Saint James United Church (Montreal)
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Saint James United Church is a heritage church in downtown Montreal, Quebec.
The French Gothic church was designed by Montreal architect Alexander F. Dunlop. It is noteworthy for its false apse housing church offices and for its Casavant Frères organ.
When it was built in June 1889, it was the largest Methodist church in Canada, with 2,000 seats; it was nicknamed the "Cathedral Church of Methodism." It now belongs to the United Church of Canada, into which the Canadian Methodists merged in 1925. Its congregation founded the first YMCA in North America in November 25, 1851 (before the present church building was built) and led an active campaign for women's suffrage early in the 20th century.
In 1927, to cover upkeep costs, the church permitted a commercial building to be built in front of its Sainte Catherine Street façade. The building, adjoining the church's structure, concealed the church for over 78 years, the church itself being announced by a large neon sign. As part of an $8-million restoration effort sponsored by the city of Montreal and the Quebec government, a portion of the commercial buildings was demolished in 2005, revealing the church once more.
It is located at 463 Sainte Catherine Street West between Saint Alexandre and City Councillors Streets (McGill metro station), in the borough of Ville-Marie.
[edit] External links
- Saint James United Church
- Religious Heritage - St. James United Church - rather out of date now. The front buildings have come down now.
- Religious Heritage - The story of St. James United
- Saint James, la résurrection (La Presse, August 20, 2005)
