Minoru Chapel

General Information

Type of Resource: Building
Common Name: Richmond Methodist Mission Church/Richmond United Church
Address: 7191 Granville Avenue
Neighbourhood (Planning Area Name): City Centre
Construction Date: 1891
Current Owner: Municipal Government
Designated: Yes

Statement of Significance

Description of Site

Minoru Chapel is an L-shaped, Carpenter Gothic church building with a corner entry tower. Located in Minoru Park, a complex of arts, culture and sports facilities in a park setting, the chapel is surrounded by mature trees, lawn areas and paved walking paths, and on the east side, the formal Pierrefonds gardens.

Statement of Values

A city-designated heritage resource, Minoru Chapel was originally built as part of a cluster of associated church buildings on a site at the corner of River Road and Cambie Road where it could be easily accessed by water, necessary due to its very early construction date when Richmond’s interior road system had not yet been developed. The building is significant as an excellent example of the Carpenter Gothic building style, and has become an internationally renowned chapel, often used by couples seeking an exotic location for a ceremony. The Chapel is the oldest extant church in Richmond, although not on its original site, and has some unique stylistic features. It is associated with the development of the early churches in Richmond, and was chosen to be a memorial to Richmond’s past and to serve the present multi-cultural community as a non-denominational chapel. The chapel and Pierrefonds gardens were collectively designated a provincial heritage site in 1979.

Character Defining Elements

Key elements that define the heritage character of the site include: · Its excellence as an example of the vernacular Carpenter Gothic style, part of the widespread gothic revival in church building which occurred in the late 1900’s · Its historical association to the development of early religious society in Richmond · Its status as a community landmark and its use as a venue for weddings, baptisms and other important events · Its unique L-shaped structure and irregular massing with a square corner entry tower, not typical of other rectangular churches built around this time · Quality of design and construction in the details, such as the ornate tower, decorative eave brackets and leaded glass windows with triangular pointed arches.

History

The Richmond Methodist Mission was formed in 1888. It’s first church, the Richmond Methodist Mission Church, known today as Minoru Chapel, was originally built as part of a cluster of associated church buildings on a site at the corner of River Road and Cambie Road. This location was chosen because the main form of transportation for Richmond’s early settlers was by water; the interior of the island was largely undrained at this time and there were few usable roads. As with other churches in Richmond, it was affected by the unification of churches in 1925. This union brought together Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregationalist churches under the banner of the United Church of Canada, and in doing so, changed their structure. After the unification, it became known as the Richmond United Church. It was moved to Minoru Park in 1967 as a centennial project. In 1968, it was consecrated as Minoru Chapel, the Chapel in the Park. The chapel takes its name from Minoru Park, which was named after Edward VII’s famed racehorse. It was chosen to be a memorial to Richmond’s past, and to serve the present multi-cultural community as a non-denominational chapel. The chapel and gardens were collectively designated a provincial heritage site on May 28, 1979. The original church complex at River and Cambie Roads consisted of the Mission church, stables, manse and church hall. Of the original buildings, only the hall remains on the original site as the Richmond Rod and Gun club.

Architectural Significance

Architectural Style

Carpenter Gothic/Gothic Revival

Building Type

Religious – Church – Methodist; Interdenominational Chapel

Name of Architect or Builder

The architect was B.D. Poice, in consultation with the minister, Reverend S.J. Thompson. The builder was Ira McLaren.

Design Features

The church has a unique L-shaped structure and irregular massing with a corner entry tower. These features are not typical of the rectangular churches in general, and Methodist churches in particular, built around this time. The foundation is concrete, newly constructed when the building was moved. The roof is a cross gable, and the entry tower has a tall steeple with a hipped octagonal turret roof. The roof covering is cedar shingle, presumed to be original. The tower is very ornate, with an open balcony, wooden fretwork brackets and spindle balustrades. There are eave brackets below the tower roof and decorative shingling on the tower itself. The building is clad in wooden drop-siding, with wooden fish scale shingles in the gable ends, and corner boards. The windows are triangular pointed arches, most with elaborately designed coloured leaded glass; the major central windows have a triple pane arrangement. Rose windows are located over the entries. The doorways have a shaped transom window above.

Construction Method

Wood frame construction.

Landscape Significance

Landscape Element

Minoru Park and Pierrefonds Gardens

Integrity

Alterations:There have been several alterations, which have affected the integrity of the church. One of the most critical is the removal of the building from its original site, which affects its significance as a structure accessed by water. The building now faces the north west, which means that its original aspect to the south has not been retained. Earlier documents indicate that a corbelled brick chimney has been removed. The new ramp, entry and railings are not sympathetic to the original architectural style. Importantly, the characteristic mix of colours and textures in buildings exteriors which define high Romantic architecture have been removed and replaced by a homogenous white colour scheme. This both affects the overall historic character of the building, and reduces the horizontal emphasis of the architecture.
Original Location: No
Lost: No

Condition

The building is in very good condition.

Documentation

Evaluated By: Denise Cook BLA, PBD (Public History)
Evaluation Date: Sunday, September 24, 2000

Inventory Sheets by Foundation Group Designs, January 1990 “Heritage Inventory Phase II” by Foundation Group Designs May 1989 City of Richmond Heritage Inventory by Julie MacDonald, September 2000 “A History of Canadian Architecture” by Harold Kalman 1994