Key Number:	HS 22961
Site Name:	Irricana United Church
Other Names:
Site Type:	1603 - Religious: Church, Cathedral or Chapel

Location

ATS Legal Description:

			Twp	Rge	Mer
			27	27	4

Address:	Near Irricana
Number:
Street:
Avenue:
Other:
Town:
Near Town:	Irricana

Media

Type	Number	Date	View	Source

Architectural

Style:
Plan Shape:
Storeys:	Storeys: 1 1/2
Foundation:
Superstructure:	Nailed Frame
Superstructure Cover:
Roof Structure:	High Gable
Roof Cover:
Exterior Codes:	Towers, Steeples and Domes: Tower Towers, Steeples and Domes Location-Side to Side: Centre Towers, Steeples and Domes Location-Front to Rear: Centre
Exterior:	The storey-and-a-half building is square but is constructed of two wings with a tower at the intersection of the wings. The tower is three storeys high and both it and the church are clad in lap milled lumber.
Interior:	N/A
Environment:	Approximately, 12 miles directly east of Airdrie. Includes small cemetery. The First Irricana Church of the Brethren is a large rural church located near the town of Irricana. The site is a broad flat field with mature windbreaks on its periphery.
Condition:	Basic construction is good. New natural gas furnes are in process of being installed. Building needs some painting, should have new front steps (possibly with ramp), some additional insualtion; basement not used for some years and needs painting etc., also requires indoor toilets (chemical or otherwise).
Alterations:	Instalation of natural gas furnances.

Historical

Construction:	Construction Date:
Constructed	1919/01/01
Usage:	Usage Date:
Church Worship services every Sunday	1919/01/01 1982/06/01
Owner:	Owner Date:
Irricana United Church	1952/08/26

Architect:	N/A
Builder:	N/A
Craftsman:	N/A
History:	Initially it was the 'Church of the Brethren'. 1910 - First Church service held in a tent. 1910 - 18' x 30' building erected. 1919 - the present Church was completed. Dedication - October. This Church has had services in it almost every Sunday since, (over 62 years) except for a few Sundays in the winter when roads were impassable. In 1969 the Irricana of the Brethren United with the United Church of Canada. It is now known as the Irricana United Church. * * * Irricana United Church The Irricana United Church was dedicated in October 1919 as the First Irricana Church of the Brethren. The congregation was organized on June 25, 1910. Founding members of the congregation included the families of John and William Culp, J.A. Waver and Mr. and Mrs. Protzman. The Culp families were recent immigrants from North Dakota. The local history does not provide dat on the other families. A second Irricana Church of the Brethren was organized in 1924. It utilized the old UFA hall until 1940 when a second church structure was built. Dwindling church membership forced the union of the United Church of Canada and the Church of the Brethren in 1969. The United Church presence in the area dated from 1911 when a small Methodist Church was built. * * * Building / Site Description: The First Irricana Church of the Brethren is a large rural church located near the town of Irricana. The site is a broad flat field with mature windbreaks on its periphery. The story-and-half building is square but is constructed of two wings with a tower at the intersection of teh wings. The tower is three stories high and both it and the church are clad in lap milled lumber. Historical Significance: The Brethren were a sect of German Baptists who were referred to as Dunkards for their practise of total immersion baptisms. Adherents of the sect settled in the American mid-west and by the late 1800s their numbers were such that many Brethren families were looking for new territories to settle. In 1896-97 thousands of church followers moved into North Dakota and as they were considered to be 'thrifty, industrious and orderly' the migration was a boon to the state. Reports of the migration interested Canadian politicians, land agents and colonization companies who attempted to interest Brethren leaders in the benefits of settlement in the Canadian west. The efforts of such individuals began to show effect in 1908 when the first of the Brethren families moved into the Irricana area. The district was one where the C.P.R. had extensive land holdings and the railway had irrigated protions of the district to make it more appealing to settlers. In the succeeding decade many more Brethren families moved to the district. Their numbers were sufficiently large that church service were held in 1910 in a church constructed for the congregation. By 1918 that building was too small and was replaced in 1919 by the present structure. It was construced at a cost of $8,400 dollars. The ministry of the new church was 'free' for the first two decades but thereafter ministers were obtained from Brethren congregations in the United States. In 1968 a decision was made to merge with the United Church of Canada. The membership of the Brethren church in western Canada was small and it was felt that the needs of the community would be better met through affiliation. The merger was completed in 1969 at which time the church was renamed Irricana United Church. The church represents the strengh of motivation displayed by a particular Christian community among the waves of early western settlement. In addition, this church was the most important Brethran church in the west and many of the district's families share histories within which the church played an important role. Architectural Significance: The structure is an impressively large, well designed and constructed rural church. It is approximately 40 feet square and is some 40 feet from grade to roof apex. A tower at the intersection of two wings is about 45 feet high and is divided into three stories. The base of the tower forms a vestibule. While that basic format is not particularly uncommon for protestant churches the proportions of this structure make it exemplary. The windows are not typical for a church; rather, they are tripartite units composed of a large sash window flanked with smaller sash windows. All of the windows follow this basic pattern except for those of the tower which are simple rectangular shash-type units. The church basement is high and pierced by numerous windows making it well lighted but also making the first floor quite high above grade. The vestubule and the front door are therfore reached by a broad flight of stairs on a stoop. The stoop, like the rest of the building, is clad in lap milled lumber. Overall the church presents a prosperous appearance of quiet dignity. * * * Draft Press Release Edmonton, Alberta The Honourale Mary J. LeMessurier, Minister of Culture announced today that the Irricana United Church has been designated a Registered Historic Resource. Irricana United Church was constructed as the first Irricana Church of the Brethren. The Brethren were German Baptists who first settled in the American mid-west. By the late nineteenth century their number were such that many Brethren families were looking for new territories to settle. This search for new land took them to North Dakota in 1896-97. Reports of the migration interested Canadian politicians, land agents and colonization companies who attempted to interest Brethren leaders in the benefits of settlement in the Canadian West. In 1908 the first of the Brethren families moved into the Irricana area. By 1910 enough Brethren families had arrived to permit the construction of a church, but nine years later the growing congregation found it necessary to replace it with the present stucture. In 1969 the congregation merged with the United Church of Canada. The structure is an impressively large, well designed and constructed rural church. A tower at the intersection of the wings is divided into three stories and forms a vestibule at the church entrance. While that basic arrangement is common for Protestant churches, the proportions of this structure make it exemplary. The church represents the strength of motivation displayed by a particular Christian community among the waves of early western settlement. In addition, this church was the most important Brethren church in the west and many of the district's families share histories within which the church played an important role.

Internal

Designation Status:	Designation Date:

Register:

Links

Internet:
Alberta Register of Historic Places:	4665-0619