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George Street United Church

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1C, Canada

Formally Recognized: 2000/03/25

Exterior photo, main facade, George Street United Church, St. John's, Newfoundland.; Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, 2005
George Street United Church, St. John's, NL
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Other Name(s)

n/a

Links and documents

Construction Date(s)

1873/01/01

Listed on the Canadian Register: 2005/02/09

Statement of Significance

Description of Historic Place

Built in 1873, George Street United Church is the oldest Methodist church in St. John’s. Designed by Elijah Hoole, it is a stone church built in the Gothic Revival style of architecture. This designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

George Street United Church is designated as a Registered Heritage Structure due to its architectural and historical values.

George Street United Church is architecturally valuable as a fine example of a modified Gothic Revival church. Constructed of local stone quarried from the Southside Hills, the entire building is sheathed in concrete. Despite this, many typical Gothic elements remain intact including the pointed arch lancet windows and the large stained glass windows. Furthermore, the interior of this church is architecturally valuable for its well-preserved woodwork. The exposed timber hammerbeam roof of the nave is a typical Gothic element.

George Street United Church is also architecturally valuable for its association with British architect, Elijah Hoole. Hoole was a well known architect whose other works included Gower Street United Church in St. John’s. Furthermore, George Street United Church was built by local master builder William Campbell and locally known mason Richard Atwill.

George Street United Church is historically valuable as the oldest Methodist Church in St. John’s. Built in 1873, George Street United Church is one of the only churches in the downtown area to survive the Great Fire of 1892. This Church is also historically valuable because August 5, 1874 it was the site of the Organizational Assembly of the First Methodist Conference. Up until this point, Newfoundland had been a district of the Conference of Eastern British America. Reverend George Mulligan, who as Superintendent Minister of the St. John’s circuit was the principal minister of George Street Church, was elected first President of the new conference at this meeting.

Source: Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador unnumbered property file: St. John’s-George Street United Church

Character-Defining Elements

All those elements that are representative of the ecclesiastical Gothic Revival style of architecture, including:
-stained glass windows;
-hammerbeam roof;
-interior woodwork;
-stone construction;
-concrete sheathing;
-turrets at West end of church;
-kicked eaves; and,
-cruciform layout.

Recognition

Jurisdiction

Newfoundland and Labrador

Recognition Authority

Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador

Recognition Statute

Historic Resources Act

Recognition Type

Registered Heritage Structure

Recognition Date

2000/03/25

Historical Information

Significant Date(s)

n/a

Theme - Category and Type

Building Social and Community Life
Religious Institutions

Function - Category and Type

Current

Historic

Religion, Ritual and Funeral
Religious Facility or Place of Worship

Architect / Designer

Elijah Hoole

Builder

Richard Atwill

Additional Information

Location of Supporting Documentation

Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, 1 Springdale Street, St. John's, A1C 5V5

Cross-Reference to Collection

Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier

NL-1480

Status

Published

Related Places

n/a

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