Old church

SB and I went for a drive last weekend up the river, where we found quite a few nice historical and heritage sites. One of them, below, is the St. Andrew's on the Red, the oldest stone church still being used in Western Canada. It was built for the Anglican Diocese between 1845 and 1849, which means that it's celebrating its 160th birthday next year.

Although it has always been an Anglican church, its stonemason was Duncan McRae, a Presbyterian with a taste for the liquor. McRae's days of heavy labour came to an end when he fell off the scaffolding during construction of this very church.



Although it's a very unpretentious building, there are several nice details like these hand-forged hinges on the front door.



And these braces, stabilising the beams/columns under the 2nd floor balcony. The 'nails' holding this together are actually square wooden pegs. Note the rough wall texture.



Some of the stained glass windows. If you look closely at the depth of the wall, you'll see that it's over 2 feet thick!



Legend has it that the length of the central portion of the building (the "nave") was decided on in a way that we might find sort of amusing now, but makes a fair amount of sense. The following is a quote from David and Maureen Butterfield's book, If Walls Could Talk:

"McRae argues that the church Cockran [the Archdeacon -- ed.] envisions is far too long for the human voice, specifically that of the Archdeacon's, to carry. But Cockran disagrees. He insists the mason stand where the back of the church is projected to be. He blazes forth his first sermon on that very spot. "Duncan McRae," he bellows, "they tell me that you drink more rum than is good for you. In future, curb your bestial desires and try to live a sober, righteous and Godly life." McRae, stung, but still in control of his wit, replies that in fact, contrary to his former opinion, "the church is nae long enough.""