St. James United Church (Montreal) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St. James United Church
St. James United Church on Saint Catherine Street in Downtown Montreal.
St. James United Church Location in Montreal
45°30′19″N 73°34′07″W / 45.5054°N 73.5686°W / 45.5054; -73.5686
Location	1435 City Councillors street Montreal, Quebec H3A 2E4
Denomination	United Church of Canada
Previous denomination	Methodist Church of Canada
Website	www.stjamesmontreal.ca/
History
Status	active
Founded	1803
Architecture
Architect(s)	Alexander Francis Dunlop
Architectural type	Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	1887
Completed	1889
Specifications
Capacity	1,200
Number of spires	2
Administration
Presbytery	Quebec Presbytery
Synod	Montreal and Ottawa Conference

Saint James United Church is a beautiful and historic church located in Downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is a Protestant church that is part of the United Church of Canada. You can find it on Saint Catherine Street West, close to the McGill metro station. This important building was named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1996.

The church was designed by a Montreal architect named Alexander Francis Dunlop. Its style is called Gothic Revival, which means it looks like old Gothic churches. It's special because it has a false apse (a rounded part of a church) that holds offices. It also has a famous Casavant Frères organ.

History of St. James United Church
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History of St. James United Church

Early Days and Growth

When the church was built in June 1889, it was the biggest Methodist church in Canada. It had enough space for 2,000 people to sit! Because it was so large, people often called it the "Cathedral Church of Methodism."

In 1925, the Canadian Methodist churches joined with other churches to form the United Church of Canada. St. James Church became part of this new group.

The people who attended this church were very active in their community. They helped start the very first YMCA in North America on November 25, 1851. This happened even before the current church building was constructed. The church members also worked hard to support women's suffrage, which was the movement to give women the right to vote, in the early 1900s.

Remembering World War I

Inside the church, there is a special stained-glass window that remembers World War I. It was created in 1924 by Charles William Kelsey. The window shows a scene from a trench, which was a type of shelter used by soldiers.

This window honors 32 church members who died fighting overseas. It also remembers 267 other members who served in the war. The smaller windows next to it show important virtues like Justice, Prudence, Temperance, and Fortitude.

Hidden and Revealed Facade

In 1927, the church allowed a commercial building to be built right in front of its main entrance on Sainte Catherine Street. This building completely covered the church's beautiful front for more than 78 years. The only way people knew the church was there was by a large neon sign.

However, in 2005, a big restoration project began. The city of Montreal and the Quebec government helped pay for this $8-million effort. Part of the commercial building was taken down. This finally revealed the church's original facade once again! A new public square was also created in front of the church. Now, people can easily see the church and access the lawn behind it from Sainte Catherine Street.