Wallace United Church

Manitoba

Built in 1900, this stone building was erected by a Presbyterian congregation and was named Knox. Two years later, local Methodists built Zion Church situated one mile to the south. After the Great War, the two congregations talked about uniting and permission was received in July 1922, three years before the formal union across the country that formed the United Church of Canada. At that time, this former Presbyterian church became Wallace United Church. The Zion Methodist Church structure was sold and subsequently moved from its location.

The United Church was inaugurated on June 10, 1925 in Toronto, Ontario, when the Methodist Church, Canada, the Congregational Union of Canada, and 70 per cent of the Presbyterian Church of Canada entered into a union. Also joining was the small General Council of Union Churches, centred largely in Western Canada. It was the first union of churches in the world to cross historical denominational lines and received international acclaim. Each of the founding churches had a long history in Canada prior to 1925.

History of The United Church of Canada | The United Church of Canada (united-church.ca)

The above addition of, what I believe they refer to as the “Sunday School Room,” doesn’t really match the fine stonework of the original builders back in 1890.  However given the drop in the population of this remote rural area it’s commendable that they could accomplish what they have in adding to the church and the restoration work described below.

The above population chart is from the Manitoba Historical Society. Manitoba Communities: Wallace (Unincorporated Rural Municipality) (mhs.mb.ca)

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A 2020 Update

The following is a note to visitors from the Wallace United Church:

It seems that despite the dwindling population of this rural area of Manitoba, there remains a group of dedicated people to maintain a Board of Trustees to watch over the church. People have also stepped up to invest their time and money to maintain the church. I hope that they are successful in raising the funds that they need to keep this, another monument of stone and history, in great condition.

Sources and Citations:

The United Church of Canada website: History of The United Church of Canada | The United Church of Canada (united-church.ca) This was used for the above history of the United Church.

Manitoba Historical Society – Knox Presbyterian Church / Wallace United Church: Historic Sites of Manitoba: Knox Presbyterian Church / Wallace United Church (RM of Wallace-Woodworth) (mhs.mb.ca)

Manitoba Historical Society – Wallace (Unincorporated Rural Municipality): Manitoba Communities: Wallace (Unincorporated Rural Municipality) (mhs.mb.ca)

Manitoba Archival Information Network: Wallace United Church fonds – MAIN – Manitoba Archival Information Network (umanitoba.ca)

If you visit the structures shown in this blog, or any other old and potentially abandoned structure, please respect the landowners” rights and obtain their permission to access and photograph their structures. Always exercise caution when visiting abandoned buildings as there are potential dangers such as crumbling structures, deep wells hidden by grass, and even spores of mould in the air.