Historic Sites of Manitoba: Maryland Street Methodist Church / Maryland Methodist Church / Maryland United Church (576 Maryland Street, Winnipeg)

Link to:
Clerics | Photos & Coordinates | Sources

A small group of people held a church service in a cottage at 542 Maryland Street, between Sargent Avenue and Ellice Avenue in Winnipeg, on 9 November 1902. Initially a mission of the Young Methodist Church, it was formally established as the Maryland Street Methodist Church (later shortened to Maryland Methodist Church) on 28 April 1903 through the efforts of local resident Mary McKillop Dunfield (1852-1930).

Architectural plans for a church building to be built at the southwest corner of Maryland Street and Ellice Avenue were prepared by Joseph Greenfield and construction commenced in late 1903. The $3,500 facility was dedicated and opened by Rev. O. Darwin and Rev. Dr. Stewart on 3 January 1904. The congregation expanded quickly to fill the church’s 350-seat capacity, and less than two years later, the building was given a $10,000 expansion based upon designs of architect Henry E. Ewart. The church re-opened on 8 January 1906.

By October 1913, with Sunday School classes being held in three nearby buildings including the Icelandic Hall at the northwest corner of McGee Street and Sargent Avenue, further expansion of the church was warranted. Three ajoining lots were purchased and construction of a wood frame structure designed by John N. Semmens began in the spring of 1914. The new $65,000 edifice had a seating capacity for about 1,200 people. In 1935, the building was refurbished, repainted, and re-decorated but, by late 1942, the building needed repairs and the United Church decided there were sufficient other churches in close proximity to serve local demand. The final sermon was given by Rev. R. E. Spence on 27 December 1942, after which the congregants dispersed to other churches. By mid-1943, the manse was sold, the bell tower was disassembled, and the church building was demolished.

A memorial tablet honouring members of the Maryland Methodist Church congregation who were killed in the First World War was unveiled on 23 May 1920 by Lieutenant-Governor James Albert Manning Aikins. Its current location is unknown.

Clerics

Period

Cleric

1902-1904

James Wilfred Melvin (1877-1965)

1904-1908

Robert Erastus Spence (1867-1957)

1908-1912

James Charles Walker (1858-1914)

1912-1916

Rev. Andrew Hamilton

1916-1919

James Lumb Batty (1860-1922)

1919-1922

Rev. A. S. Colwell

1923-1926

Eber Crummy (1852-1939)

1926-1929

Rev. George L. Waite

1929-1937

Ernest Howard Smith (1882-1940)

1937

Herbert Thomas Reynolds (1885-1951)

1937-1942

Rev. W. T. Brady

Photos & Coordinates

Maryland Methodist Church

Maryland United Church (1943)
Source: Winnipeg Tribune, 15 June 1943, page 13.

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89637, W97.16016
denoted by symbol on the map above

First World War Casualties

Name

Occupation

Service

Rank

Birth Date

Death Date

George Herbert Armshaw
[Great West LIfe, Next of Kin]

Clerk

78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

20 March 1897

9 April 1917

Norman Harold Bell
[Ashdown Hardware]

Clerk

78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

26 January 1881

31 October 1916

John Percy Bradley
[Bank of Toronto, Next of Kin, Vimy Ridge]

Bank Clerk

44th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

31 August 1893

26 June 1917

Thomas Allan Bennett

Carpenter

78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

8 April 1895

11 August 1918

Charles Lloyd Cawston DCM
[Next of Kin]

Carpenter

52nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Corporal

30 April 1891

14 August 1918

Alexander Hamilton Clegg
[Next of Kin]

Soda Fountain Dispenser

5th Canadian Mounted Rifles

Private

25 March 1897

31 October 1917

Robert Hutton
[Next of Kin]

Bricklayer

16th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

3 February 1880

1 October 1918

Wesley Williams Irvine
[Brandon College, Hartney, Wawanesa, Wawanesa, Wesley College]

Teacher

43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Lieutenant

5 April 1893

28 September 1918

George Harold Martin
[Lakeside, Neepawa, Neepawa Methodist, Newdale]

Bank Clerk, Union Bank of Canada

31st Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

30 April 1897

6 November 1917

Robert Edgar Morley
[Next of Kin]

Clerk

Canadian Corps Cyclist Battalion

Private

26 February 1894

10 November 1917

John Frederick Moody
[Next of Kin]

Lather

44th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

17 June 1884

25 October 1916

Robert Neazor

Railway Clerk

Canadian Cavalry Machine Gun Squadron

Private

16 August 1894

12 October 1918

John Orr
[Next of Kin]

Clerk

8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

10 June 1889

29 April 1917

Garfield Russell
[Next of Kin]

Lather

78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

10 September 1895

9 April 1917

William Benner Thorne
[Next of Kin]

Clerk

78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

12 January 1898

29 October 1917

Avard Austin Wallace
[Next of Kin]

Farmer

44th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

19 July 1892

11 September 1916

David Wilson
[Carman, Next of Kin, Roseisle]

Tinsmith

8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

3 September 1896

17 July 1915

Robert Brown Wilson

Sign Painter

43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

29 May 1889

21 September 1916

Sources:

“Methodist extension,” Winnipeg Tribune, 31 August 1903, page 5.

“Sunday services [Maryland Street],” Winnipeg Tribune, 5 September 1903, page 11.

“Church opening,” Winnipeg Tribune, 2 January 1904, page 7.

“Maryland Street,” Winnipeg Tribune, 28 March 1904, page 3.

“Maryland church social,” Manitoba Free Press, 1 July 1904, page 14.

“Coming events [Owing to the church enlargement the Maryland Methodist Church ...],” Winnipeg Tribune, 23 November 1905, page 12.

“Street lamps in use,” Winnipeg Tribune, 8 January 1906, page 1.

“Maryland Methodist Church,” Winnipeg Tribune, 24 January 1906, page 4.

“Farewell sermon,” Winnipeg Tribune, 27 June 1908, page 16.

“Comes to Winnipeg from Leamington,” Manitoba Free Press, 29 June 1912, page 5.

“Want new church; subscribe $24,000,” Winnipeg Tribune, 23 January 1913, page 2.

“Maryland Methodists,” Manitoba Free Press, 10 October 1913, page 26.

“Maryland Methodists may build,” Manitoba Free Press, 5 June 1914, page 24.

“Sunday School in 3 buildings,” Winnipeg Tribune, 6 June 1914, pge 19.

“Twelfth anniversary,” Manitoba Free Press, 19 October 1914, page 16.

“The late Rev. J. C. Walker,” Winnipeg Tribune, 28 February 1914, page 24.

“Maryland Methodists make rapid strides forward,” Winnipeg Tribune, 1 July 1916, page 21.

“Maryland will unveil Honor Roll,” Winnipeg Tribune, 12 Mary 1917, page 37.

“Maryland Methodist progresses,” Winnipeg Tribune, 1 June 1918, page 25.

“Special services held at Maryland Church,” Manitoba Free Press, 25 May 1920, page 6.

“Maryland Methodist Church memorial to soldiers unveiled,” Winnipeg Tribune, 25 May 1920, page 10.

“Maryland Methodist Church,” Winnipeg Tribune, 21 January 1922, page 16.

“Maryland Methodist Church congregation welcomes new pastor,” Winnipeg Tribune, 16 September 1919, page 3.

“Pastor leaves to recuperate,” Winnipeg Tribune, 7 November 1922, page 10.

“Life found in love returned in service,” Winnipeg Tribune, 27 August 1923, page 9.

“Receives call,” Winnipeg Tribune, 22 May 1926, page 8.

“Pioneers of Maryland United Church,” Winnipeg Tribune, 19 February 1927, page 9.

“Will celebrate 25th birthday,” Winnipeg Tribune, 19 February 1927, page 9.

“Maryland United Church observes 25th anniversary,” Manitoba Free Press, 19 February 1927, page 22.

“Accepts call,” Winnipeg Tribune, 12 October 1929, page 16.

“Receives call,” Winnipeg Tribune, 6 November 1929, page 2.

“Sunday School will celembrate 28th birthday,” Winnipeg Tribune, 24 May 1930, page 16.

“Memorial meet to be held for church founder,” Winnipeg Tribune, 14 June 1930, page 27.

“Church will be reopened for services,” Winnipeg Tribune, 30 March 1935, page 15.

“Receives call,” Winnipeg Tribune, 10 April 1937, page 28.

“Receives call,” Winnipeg Tribune, 4 September 1937, page 32.

“"Propose sale of Maryland United Church,” Winnipeg Tribune, 22 September 1942, page 1.

“Closing service,” Winnipeg Tribune, 26 December 1942, page 4.

“Yuletide spirit is emphasized in Winnipeg church services,” Winnipeg Free Press, 28 December 1942, page 5.

“Post-war problems confront Presbytery of United Church,” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 January 1943, page 3.

[Photo caption; Landmark to disappear], Winnipeg Tribune, 15 June 1943, page 13.

“News briefs,” Winnipeg Tribune, 3 july 1943, page 13.

“Curtain rung down on Maryland United,” Winnipeg Free Press, 21 September 1943, page 5.

“30 years ago - March 30, 1935,” Winnipeg Free Press, 30 March 1965, page 12.

Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.

We thank Barbara Carson Jardine, Katherine Macedo, and Darryl Toews for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 21 October 2021

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