Historic Sites of Manitoba: Westminster Presbyterian Church / Westminster United Church (745 Westminster Avenue, Winnipeg)

Link to:
Clerics | Photos & Coordinates | Sources

During the early 20th century, Manitoba’s economy boomed and its population grew dramatically. With sharp increases in memberships, many churches found it necessary to replace their buildings. In 1909, the members of Westminster Presbyterian (now United) Church concluded that their 1893-1894 building was inadequate for a congregation of almost 1,000. This site, closer to the homes of the parishioners, was selected and the church was built between 1910 and 1912. For its grandest buildings—Westminster, Augustine (1903-1904) and Knox (1914-1918)—the Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg called upon renowned architect J. H. G. Russell. For each church, Russell relied on a different interpretation of the Gothic Revival, a popular architectural style that drew its inspiration from medieval churches. Russell’s design was based upon the English expression of Gothic and emphasized pinnacle towers, slender vertical supports and large openings, in this case featuring a beautiful rose window.

Inside the church are plaques commemorating parishioners who served and were killed during military service. A First World War plaque was unveiled at the morning service on 4 February 1923 by Harriet Bevan, the eight-year-old daughter of Private Sydney Bevan who died during the Battle of Vimy Ridge and whose name appears on it. There is also a plaque for casualties of the Second World War.

In 1992, the Manitoba Heritage Council unveiled a commemorative plaque to recognize this fine stone church, a provincially- and municipally-designated historic site. A collection of photographs of the building by J. H. G. Russell is held at the Archives of Manitoba.

The church received a Conservation Award from Heritage Winnipeg in 2020.

Clerics

Period

Cleric

1893-1905

Charles Bruce Pitblado (1836-1913)

1905-1909

Clarence Mackinnon (1866-?)

1909-1929

David Christie (1865-1943)

1929-1935

John Sutherland Bonnell (1893-1992)

1935-1948

Ernest Marshal Howse (1902-1993)

1948-1955

Allen Richard Huband (1903-1993)

1955-1962

Nelson Richardson Mercer (1914-1991)

1963-1979

Reid E. Vipond (1914-2001)

1979-1989

Robert D. Thompson

1989-2016

Robert Campbell

Photos & Coordinates

Westminster United Church

Westminster United Church (May 2011)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough

Interior of Westminster United Church

Interior of Westminster United Church (October 2016)
Source: George Penner

Interior of Westminster United Church

Interior of Westminster United Church (October 2016)
Source: George Penner

One of two original First World War Honour Rolls at Westminster United

One of two original First World War Honour Rolls at Westminster United (April 2019)
Source: Darryl Toews

Second of two original First World War Honour Rolls at Westminster United

Second of two original First World War Honour Rolls at Westminster United (April 2019)
Source: Darryl Toews

First World War commemorative plaque

First World War commemorative plaque (March 2019)
Source: Darryl Toews

Second World War commemorative plaque

Second World War commemorative plaque (March 2019)
Source: Darryl Toews

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.88210, W97.16127
denoted by symbol on the map above

First World War

Name

Occupation

Service

Rank

Birth Date

Death Date

David Wilson Aitken
[Next of Kin]

Tailor

78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Company Sergeant Major

13 January 1882

9 April 1917

William Austin Armstrong
[Next of Kin]

Student

73rd Squadron, Royal Air Force

Lieutenant

22 February 1896

25 July 1918

Harry Bain 

Farmer

8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

17 March 1885

28 September 1918

Sydney James Bevan
[Next of Kin]

Homesteader

1st Canadian Mounted Rifles

Private

28 January 1891

9 April 1917

Ralph Russell James Brown
[Law Society, Masonic, Next of Kin, Wesley College]

Student at Law

44th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Major

21 November 1875

31 October 1917

Kenneth Turner Campbell
[Kelvin, Next of Kin]

?

210th Squadron, Royal Air Force

Second Lieutenant

2 June 1899

17 June 1918

Andrew Fleming Christie
[Next of Kin]

Clerk

27th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Lieutenant

15 December 1893

26 August 1918

James Dean Collins

Clerk

Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry

Sergeant

12 March 1894

29 September 1918

John Arnold Collins 

Student

49th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Lieutenant

19 August 1895

29 September 1918

William Henry Puddicomb Collum
[Canadian Club, Masonic, Next of Kin]

Financial Agent

27th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Major

11 October 1884

14 August 1917

John Cowan 

Secretary

16th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Lieutenant

8 August 1889

9 April 1917

Douglas Arthur Cram
[Kelvin, Morden, Next of Kin]

Chauffeur

43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

28 April 1896

8 November 1916

William Howard Cram
[Morden, Next of Kin]

Clerk

16th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

17 April 1888

26 February 1917

Robert Lawson Cumming
[Rossburn, Russell, Shoal Lake]

Commercial Traveller

8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Lance Corporal

3 December 1888

27 November 1916

Robert Alexander Cunningham
[Agricultural College, Brandon Armoury, Next of Kin]

Professor of Chemistry

46th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Lieutenant

22 July 1888

27 September 1918

John Frederick Davidson
[Next of Kin, Lakeside]

Bank Manager, Union Bank of Canada

43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

27 April 1888

29 September 1918

Richard Stanley Dawson
[Next of Kin, Winnipeg Hydro]

Meter Reader

8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

28 October 1887

9 August 1918

John Dick 

Clerk

5th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

15 February 1891

4 October 1916

David John Doig
[Next of Kin]

Clerk

43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Corporal

5 August 1893

17 March 1916

John Winfield Downey
[Ogilvie]

Clerk

43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

26 May 1889

12 November 1917

Stewart Esplin 

Tinsmith

16th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Lance Corporal

6 June 1889

23 April 1915

Samuel Ewing
[Next of Kin]

Teamster

52nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

15 September 1891

30 October 1917

Cyrus Wilton Field 

School Teacher

78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

7 April 1894

19 February 1917

Harry Forrester
[Next of Kin]

Electrician

43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

25 December 1892

27 January 1918

Alexander Garden
[Next of Kin]

Accountant

38th Battery, 10th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery

Corporal

6 August 1890

27 April 1917

William John Knox Graham
[Elm Creek]

Farmer

Royal Air Force

Second Lieutenant

9 May 1894

17 May 1918

Howard Eckhardt Grundy
[Next of Kin]

Clerk

Royal Naval Air Service

Probationary Flight Officer

24 December 1891

1 May 1917

William Forbes Guild
[Brandon Armoury, Canadian Club, Law Society, Manitoba College, Next of Kin]

Barrister-at-Law

52nd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Captain

2 December 1886

10 April 1917

Herbert Russell Hamill
[Next of Kin]

Book-keeper

78th Battalion Canadian Infantry

Private

17 December 1894

2 September 1918

Oswald John Donaldson Hanna 

Clerk

203rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

6 September 1887

26 July 1917

Neil Alexander Hood
[Next of Kin]

Laborer

23rd Battalion, Australian Infantry, AIF

Private

1885

9 May 1918

Richard Arthur Hopkinson
[Next of Kin]

Shoemaker

18th Battery, 5th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery

Driver

16 May 1870

27 July 1916

William Innes 

Clerk

43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

4 December 1883

4 October 1916

William Jackson
[Next of Kin]

Bricklayer

16th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Company Sergeant Major

21 June 1883

14 May 1916

William Brooks Jasper
[Next of Kin]

Cabinet Maker

44th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Sergeant

7 December 1884

14 October 1916

George James Jessiman
[Aberdeen Banff Kincardine, Next of Kin]

Clerk

27th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

15 June 1890

15 September 1916

John Orr MacDonald
[Next of Kin]

Paper Hanger

44th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Sergeant

3 June 1896

9 August 1918

William MacDonald 

?

?

?

?

?

John Stirling MacInnes
[Next of Kin, Osler Hammond & Nanton, St. Johns]

Clerk

7th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

7 March 1897

9 April 1917

Ian MacMillan
[Next of Kin, Ogilvie]

Clerk

49th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

26 October 1897

30 October 1917

Alexander Marr 

Plumber

8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

29 August 1892

25 April 1915

Elphinstone Forrest Struthers Mather
[Next of Kin]

Journalist

8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Captain

18 January 1888

9 April 1918

Peter Ballantyne McBride 

Grocer

No. 3 Company, Canadian Machine Gun Corps

Private

4 March 1885

3 November 1917

Alexander "Scotty" McFeat MM
[Augustine, Next of Kin]

Clerk

The Royal Canadian Regiment

Private

29 September 1892

22 December 1916

Robert Herbert McGirr
[Morden, Next of Kin]

Drug Clerk

8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

13 February 1894

23 August 1917

Stuart Scott McIntyre
[Kelvin, Manitoba College, Next of Kin]

Student

1st Canadian Mounted Rifles

Private

29 June 1897

26 October 1917

Richard Flemming McQueen 

Printing Pressman

1st Canadian Mounted Rifles

Private

30 July 1888

2 November 1917

Robert Grant “Putts” McVicar MM
[Next of Kin, Ritchot]

Clerk

78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Lance Corporal

1 January 1895

23 December 1917

Alistair Forbes Menzies DCM DSO
[Brandon College]

Clerk

17th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers

Captain

1 June 1892

4 May 1918

Stanley Hall Mitchell
[Manitoba College, Masonic, Next of Kin]

Merchant

11th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Lieutenant

10 June 1886

8 April 1915

John Roderick Morrison 

Clerk

43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Company Sergeant Major

3 May 1886

22 May 1916

Andrew Gray Nicol
[Ashdown Hardware, Next of Kin]

Clerk

Canadian Railway Troops

Lance Corporal

19 August 1886

4 April 1917

Glen Norton
[Law Society, Manitoba College, Next of Kin]

Law Student

1st Canadian Division Signal Company, Canadian Signal Corps

Lieutenant

17 March 1891

26 September 1916

John Frederick Norton DCM
[Engineering, Next of Kin]

Civil Engineer

Canadian Engineers

Lance Corporal

23 July 1893

7 August 1919

Robert Paterson

Laborer

43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Lance Corporal

4 May 1891

11 January 1917

Thomas Gordon Playford 

Physician

Canadian Army Medical Corps

Lieutenant

3 May 1896

5 June 1919

Lawrence Ducharme Pridham
[Next of Kin]

Clerk

4th Canadian Mounted Rifles

Company Sergeant Major

25 January 1890

9 August 1918

William Alexander Ross 

Salesman

27th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Corporal

24 July 1888

17 November 1915

John Shaw
[Next of Kin]

Farrier & Bank Clerk

43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Lieutenant

23 April 1892

1 October 1918

Alex T. Sim 

?

?

?

?

?

Alexander Beverage Sinclair
[Next of Kin, UGG]

Clerk

87th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

17 April 1895

5 September 1916

Robert James Smith

Steel Moulder

Training Depot, Canadian Engineers

Sapper

27 August 1890

4 December 1915

Garnet Kelvin Stewart
[Kelvin, Manitoba College, Next of Kin]

Student of Arts

Lord Strathcona’s Horse

Private

28 September 1897

2 April 1918

Benjamin Strachan 

Accountant

12th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps

Second Lieutenant

16 June 1888

18 May 1917

Bessie Gray Sutherland 

Nurse

Scottish Women's Hospital

Nursing Sister

16 October 1871

26 September 1915

Alexander Taylor 

?

?

?

?

?

Frederick Johnston Watson 

Chartered Accountant

43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Lieutenant

24 June 1888

10 June 1916

Edward Hull Williams
[Next of Kin]

Accountant

43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Sergeant

31 January 1885

8 October 1916

Major Percy Willson 

Salesman

5th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Lieutenant

23 August 1883

30 September 1916

William Johnstone Wilson
[Next of Kin]

Clerk

78th Battalion, Canadian Infantry

Private

3 November 1896

27 November 1916

Second World War

Name

Service

Rank

Birth Date

Death Date

Clifford Nairn Ackland

Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), Royal Canadian Infantry Corps

Lieutenant

28 May 1916

1 March 1945

Jack Douglas Baird

Royal Canadian Air Force

Flying Officer

29 March 1924

6 December 1944

James Murray Beatty

Royal Canadian Air Force

Flight Sergeant

16 October 1923

2 December 1943

Dennis Bryan Bennett

Royal Winnipeg Rifles, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps

Lieutenant

1 May 1921

14 September 1944

John Douglass Best

1666 Heavy Conversion Unit, Royal Canadian Air Force

Flight Lieutenant

19 October 1919

11 July 1944

Frank Dowler Bollert
[United College]

Royal Canadian Air Force

Aircraftman 1st Class

9 July 1920

20 June 1942

Wilson Gilmore Caldwell

102 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Flight Sergeant

18 March 1915

16 December 1941

Douglas Earl Cawker

432 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Flight Lieutenant

26 January 1920

22 March 1944

John Frederick Creba

427 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Flying Officer

27 February 1916

15 March 1944

Ralph Nelson Adams Creswell

Royal Canadian Air Force

Flight Sergeant

9 November 1916

31 May 1942

Roderick James Dunphy DFC

426 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Flight Lieutenant Navigator

15 June 1923

20 December 1943

Raymond Lee Duthoit

11 Field Ambulance, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

Private

18 January 1924

2 July 1945

William Messinger Hazelton

Royal Canadian Air Force

Pilot Officer

12 November 1921

5 August 1945

Donald Louden Henderson

408 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Flight Sergeant

19 August 1913

10 January 1942

Gordon Kirby Hignell

197 (RAF) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Pilot Officer

20 December 1918

23 July 1943

William John Kotchapaw
[Kelvin, St. James School]

1st Herefordshire Light Infantry (TA)

Lieutenant

25 November 1923

10 September 1944

Robert John Lawrie

53 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Warrant Officer Class II

6 February 1923

17 April 1944

Allan Munro Livingston
[Law Society]

Royal Canadian Artillery

Lieutenant

21 July 1918

2 September 1944

Robert John MacFarlane

HMCS Chatham, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve

Signalman

4 January 1924

12 October 1942

Angus Gordon MacIntosh

3 Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery

Gunner

28 June 1922

4 September 1944

James Archibald MacKelvie

414 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Flight Lieutenant

?

18 June 1944

William MacKenzie Manson

428 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Flight Sergeant

5 February 1920

29 April 1943

Wallace Andrew McKay

Royal Canadian Engineers

Sergeant

5 February 1915

30 April 1941

Hugh Stanton McRae

Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps

Captain

9 August 1914

30 April 1943

Harold Frederick Mogey

15 Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery

Captain

13 May 1913

28 October 1944

George Dixon Morrow

2 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery

Captain

22 February 1885

30 April 1941

Gordon Joseph Mullin

426 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Flying Officer

16 February 1917

1 November 1944

Frank MacGregor Myers

426 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Flying Officer

20 April 1924

5 March 1945

William James Pope

Royal Canadian Air Force

Flight Sergeant

1 June 1919

9 November 1942

John Murray Roberts

409 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Flying Officer

9 October 1914

27 July 1944

Gordon Melville Steventon

Royal Canadian Air Force

Leading Aircraftman

28 April 1917

15 September 1942

John Richards “Tuck” Tucker

401 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Pilot Officer

23 February 1921

26 July 1942

Agnes Wightman Wilkie
[Carman]

HMCS Avalon, Royal Canadian Navy

Nursing Sister

5 September 1904

14 October 1942

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Provincially Designated Historic Sites

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Municipally Designated Historic Sites

Sources:

“Noted divine to get call,” Winnipeg Tribune, 10 September 1909, page 9.

“Memorial to Dead Unveiled at Westminster,” Winnipeg Tribune, 5 February 1923, page 7.

Obituary [Nelson Richardson Mercer], Winnipeg Free Press, 9 January 1991, page 43.

Obituary [Allen Richard Huband], Winnipeg Free Press, 26 November 1993, page 49.

Information for this page was provided by The City of Winnipeg’s Planning, Property and Development Department, which acknowledges the contribution of the Government of Manitoba through its Heritage Grants Program.

Westminster United Church, Manitoba Historic Resources Branch.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough, Darryl Toews, and George Penner.

Page revised: 21 January 2024

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