First United Church, Church building in Centretown Heritage Conservation District, Ottawa, Canada
First United Church is a church building in Centretown that was designed by Moses Chamberlain Edey and completed in 1906 with Gothic Revival architectural details. The structure sits prominently on Bank Street and features the distinctive design elements typical of religious buildings from that era.
The building began as Stewarton Presbyterian Church and received its cornerstone from Ontario Lieutenant Governor Sir Mortimer Clarke during construction. The congregation later joined the United Church of Canada, part of a broader movement of church unions in Canada during that period.
The church holds memorial plaques honoring congregation members who died in World War I, reflecting the deep connection between this community and Ottawa's past. These reminders show how the place served as a gathering point for families during difficult times.
On the second floor, Centre 507 operates as an outreach center providing food and clothing to people in need in the local community. Visitors should plan to access the upper floor through the building's entrance when visiting this social service operation.
The congregation formed through multiple mergers, with a Methodist and Presbyterian union taking place in 1961 and a third community joining in 2008. This evolution shows how different religious communities in Ottawa consolidated into a single unified faith community.
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