McDougall's Storied History

Our Early History

Rev. McDougall

1st church - Circa 1872

McDougall is the original and oldest Protestant congregation in Alberta.

The church was named after an early Methodist missionary by the name of Rev. George McDougall (1821-1876) who arrived in Edmonton with his wife Elizabeth Chantler in 1871.

Construction of the first church was completed in 1873.

2nd church with McDougall Manse in foreground - Circa 1892

A second church built in 1892 helped to accommodate the growing congregation.

The current sanctuary was built in 1910 and seated 2,000 people. That was when Edmonton had a population of 20,000 and the church was the crossroads of the community.

After 1925 the congregation was merged with three other denominations, Presbyterian, Congregational and Methodist to form the United Church of Canada.

1st church building on 1885 street in Fort Edmonton Park

The old wooden 1873 church building was moved to Fort Edmonton Park in 1977 where it now serves as a museum on 1885 Street.

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Historical Vignettes

The spirit for this congregation was set by it’s founder, Rev. George McDougall, and it has been an historic cornerstone in this city for over 100 years.

Culture, politics and community service were all part of our intentional, innovative beginnings. In the early and mid 19th century, the Christian values of the Church became the values of Canada and of Edmontonians.

For over 100 years, the current building (1910) has served as a pillar and the crossroads of the community. It cost about $70,000 to build. But McDougall Church is more than the sum of its parts. It is history...

• McDougall and the Methodist Church first employed Annie Jackson as a social worker and went on to become the first female police constable in the British Empire.
• World War I saw the Ladies Aid send thousands of packages to soldiers overseas and sewed thousands of garments for the city’s poor.
• During World War II, McDougall served as a social hub for many of the visiting servicemen in the city.
• We housed a Red Cross plasma-collection centre.
• McDougall was the first home of the predecessor of the Edmonton Symphony.
• It was the original home of the Edmonton Opera.
• We were home to music festivals.
• McDougall was the first home of the Salvation Army.
• It was the site of suffragette rallies in the 1900s and served as a union hall.
• We were the site of the University of Alberta Convocations.
  

Today, McDougall United Church continues its proud tradition of community outreach and social justice, and is a spiritual home for a diverse congregation. As well, we continue to open our doors to the wider community in partnership with this great city and its people.

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