. Mackenzie King. Their Majesties presented the church with sterling silver altar candlesticks as a memento. The Duke of Athlone and Princess Alice visted in 1941, Lord and Lady Alexander of Tunis worshipped here in 1951, followed by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1954. Princess Margaret attended service in 1958. The first vicar of the church was Rev. F.G. Christmas.
Character-Defining Elements
The heritage value of St. Georges in the Pines is expressed in character-defining elements such as
- all of the elements of the Gothic Revival style building including massing, steeply pitched roof, distinctive stonework;
- load bearing buttresses;
- fenestration pattern and detail, including, circular, pointed arch and other styles of stained glass windows with stone or wooden tracery;
- bell tower containing a set of 11 fixed peal bells;
- tapering conical spire structure on top of the bell tower;
- the orientation and situation of the building on a large corner lot with church entrance facing Beaver Street;
- landscaping on the property with a significant number of trees that establish original context;
- vaulted wood ceiling above the nave;
- a semi-circular recess/ vaulted extension enclosing the altar (apse); and
- liturgical furnishings including pews.
Location
| Street Address: |
406 Buffalo Street |
| Community: |
Banff |
| Boundaries: |
Lot 5 to 7, Block 3, Plan 6719BC |
| Contributing Resources: |
Buildings: 1
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ATS Legal Description:
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Mer |
Rge |
Twp |
Sec |
LSD |
5
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12
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25
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35
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PBL Legal Description (Cadastral Reference):
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Plan |
Block |
Lot |
Parcel |
6719 BC
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3
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5,6,7
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Latitude/Longitude:
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Latitude |
Longitude |
CDT |
Datum Type |
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51.174569 |
-115.568784 |
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NAD 83 |
UTM Reference:
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Northing |
Easting |
Zone |
CDT |
Datum Type |
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Recognition
| Recognition Authority: |
Local Governments (AB) |
| Designation Status: |
Municipal Historic Resource |
| Date of Designation: |
2012/07/16 |
Historical Information
| Built: |
1889 to 1927 |
| Period of Significance: |
N/A |
| Theme(s): |
Building Social and Community Life : Religious Institutions
Expressing Intellectual and Cultural Life : Philosophy and Spirituality
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| Historic Function(s): |
Religion, Ritual and Funeral : Religious Facility or Place of Worship
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| Current Function(s): |
Religion, Ritual and Funeral : Religious Facility or Place of Worship
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| Architect: |
Frank P. Oakley, Manchester England
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| Builder: |
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| Context: |
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Additional Information
| Object Number: |
4664-0310 |
| Designation File: |
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| Related Listing(s): |
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| Heritage Survey File: |
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| Website Link: |
http://stgeorgesinthepines.com/ |
| Data Source: |
Town of Banff, Planning and Development Department, 110 Bear Street, PO Box 1260, Banff, AB, T1L 1A1, File: 12HD01 |
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