Wood Stove Church

Letter from the Womens’ Auxiliary – 1947

835 Somerset Ave.
Fort Garry
Feb. 9, 1947
Professor Lowe, Chairman of the Official Board

Dear Mr. Lowe,

The Womens’ Auxiliary of the United Church of Fort Garry have asked me to forward to you the following resolution which was passed at the last executive meeting.

The need for a larger and warmer building is immediate if we wish to keep let alone add to our present congregation and it is their wish that action be started immediately toward this end. The board can be assured of the fullest cooperation from the W.A.

Yours very sincerely,

Marjorie M. Fennell (Sec.)

While going through the church archives I came across this letter in the book of Official Minutes of the Board. Minutes of board meetings have been kept since the 1920s and for many years were handwritten with a fountain pen in lined notebooks. At the time the letter was written the church was located just off Pembina Highway on North Drive with no water, and heat provided by a wood stove. By 1947 the population of Fort Garry was rapidly expanding with the building of Wildwood Park and many new streets opening up. Plans were already in the works for a new building, with a Building Fund Committee appointed in 1944. I imagine the women were becoming impatient when they sent the letter. In April 1947 one month later a vote was held to locate the new church building at the present location of Point Road and Lyon Street. The “new church” involved moving the original building and enlarging it with a kitchen, washrooms, hot and cold running water, and a heating system.  The first service at the Point Road site was held December 21, 1947.

- Bettina Allen

The Church building in 1936.