Posted by: Kathy Krywicki
From the Ottawa Citizen Monday, December 21, 1914: inauguration of the Calvin Presbyterian Church on Sunnyside at Fairbairn.
The property was sold to the Roman Catholic Diocese when the Calvin Church joined with Ottawa South Methodist Church to form Southminter United. The building now houses St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church.
Congregation in Ottawa South Hold Services in Handsome New Edifice
The opening services of the new Calvin Presybterian church, Sunnyside Avenue, Ottawa South, were held on Sunday. Both morning and evening services where conducted by the moderator of the general assembly, Rev. Dr. W.T. Herridge. Dr. Herridge gave inspiring sermons on each occasion to a crowded congregation. During the afternoon a children’s rally was held in the schoolroom, conducted by Rev. T.J. Thompson, of Glebe Presbyterian church, and the pastor of Calvin church, Rev. Orr Bennet.
A noteworthy feature of the opening services was the fact that the evening service of the Ottawa South Methodist church was cancelled, the congregation of the latter attending the evening service in Calvin church. Special music was arranged by the organist and choirleader, Mr. H. Lucas, and those taking the solo parts in the anthems were Mr. J. Walker and Mrs. Sheirlaw, in the morning, and Mr. Sheirlaw, Mrs. H. Lucas and Mr. H. Hawkins in the evening. At the Sunday school rally in the afternoon a number of diplomas for proficiency in scripture were presented to the pupils.
Tonight a congregational supper will be given from 5 to 7:30, after which special addresses will be heard.
Handsome Edifice
The new church is a handsome edifice carried out in stone, brick and concrete. The inside is of white plaster and stained woodwork, the pulpit and choir being in quarter cut oak.There are two main entrances on the north end of the building on Fairbairn avenue and a third on Sunnyside avenue. The lighting system is modern and gives a gentle volume of light. The windows are leaded with dormer windows down each side. The schoolroom is directly underneath the church and is large and well lighted. The vestries are also downstairs. The hot-air system is used for heating the building. It has a seating capacity of 500. The contractors were Robert McKinstry and Son, and the architect J.A. Ewart. The congregation formerly worshipped in the old Billings’ Bridge Presbyterian church.