Wesley became the first Methodist Church in Prince Albert in 1880, under the spiritual guidance of the Reverend Arthur Whiteside, who travelled by boat down the North Saskatchewan River from Edmonton. He named his new Mission Church in
honour of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism in the 1700’s. The Methodist Congregation voted in favour of Union with the Presbyterians and the Congregationalists in 1925, and established itself under its new name, Wesley United Church. The Reverend Tony Thompson has been the covenanted minister since 2003.
The current building (the right side portion in the photo) that houses Wesley United Church was dedicated in 1954. The Christian Education wing (left side portion) which includes Mutchmor Hall (named in honour of a previous minister, The Rev. Dr. Harry Mutchmor, brother to a former Moderator of the United Church of Canada, The Very Rev. Dr. James Mutchmor), was dedicated in the early 1960's. The Humpty's Cooperative Day Care has used the space in the area below Mutchmor Hall and the front lawn for many years. The old Wesley building stood on the corner of 11th St. E. and 1st Ave. E., where the day care playground now exists.
Wesley United Church is one of the few churches in Prince Albert to have an organ built by Cassavante Freres of Montreal. This company as estimated that the replacement value of this particular instrument is $ 350,000.00!
The windows along both walls of the Sanctuary, as well as over the Choir portion and over the balcony, give Wesley United Church a bright vista, in spite of its size. Pews made of light-wood add to the brightness. The main sanctuary seats 250; an additional 200 can be seated in the balcony. A state-of-the-art sound system was installed in 2011. The major handicap of having such a bright sanctuary is that it makes it difficult to include some of the modern technology, such as overheads, and hymns projected rather than in a hymnary.
The setting at the front of the Sanctuary is very much in keeping with the traditional Methodist arrangement: the Word is read from the lectern, which stand son one side; the sermon is delivered on the other side, from the pulpit; the Communion Table rests n the centre, bridging Word and Interpretation!
honour of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism in the 1700’s. The Methodist Congregation voted in favour of Union with the Presbyterians and the Congregationalists in 1925, and established itself under its new name, Wesley United Church. The Reverend Tony Thompson has been the covenanted minister since 2003.
The current building (the right side portion in the photo) that houses Wesley United Church was dedicated in 1954. The Christian Education wing (left side portion) which includes Mutchmor Hall (named in honour of a previous minister, The Rev. Dr. Harry Mutchmor, brother to a former Moderator of the United Church of Canada, The Very Rev. Dr. James Mutchmor), was dedicated in the early 1960's. The Humpty's Cooperative Day Care has used the space in the area below Mutchmor Hall and the front lawn for many years. The old Wesley building stood on the corner of 11th St. E. and 1st Ave. E., where the day care playground now exists.
Wesley United Church is one of the few churches in Prince Albert to have an organ built by Cassavante Freres of Montreal. This company as estimated that the replacement value of this particular instrument is $ 350,000.00!
The windows along both walls of the Sanctuary, as well as over the Choir portion and over the balcony, give Wesley United Church a bright vista, in spite of its size. Pews made of light-wood add to the brightness. The main sanctuary seats 250; an additional 200 can be seated in the balcony. A state-of-the-art sound system was installed in 2011. The major handicap of having such a bright sanctuary is that it makes it difficult to include some of the modern technology, such as overheads, and hymns projected rather than in a hymnary.
The setting at the front of the Sanctuary is very much in keeping with the traditional Methodist arrangement: the Word is read from the lectern, which stand son one side; the sermon is delivered on the other side, from the pulpit; the Communion Table rests n the centre, bridging Word and Interpretation!