Key Number:	HS 24093
Site Name:	Craigmyle United Church
Other Names:
Site Type:	1603 - Religious: Church, Cathedral or Chapel

Location

ATS Legal Description:

			Twp	Rge	Mer
			31	16	4

Address:	Main Street
Number:
Street:	Main
Avenue:
Other:
Town:	Craigmyle
Near Town:

Media

Type	Number	Date	View	Source

Architectural

Style:
Plan Shape:	Rectangular
Storeys:	Storeys: 1 1/2
Foundation:	Basement/Foundation Wall Material: Concrete
Superstructure:
Superstructure Cover:
Roof Structure:	Medium Gable
Roof Cover:
Exterior Codes:	Roof Trim - Eaves: Rafters Exposed Window - Special Types: Palladian Window - Special Types: Stained Glass Main Porch - Type: Closed Porch
Exterior:	Enclosed south side porch with exposed rafter ends, shed style porch east side, opalesent flat glass windows south side, palladian stained glass.
Interior:	Window east and north side.
Environment:	Faces east north end of Main Street, corner lot.
Condition:	Structure: Good. Repair: Good.
Alterations:	South porch 3' x 10'.

Historical

Construction:	Construction Date:
Constructed.	1918/01/01
Usage:	Usage Date:
Church	1918/01/01
Owner:	Owner Date:
United Church of Canada (Conornation Presbytery)

Architect:	N/A
Builder:	Volunteer Labour
Craftsman:	N/A
History:	Rev. Ed Longmire was Craigmyles first ordained minister. 1918 - Church dedication began as a methodist church, served as an emergency hospital during 1918 flu epidemic. Presently the Delia United Church minister handles the Craigmyle congregation. This had been the situation since 1937. * * * The Craigmyle United Church is the only church in Craigmyle. It is a large asymmentrical structure locted on two town lots. The property has not been extensively landscaped. Historical Significance: Methodist church services were first held in the Craigmyle area in 1909. These were held wherever space would permit. At this time the Methodist Church was directing a major missionary effort towards the western settlers. Between 1901 and 1913, the number of methodist circuits in western Canada increased from 25 to 225. In 1914 the village of Craigmyle was designated a 'mission field' in its own right, a development which prompted the construction of a parsonage. In 1915 the parsonage was removed to a new site to allow construction of the church to proceed. Construction began in 1915 and the church was dedicated in 1918. Methodist participation in the United Church of Canada formed in 1925, did not immediately affect the viability of the Craigmyle church. Construction of new churches in outlying districts during the years of settlement growth, followed by depressed economic conditions in the 1930s did force the closure of the parsonage in 1937. Clergymen have since been supplied from the neighbouring community of Delia. It was a church purely of the pioneer settlement period, an aspect of early institutional development on the prairies. Architectural Significance: As was the usual practice for 'non-conformist' church, the Craigmyle Unated Church is non-cruciform structure. It is utilitarian and is only particularly recognizable as a church by its combination of size and limited window openings. The roof pitches are uninterrupted and covered in wooden shingles. The gable ends are prominent and each feature a large Palladian style window. The siding is ship-lap milled wood. The original vestibule was placed at the intersection of the two wings. It has since been added to but the original vestibule walls rise above the eave line common to the rest of the structure to form a small 'tower'. There is no steeple. In short, the building is quite representative of non-conformist churches constructed in many small prairie centres in the first quarter of the century.

Internal

Designation Status:	Designation Date:

Register:

Links

Internet:
Alberta Register of Historic Places: