George Street United Church, Methodist church building in downtown St. John's, Canada.
George Street United Church is a modified Gothic Revival church built in 1873 to Elijah Hoole's design, its whole exterior sheathed in concrete over stone quarried from the Southside Hills. Pointed arches, lancet windows and large stained glass windows remain, and the nave keeps its exposed timber hammerbeam roof. It is the oldest surviving Methodist church building in St. John's.
Built in 1873 under architect Elijah Hoole's design, the structure survived the Great Fire of 1892 that devastated much of St. John's. The congregation joined the United Church of Canada in 1925, reflecting broader changes in Protestant denominations across the region.
George Street was the second Methodist congregation in St. John's, after Gower Street, and the church joined the United Church of Canada in 1925. The congregation disbanded in June 2023 because of financial difficulties, and a final service marking the official closure was planned for October 2023.
The church stands on George Street in downtown St. John's, a short walk from the harbour and the city's main commercial streets. The congregation disbanded in June 2023 and a final service marking the official closure was planned for October 2023, so the building is no longer open for regular worship. Check locally before planning a visit to the interior.
The building was constructed entirely from stone quarried from Southside Hills near St. John's, connecting the structure to the local landscape and geology. The original timber beams and cross structures installed in 1873 remain visible and demonstrate the craftsmanship of that era.
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