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Minoru Chapel

7191 Granville Avenue, Richmond, British Columbia, V6Y, Canada

Formally Recognized: 1979/05/28

Exterior view of the Minoru Chapel with Pierrefonds Gardens in foreground; Richmond Archives photo no. 1978 27 10
Front elevation
Exterior view of the Minoru Chapel, in Minoru Park, Richmond, BC, 2001; Denise Cook Design 2001
Front elevation
No Image

Other Name(s)

Richmond Mission Methodist Church
Richmond United Church
Minoru Chapel

Links and documents

Construction Date(s)

1891/01/01

Listed on the Canadian Register: 2005/03/02

Statement of Significance

Description of Historic Place

Minoru Chapel is a small, L-shaped wooden church building with a gable roof and square tower set within the open space of Minoru Park. The historic place is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

Constructed in 1891, Minoru Chapel has been recognized as a rare, early religious facility, originally built as part of a complex of church structures for the Richmond Mission Methodist Church, and the original Town Hall. The church was located at the corner of River Road and Cambie Road, a site selected because the main form of transportation for Richmond's early settlers was by water; the interior of the Lulu Island was largely undrained at this time and as a result, a road system had not yet been developed. The church represents the vision of the early pioneers working to establish communities and a religious structure in Richmond, a picturesque landmark associated with the development of religious institutions in Richmond.

The oldest extant church building in Richmond, the Chapel is also significant as a fine example of the vernacular Carpenter Gothic building style, internationally renowned, and having both unique and characteristic stylistic features, such as its tower, pointed windows and decorative elements.

As a restoration project to celebrate the 1967 Centennial, the Chapel is symbolic of the community's social and spiritual values, chosen to be a memorial to Richmond's past and to serve the present community as a non-denominational church.

Source: City of Richmond Clerk's Department File #4200-02.

Character-Defining Elements

Character defining elements of Minoru Chapel include:
- The overall massing of the building, including the L-shaped plan with cross gable roof, the asymmetry of the building and the square church tower in the corner of the L
- The ornate tower with an open balcony, wooden fretwork brackets, decorative shingles, spindle balustrades and bell
- Details such as the pointed arch over the doorway, the hipped octagonal turret roof, and decorative eave brackets
- The windows, including the rose window in the tower, the elaborate stained glass three-part windows with triangular pointed arches, and the single pointed arch stained glass windows
- The pointed arch transom window with internal fretwork over the doorway
- The building cladding which is wooden drop siding and fish scale shingles in the gable ends
- Original interior layout and details including arched doorways, decorative beams and ceiling trusses, and original furnishings including the pews and altar
- The traditional semi-public use of the space, typical of religious institutions, and its current interdenominational nature

Recognition

Jurisdiction

British Columbia

Recognition Authority

Local Governments (BC)

Recognition Statute

Local Government Act, s.967

Recognition Type

Heritage Designation

Recognition Date

1979/05/28

Historical Information

Significant Date(s)

n/a

Theme - Category and Type

Building Social and Community Life
Religious Institutions

Function - Category and Type

Current

Religion, Ritual and Funeral
Religious Facility or Place of Worship

Historic

Architect / Designer

B.D. Poice

Builder

Ira McLaren

Additional Information

Location of Supporting Documentation

City of Richmond Clerk's Department File #4200-02. See also: City of Richmond Archives.

Cross-Reference to Collection

Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier

DhRs-387

Status

Published

Related Places

n/a

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