Preserving a piece of history

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/01/2020 (2270 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A face lift is in store for the “Big Red Church” on Cobourg Avenue.

“The rose window is a focal point in the community,” said George Graham, board chair at Gordon-King Memorial United Church. “What we’re trying to do with this window is preservation and maintenance.”

Construction of the church, located at 127 Cobourg Ave., started over 100 years ago. In 1927, a 14.5-foot stained glass window was installed above the first floor balcony. 

“The rose window represents the miracle of life. There are 12 circles which represent the 12 apostles,” explained Dr. Barbara Paterson, a retired Canada Research Chair and board member at Gordon-King, adding that the rose window and the design of the church itself is a holdover from the Gothic revival era.

Now, the iconic window needs a major refurbishment.

“The issue with the rose window is that in those days they didn’t have the materials we have today,” Paterson said.

“You remember how your grandpa or my grandpa used to knead the putty in their hands and then putty the glass in?” Graham added. “That was the technology of the day for weather protection. Over the years, panes have cracked, been replaced, not been replaced. The putty has fallen out and the wood has deteriorated. That weather protection is very much compromised at this time.”

After consulting with contractors, two options were presented. The first involved removing the window and remounting it into an anodized aluminum frame. The second and less costly option, which the board opted to pursue, involves restoring the curved wood frame piece by piece. 

“They’ll take the exterior glazing out, reconstitute the metal frame, and then put a double-glazed glass in a modern, gasket sealing system as opposed to putty on the outside to create a weather-proof seal from the outside,” Graham said, noting Yarrow Sash & Door have been contracted for the job. 

The board at Gordon-King have applied for a number of grants, and recently got word that the Sir Thomas Cropo Foundation will be contributing $35,840 towards the restoration project. While the church has applied for other grants to cover the remaining half of the costs, it is also asking the community to donate to the cause.

“This church has a commitment to being a community church,” Paterson said. “We do a lot of things that have nothing to do with worship that involves the community. A lot of things happen here.”

Graham added that while the restoration of the rose window is a priority, the church is also engaged in applying for grants and raising funds for a number of other improvements to the church.

“We hope to upgrade our washrooms and kitchen, which are things we’re trying to do for the community as well as ourselves, to make this place a more inviting and comfortable place for happenings to be at,” he said. 

For more information, or to contribute to the fundraising efforts, visit www.thebigredchurch127.com

Sheldon Birnie
Community Journalist

Sheldon Birnie is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. The author of Missing Like Teeth: An Oral History of Winnipeg Underground Rock (1990-2001), his writing has appeared in journals and online platforms across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. A husband and father of two young children, Sheldon enjoys playing guitar and rec hockey when he can find the time. Email him at sheldon.birnie@freepress.mb.ca Call him at 204-697-7112

   Read full biography