St. Stephen's Anglican church events/news

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St. Stephen's Anglican church events/news

Postby newsposter » Sun Jun 25, 2006 10:35 am

Updated October 2007. See bottom post for info on radio plays being staged at the historic church.

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Congratulations to St. Stephen's Anglican Church in Connaught on their 100th birthday (the Church's founding date is June 24, 1906). The church will be holding a grand homecoming weekend from September 8 to 10, including a banquet, historical displays and church tours. For more information contact the church: http://www.ststephenscalgary.org

More history below the photo.

Photo courtesy Sherlock77: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sherlock77/
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(check back - more photos will be added):

St. Stephen’s Anglican Church

The original church was a small wooden structure on the site of the current 1952 church and was built in 1906 (below right). Shortly thereafter a “twin” parish hall was built immediately to the east (below middle). In 1909 a tudor-revival style manse house was built on 10 Street (below left). The manse is the only one of the three original buildings that still exists and is clearly recognizable today.

Glenbow Archives photo www.glenbow.org
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In 1923, to serve an expanding congregation, the English tudor-style Memorial Hall was built to the west. Dedicated to the fallen of WW 1.

In the 1940s it became apparent that a larger church was needed. The congregation wanted to buy the park to the west, but the city refused. The church then decided to tear down the original church and parish hall. In 1948 a fundraising campaign was begun for the new church.

The new $110,000 church, built of concrete block and seating over 600, was opened in 1952. Architect was D.S. McIllroy, who also designed First Baptist Church and the Masonic Temple around Central Memorial Park. The builder was Burns and Dutton Concrete and Construction Co.

The new church includes the 1929 Casavant Freres organ and stained glass windows from the original church. It also includes chapels dedicated to Calgary's 50th Battalion (WW1) and the King’s Own Calgary Regiment (WW2). There is therefore an historic connection to Mewata armoury down 11 Street.

In 1956 and 1963 new modern structures were added to connect the existing Manse, church, and Memorial Hall, including the 1963 Education Building by Cohos DeLesalle Architects. The site is a unique complex that includes five buildings constructed at five different times, plus elements from a sixth building.

The manse, church and Memorial Hall are on the city's heritage inventory.

Bonus info: The congregation that built the church first met in a small house on 10th Street SW, between 11th and 12th Avenues. The house was recently demolished to make way for the sales centre for the Nova condo project.
Last edited by newsposter on Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:41 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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Postby newsposter » Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:37 pm

Radio play being staged at historic St. Stephen's Anglican Church in Connaught-Beltline, Friday October 26, 7:30 tickets at the door.

Herald Story:
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/new ... 693db999ec

More on the historic church above.
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