NEWS PHOTO JEREMY APPEL
Rev. Dave Pollard stands beside the plaque unveiled at Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019 marking its official designation as a heritage site.
jappel@medicinehatnews.com@MHNJeremyAppel
Downtown’s Fifth Avenue Memorial Church has been officially designated a municipal historical site, the 14th location in Medicine Hat bestowed with the honour.
Rev. Dave Pollard told the News the designation speaks to the “role of the church and its relationship to the community.”
“I was attracted to the commitment this congregation has to the community, to the vulnerable, to folks who are at risk, but also its commitment to the youth and children of the congregation,” he said, touting its Sunday school program and worship arts, such as music and drama. “They really support unique ways of being a church.”
Congregant Martha Munz Gue and Mayor Ted Clugston unveiled a plaque marking this status at a Tuesday afternoon ceremony hosted city Heritage Resources Committee vice-chair Wayne Lust.
Pollard said the designation allows the church to apply for grants to assist in its upkeep that it wouldn’t have been eligible for otherwise.
“It will allow us to be methodical in how we preserve the building,” he said, citing the roof replacement a few years ago – shortly after he became reverend at the church – as one example.
“We’re looking at various other restoration programs that need to take place … It just creates a wonderful atmosphere downtown when we preserve architecture as opposed to changing it.”
According to the unveiled plaque, the church was built from 1911-1913 and again in 1931 after a devastating fire.
The building housed a Methodist Church until 1925, when it became Fifth Avenue United Church.
After amalgamating with another congregation in 1998, it became known as Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church, which it remains to this day.
“This church holds a special place in my heart,” said Clugston, who had his wedding there.
City council approved the designation earlier this year. Clugston said there were delays due to it being located in front of an orphan gas well.
Lust says the role of the committee is to protect and preserve historical sites, in addition to educating the public about the sites’ role in our heritage.
“Some of the heritage sites we look at are buildings, such as churches – like we’re dealing with today – businesses, such as Medalta, residences, such as the Ewart Duggan House, structures like Finlay Bridge, and areas like First Street,” said Lust.
He said Saratoga Park is likely the next site to get designated.
