First Presbyterian Church (Edmonton)

First Presbyterian Church is a historic Presbyterian Church in Canada congregation and Gothic Revival church building in the city's downtown core of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.[1][2] The congregation celebrated its 125th anniversary in November 2006.

First Presbyterian Church
Religion
AffiliationPresbyterian Church in Canada
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusChurch
Location
Location10025 105 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 1C8
Geographic coordinates53°32′23″N 113°30′03″W
Architecture
Architect(s)Wilson and Herrald
StyleLate Victorian Gothic Revival
Completed1912
Specifications
Capacity>300
MaterialsRed brick, Sandstone

History

The Organizational Meeting for this congregation was held on November 3, 1881, and the first building opened at 104 Street and 99 Avenue a year later. The second structure was completed and dedicated in July 1902 at 103 Street and Jasper Avenue. The present building was completed in November 1912.[3] In September 1978 the building was designated a Provincial Historic Resource.[4]

Notable ministers

A notable minister was The Rev. David George McQueen, DD, LLD who served for 43 years, starting in 1887 upon graduation from Knox College, University of Toronto, and guided the formation of numerous congregations in the area. He served as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1912 (hosted by First in the second building) and as "Interim Moderator" in 1925, before Ephraim Scott was elected to resume the "Continuing Presbyterian Church".[5] McQueen's predecessor and FPC's founding Minister was Rev. Andrew Browning Baird, DD, who arrived in Edmonton before the arrival of the railway, but left Edmonton for a professorship at Manitoba College (and like his successor, was also PCC Moderator, in 1916).

It is said that McQueen was a staunch opponent of Church Union in 1925, and that First Presbyterian Edmonton was the seat of the "rebellion" which saw 1/3 of the Presbyterian Church remain independent of the newly formed United Church of Canada.

References
  1. Munro, Kenneth J (2004). First Presbyterian Church, Edmonton: a history. Victoria, B.C.: Trafford Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4120-2337-5. OCLC 55973862. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  2. Alberta Registered Historic Places
  3. "First Presbyterian Church (Edmonton, Alta.)". Our Roots / Nos Racines. University of Calgary, Université Laval. 2006. Archived from the original on 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
  4. "Historical Walking Tours of Downtown Edmonton" (PDF). Edmonton: Alberta Community Development, Heritage Resource Management Branch; The City of Edmonton, Planning and Development Department. June 2004. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  5. "Historical Vignettes: Presbyterianism in Western Canada". The Presbyterian Church in Canada - Archives and Records Office. 2003. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2009-05-07.


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