Historic Sites of Manitoba: Kildonan Presbyterian Church and Cemetery (201 John Black Avenue, Winnipeg)

Link to:
Clerics | Photos & Coordinates | Sources

In 1854, the first Presbyterian Church in Western Canada was completed. It was erected by stonemason Duncan McRae under the direction of Reverend John Black, first resident Presbyterian minister. Black came to Kildonan in 1851, 37 years after the arrival of the first Presbyterian settlers from Scotland. Prior to this event the settlers attended Church of England (Anglican) services. A plaque was erected near the church by the Historic Sites Advisory Board of Manitoba. The church building is a provincially- and municipally-designated historic site.

Among the noteworthy people buried in this cemetery are A. G. B. Bannatyne, John Black, George Bryce, Charles W. Gordon, John M. King, James McDiarmid, Gilbert McMicken, Margaret S. McWilliams, Roland F. McWilliams, Alexander Ross, James Ross, and John Sutherland.

Honours rolls for congregants who served and were killed in the First World War and Second World War are displayed at the nearby Nisbet Hall.

Clerics

Period

Cleric

1851-1882

John Black (1818-1882)

1882-1886

John Pringle

1886-1889

W. H. Spence

1890-1892

C. D. McDonald

1892-1896

William McKinley

1897-1908

J. H. Cameron

1908-1918

Hugh Hamilton (1863-1941)

1918-1925

D. D. Millar

1926-1927

W. J. Forbes-Robertson

1928-1932

John Hart

1932-1936

Supply

1936-1948

P. Ferguson McSween

1948-1953

Donald E. Flint

1953-1956

P. Montgomery

1956-1961

?

1961-1966

D. C. Hill

1967-1969

M. Melton

1970-1981

James D. Marnoch

1981-1991

Dennis I. Carrothers

Photos & Coordinates

Kildonan Presbyterian Church

Kildonan Presbyterian Church (1882)
Source: Kildonan Presbyterian Church

Kildonan Presbyterian Church

Kildonan Presbyterian Church (no date)
Source: Archives of Manitoba (MHS 1979 Photo Exhibit)

Aerial view of Kildonan Presbyterian Church and Cemetery

Aerial view of Kildonan Presbyterian Church and Cemetery (June 2021)
Source: George Penner

Kildonan Presbyterian Church

Kildonan Presbyterian Church (May 2010)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough

Interior of Kildonan Presbyterian Church

Interior of Kildonan Presbyterian Church (June 2017)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough

Stained glass window in Kildonan Presbyterian Church

Stained glass window in Kildonan Presbyterian Church (May 2018)
Source: George Penner

First World War Honour Roll of Kildonan Presbyterian Church

First World War Honour Roll of Kildonan Presbyterian Church (November 2019)
Source: Nathan Kramer

Second World War Honour Roll of Kildonan Presbyterian Church

Second World War Honour Roll of Kildonan Presbyterian Church (November 2019)
Source: Nathan Kramer

Kildonan Presbyterian Cemetery

Kildonan Presbyterian Cemetery (May 2010)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.95305, W97.09902
denoted by symbol on the map above

First World War Casualties

Name

Occupation

Service

Rank

Birth Date

Death Date

Donald Gordon
[Next of Kin]

Gardener

8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

6 August 1896

16 April 1915

James Masterton
[Brandon Armoury, Next of Kin, Typographical Union]

Printer

78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Company Quarter Master Sergeant

27 January 1873

9 April 1917

William Gladstone Murray

Farmer

16th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

5 January 1897

16 August 1918

William Alfred Winch
[Next of Kin]

Automobile Mechanic

8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

7 July 1888

2 September 1918

Second World War Casualties

Name

Service

Rank

Birth Date

Death Date

William Brodie Anderson DFC
[St. John’s College]

429 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Squadron Leader

26 February 1914

8 June 1944

James Robert Booth

115 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Flying Officer

5 March 1923

28 January 1944

John M. Brown

?

?

?

?

Richard Alexander Angus McDonald

HMCS Valleyfield, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve

Able Seaman

24 January 1924

7 May 1944

William Milton McDonald

Royal Canadian Air Force

Leading Aircraftman

12 September 1904

16 June 1941

William Moar

?

?

?

?

Owen Parsons

434 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Sergeant

5 May 1920

14 October 1944

William Reading

?

?

?

?

Lloyd George Sinclair

77 (RAF) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Sergeant

18 March 1919

21 September 1941

Rolla Louis Thompson

Regina Rifle Regiment, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps

Rifleman

6 December 1919

18 February 1945

Edward Allenby Vince

8 Provost Company, The Canadian Provost Corps

Lance Corporal

14 February 1921

18 July 1944

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Provincially Designated Historic Sites

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Municipally Designated Historic Sites

Sources:

“Minister holds farewell service at Old Kildonan,” Winnipeg Tribune, 12 September 1932, page 3.

“Congregation to consider appointment of Pastor,” Winnipeg Tribune, 13 September 1932, page 2.

“Rosedale United to name Pastor at an early date,” Winnipeg Free Press, 13 September 1932, page 3.

“Kildonan Presbyterians postpone calling pastor,” Winnipeg Free Press, 24 June 1933, page 12.

“Kildonan Presbyterian,” Winnipeg Tribune, 17 January 1935, page 16.

Old Kildonan Presbyterian Cemetery, Manitoba Historic Resources Branch

A list of burials in this cemetery is available from the Manitoba Genealogical Society, including a searchable online database available to members at the MGS Manitoba Name Index (MANI). Some additional information is contained in the 1996 MGS publication Carved in Stone: Manitoba Cemeteries and Burial Sites, revised edition, Special Projects Publication, 106 pages.

We thank Nathan Kramer and George Penner for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 2 September 2023

Historic Sites of Manitoba

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