Description of Historic Place

Ladner United Church, located at the corner of 48 Avenue and Ladner Street in the Village of Ladner, is a wood-frame Gothic Revival-style structure with a cross-gabled roof, Gothic pointed-arch windows and a corner bell tower. It is located near the heart of the historic town centre, within a predominantly residential neighbourhood, and is a local landmark in Ladner and the wider Delta community.

Heritage Value

Ladner United Church is valued as a community landmark and gathering place in the Village of Ladner. Opened in 1893 as St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, it served a Presbyterian congregation until 1925, when unification with the Ladner Methodist Church resulted in the formation of the Ladner United Church parish.

As one of the oldest buildings in Ladner, the church reflects the rich history of the community as well as the enduring values and traditions of the local inhabitants. In 1909, the structure was raised to permit the construction of a basement, and other ongoing additions have served the expanding congregation. In the 1980s, the basement was removed and the original church was restored to its original height. Despite a number of additions, the church has retained its original character and visual presence in the community, and remains a prominent landmark in historic Ladner Village. It continues to serve the community today as the Ladner United Church, an expanding, active congregation.

The Ladner United Church is also valued for its association with New Westminster architect George William Grant (1852-1925). Grant is recognized as one of the most prolific of British Columbia's early architects. Born in Nova Scotia, Grant developed an interest in architecture from an early age, and worked as a superintendent of construction on numerous projects until 1885, when he journeyed west in pursuit of employment. Due to the arrival of the main CPR line in New Westminster in 1886, Grant was able to establish a thriving architectural practice in that city, which was the centre of the Fraser Valley's burgeoning economy. Grant also designed St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in New Westminster, 1888-89; these remain as two of his finest surviving church designs. This church was built by prominent local contractor, John B. Elliot (1857-1930), after whom one of Ladner's streets is named. Elliot worked extensively throughout Delta, building many of the early homes and commercial buildings, as well as St Stephen's Presbyterian Church in East Delta in 1890-91.

The Ladner United Church is additionally valued as an important local example of the Gothic Revival style of architecture. Gothic pointed-arch windows with leaded stained glass, a steeply pitched cross-gabled roofline and a corner bell tower all contribute to the historic character of this church.

SOURCE: Corporation of Delta, Planning Department

Character-Defining Elements

Key elements that define the heritage character of the Ladner United Church include its:
- prominent corner location, near the centre of historic Ladner Village
- continuous use as a place of worship
- ecclesiastical form, scale and massing as expressed by its steeply pitched cross-gabled roof, and corner bell tower with bellcast steeple
- wood-frame construction with wooden drop siding and patterned wood shingles in the gable ends including diamond, fish scale, square, and octagonal shapes
- Gothic Revival-style details such as: Gothic pointed-arch windows with leaded stained glass panels; double and triple assembly-louvers in the bell tower; red-brick corbelled chimney; pointed bargeboards; decorative eave brackets and window hoods; and finials in the east and north gable peaks
- windows such as its Gothic pointed-arch windows with diamond paned glass and wooden window frames
- original interior features such as the wooden floor and pews