Building Name

St George’s-in-the-Pines 100 Beaver Street. Banff Alberta. Canada

Date
1889 - 1926
Street
100 Beaver Street
District/Town
Banff
County/Country
Alberta, Canada
Work
New Build

In 1889 Lady Stanley, wife of Canada's Governor General, dedicated a cornerstone for the church, designed by Frank P. Oakley of Manchester, England.  However, lack of finances delayed construction, and it was not until 1897 that the chancel, was built, with its western end boarded up, so that worship could be held inside. The limestone for this work came from the Spray River quarry, across the river from the Banff Springs Hotel. The parish erected a tent to hold the large summer congregations.

Work began in 1901 on the first two bays of the nave. In 1906 a log bungalow rectory for the clergy was built on Buffalo Street below the church. Until then the clergy had boarded with the Park Superintendent. This log rectory was only replaced with a modern home in the early 1960's.  Two further bays of the nave were built in 1906 and 1914, and during 1918‑19 the final bay, west wall and porch were built as a memorial to those who lost their lives in World War I. The Bishop of Calgary, the Right Reverend William Pinkham, consecrated St. George's in June, 1920, thirty‑one years after the laying of the cornerstone.  The final addition to the church building proper was the bell tower in 1926.

Reference    RIBA Drawings Collection.:  Banff (Canada): Church of Saint George, Rocky Mountains Park, design [PB123/15]