Key Number:	HS 11907
Site Name:	Fifth Avenue Methodist Church
Other Names:
Site Type:	1603 - Religious: Church, Cathedral or Chapel

Location

ATS Legal Description:

			Twp	Rge	Mer
			12	5	4

Address:	344 - 5 Avenue SE
Number:	44
Street:	3 SE
Avenue:	5 SE
Other:
Town:	Medicine Hat
Near Town:

Media

Type	Number	Date	View	Source

Architectural

Style:
Plan Shape:	Rectangular Short Facade
Storeys:	Storeys: 3
Foundation:	Basement/Foundation Wall Material: Concrete
Superstructure:	Brick
Superstructure Cover:	Brick - Bond: Stretcher
Roof Structure:	Medium Gable
Roof Cover:	Asphalt Shingle
Exterior Codes:	Massing of Units: Single Detached Wings: Rear Number of Bays - Facade: First or Ground Floor, 2 Bays Wall Design and Detail: Plinth Roof Trim - Eaves: Projecting Eaves Roof Trim - Eaves: Plain Fascia Roof Trim Material - Eaves: Wood Roof Trim - Verges: Projecting Verges Roof Trim - Verges: Plain Fascia Roof Trim Material - Verges: Wood Towers, Steeples and Domes: Tower Towers, Steeples and Domes: Other Towers, Steeples and Domes Location-Side to Side: Exterior Side Right Towers, Steeples and Domes Location-Front to Rear: Exterior Front Dormer Type: None Chimney Location - Side to Side: Unknown Chimney Location - Side to Side: Side Left Chimney Location - Front to Rear: Rear Chimney Stack Material: Brick Chimney Stack Massing: Cluster Attached Roof Trim - Special Features: None Window - Structural Opening Shape: Pointed Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Keystone Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Other Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Sides: Quoins Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Material: Brick Window - Sill Type: Plain Lug Sill Window - Sill Material: Concrete Window - Trim Within Structural Opening - Head: Plain Window - Trim Within Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Window - Number of Sashes: One Window - Number of Sashes: Other Window - Opening Mechanism: Fixed Window - Special Types: Pointed Window - Special Types: Stained Glass Window - Pane Arrangements: Other Main Entrance - Location: Off-Centre (Facade) Main Entrance - Structural Opening Shape: Ogee Main Entrance - Structural Opening Shape: Pointed Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Label Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Voussoir Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Sides: Quoins Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening Material: Stone Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening Material: Concrete Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Head: Plain Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Head: Shaped Transom, Multiple Lights Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Head: Other Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Main Entrance - Number of Leaves: 2 Main Entrance - Number of Panels Per Leaf: 2 Main Entrance - Leaves - Special Feature: Shaped Panel Main Entrance - Leaves - Special Feature: Stained Glass Main Stairs - Location and Design: First or Ground Floor, Closed Railing Main Stairs - Direction: Straight Main Porch - Type: Platform Main Porch - Special Features: None
Exterior:	Foundation: continuous pour concrete Structure: steel frame, concrete block, pressed brick Covering: cherry pressed brick - stretcher bond; bed ford stone. Structure: stee. Number of Storeys: three and one in main sanctuary. Elevated turrets, Bedford stone inlays, inscription date stone, quoins, lug sills above and over windows, projected molding, semi-elliptical transom with sidelights. Bedford stone trim, distinguished by three large gothic stain glass windows in the north east and south elevations and by its three large crenellated towers. Towers at all 4 corners.
Interior:	N/A
Environment:	Church made imposing; overlooking the downtown core.
Condition:	Good (1986)
Alterations:	Alterations: 1958 - permit #247, addition 1965 - permit #287, interior alteration 1967 - permit #343, renovation to the basement 1969 - permit #44, renovation to the basement

Historical

Construction:	Construction Date:
Construction Started	1912/01/01
Usage:	Usage Date:
Religious: Church, Cathedral or Chapel Religious: Church, Cathedral or Chapel	1912/01/01 1972/08/31
Owner:	Owner Date:
Fifth Avenue Methodist Church Fift Avenue Memorial United Church	1912/01/01 1925/01/01

Architect:	N/A
Builder:	Lussier Construction Co.
Craftsman:	N/A
History:	Another address: 476 - 4 Street SE. Original name: 5 Avenue Methodist Church; then First Avenue United Church; then Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church. Built in 1912 as a Methodist Church, Mr. W.H. Bridgeman laid the corner. The church was built by volunteer labour. In 1931 the building was gutted by fire, which left only the superstructure intact. Following the fire, additions were added in 1931 and 1957. New civic fire restrictions have indicated that the church is not up to present standards. This church is very pioneer in it's origin and spirit. Close association with the C.P.R. as first meetings were held at the depot, using nail kegs as pews. Very active in community, open to many clubs / services. * * * The Methodist were the first denomination to put up a church building in Medicine Hat, erecting a modest wood-frame structure on the corner of Third and Sixth Avenue, in 1883. This building was replaced by a new brick structure on the same site in 1900. The rapid growth of the congregation necessitated the construction of the present church at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Fourth Street in 1912. Fifth Avenue Methodist Church became 5 Avenue United Church with the union of the Presbyterian, Congregational, and the Methodist Church in 1925. The church is a substantial red brick structure with Bedford sandstone trim, made even more imposing by its location on a rise overlooking the downtown core. The building is distinguished by its large Gothic stained-glass windows in the north, east, and south elevations and by its three crenellated towers. Much of the church was destroyed by fire in July 1931, but it was immediately rebuilt. Today, Fifth Avenue United remains much as it was in 1912, except for the Christian Education Building erected at the rear of the church in 1957.

Internal

Designation Status:	Designation Date:
(not assigned)

Register:

Links

Internet:
Alberta Register of Historic Places: