Urban Missions

All Peoples’ Mission fonds Description

For a selection of related photographs and documents please use the search tool located on the right side of our home page.

All Peoples’ Mission – General History

The Mission originated in 1889 when Dolly McGuire started a Sunday School for immigrant children in the North End of Winnipeg at McDougall Methodist Church at the corner of King and Dufferin Avenue. Classes began in a lean-to constructed up against the church. The popularity of the classes inspired the Methodist Mission Board to officially form a mission for new Canadian immigrants in 1890. The mission, known as the McDougall Mission, rented space on Main Street to accommodate expanding attendance. When the McDougall Methodist Church constructed a new church structure in 1893, the McDougall Mission took over the old McDougall Church and moved it to Austin Street, within close proximity of the CPR station. A sign was eventually attached to the mission which read “A House of Prayer for All People’ in eight languages. The Mission took its name from a passage in Isaiah 5, 7: “Mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

Some of the first ministers supplied by conference to the Mission included Richard L. Morrison, Alfred A. Thompson, Hamilton Wigle and James S. Woodsworth. In 1901, All Peoples’ bought a church structure from the Congregationalists on Maple Street, located between Higgins and MacDonald. The Maple Street Church would serve as the first branch station of All Peoples’ Mission in Winnipeg. Rev. R. Morrison became the first Superintendent of the Mission and the name “Maple Street Mission” was adopted. In 1904, a mission for Slavic immigrants was established on Stella and Powers (in the former Bethlehem Church structure which had been purchased in 1895), under the direction of Jaromir V. Kovar and Rev. Hamilton Wigle. The ‘Mission for foreigners’ was renamed Bethlehem Slavic Mission in 1905, and was eventually renamed simply Bethlehem upon moving from Stella to Burrows Avenue. In 1907, the work of all the mission stations was officially united under the name of All Peoples’ Mission and J.S. Woodsworth was appointed Superintendent. The following year in 1908, a mission/institute was built on the corner of Euclid and Sutherland. The Euclid Avenue Institute was commonly referred to simply as the ‘Institute’. In 1913 the Institute was officially renamed after Sutherland Avenue. Early services of the Sutherland Mission were conducted in Polish. A Tuesday Evening Social and Literary Program was one of the earliest community programs offered by the Institute, along with a Boys Club.

The successful design of the Euclid Avenue building inspired the erection of a similar structure on the corner of Stella Avenue and Powers Avenue in 1909. The 1909 minutes of the Methodist Conference of Manitoba recognized five mission stations of All Peoples: Maple Street, Stella Avenue, Euclid Avenue, Burrows Avenue and the Exhibition grounds (thought the Exhibition station was dropped after 1910 and the Burrows station was removed in 1913). Through its various mission stations, All Peoples’ Mission offered kindergarten classes, Christian education, swimming classes, night school, Bible classes, as well as several clubs including CGIT, Boys Club, North End Women’s Club/Council and a Young Peoples’ Society. The structures on both Euclid Avenue and Stella Avenue offered ‘swimming baths’ to the community. Services at mission stations were held in a variety of languages, including English, Polish, Bohemian and German. In 1913, the Euclid Avenue Institute was renamed after Sutherland Avenue. In 1917, Maple Street Mission became an independent station separate from All Peoples’. Rev. J. Shaver became the superintendent of the mission in 1921 and the name ‘City Missions’ temporarily replaced ‘All Peoples’’ in describing the urban, Methodist missions of Winnipeg. Maclean Mission temporarily came under the wing of City Missions, before becoming a permanent, independent station. In 1925, Methodist and Presbyterian missions came into union under the United Church of Canada. After church union, the Maple Street Mission united with Point Douglas United Church and All Peoples’ Mission included two permanent mission stations at Stella Avenue and Sutherland.

Upon joining the United Church of Canada in 1925, Stella Avenue Mission became the Stella Avenue United Church, though it remained commonly referred to as Stella Mission or All Peoples’ Stella Avenue. In 1939, a room in the Stella Avenue building was renovated in order to serve as an auditorium for the congregation. The Sutherland Avenue Mission/Institute also joined the United Church of Canada in 1925, becoming Sutherland Avenue United Church, thought it remained commonly referred to as Sutherland Mission, Sutherland Institute and All Peoples’ Sutherland Ave. In 1967 one of the larger rooms within the Sutherland structure, located at 119 Sutherland Avenue, was renovated into a chapel.

Stella Avenue United Church, along with Sutherland United Church, remained under the guise of All Peoples’ Mission for the duration of its existence. Stella and Sutherland were temporarily joined in All Peoples’ Mission by both MacLean United Church and St. Giles United Church. During the latter years of All Peoples’ (the 1960’s), the work of the Mission was centred out of St. Giles. By 1970, the congregation of All Peoples’ Stella Avenue United Church has disbanded, and the manse at 712 Alfred Avenue was sold, due to declining neighbourhood conditions. The congregation of Sutherland Avenue United Church also disbanded in1970.

Winnipeg Presbytery evaluated and re-directed the work of All Peoples’ Mission during 1971-1972 and as a result, most of the work of the missions became incorporated under P.A.C.T. (People Acting on Concerns Together), as of July 1, 1972. P.A.C.T. provided a ministry service for special needs and was not a ministry with an established congregation. The needs were met by giving service to the community through the organization of recreational and educational programs, including the building of a better neighbourhood and community with members from the community.

P.A.C.T. functioned until 1978 when the North End Community Ministry (NECM) adopted their goals. With funding from Winnipeg Presbytery and Core Area Initiative Program, the building at Stella Mission was renovated making NECM more accessible for community use.

NECM continued to provide direct services to the community, such as a clothing depot, food distribution, supervised Drop-In for children aged 5-12years including full day programs such as literacy, budget skills, nutrition and cooking. The Housing Concerns group taught low income families the responsibilities and rights of tenants.

The indirect services included informational/educational visits to United Church congregations and community groups addressing justice issues, emergency food programs, support services for the victims of abuse, slide presentations and tours of NECM. All this was accomplished in the hope of making them “part of the solution or agents of social change.”

NECM was successful in bringing about some alleviation to the social problems in its 16 years of existence, but due to lack of funds and cohesion among the workers, on June 30, 1993 the staff was terminated. New ways are sought by the Winnipeg Presbytery to give rise to a fresh new ministry with more input from the Presbytery in the direction it would take the ministry in creating a balance as a social agency and a spiritual, worshipping community.

All Peoples’ Mission fonds. –1907-1925. –.5m textual records + other material.

The records of All Peoples’ Mission came to the conference archives of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario as part of several transfers of records between 1970 and 1983.

The surviving records of All Peoples’ Mission are arranged in the following series: records of the Board of Managers, including minutes, reports and financial records, 1909-1925; Annual Reports, 1907-1925 (n.i.); records pertaining to Girls Work, Boys Work, and Deaconess Work, 1909-1924; correspondence of J.S. Woodsworth, 1907-1916; miscellaneous correspondence, minutes, financial records, agreements and reports*, 1907-1925; and reference material, including correspondence, architectural plans and agreements, histories, clippings and photographs.

Title based on contents.

No further accruals expected.

*Records described as ‘miscellaneous’ were created by various stations, congregations, groups and individuals within All Peoples’ Mission. These records were donated and accessioned collectively and have been described collectively and have been described collectively within the All Peoples’ Mission fonds, All Peoples’ Stellas Avenue United Church fonds and All Peoples’ Sutherland Avenue United Church fonds.

See records of All Peoples’ Stella Avenue United Church for records pertaining to All Peoples’ Mission dating from 1921.

Accession: Ex-35; 8015; 83-9.

Location: All Peoples Box A – Box B

All Peoples’ Stella Avenue United Church fonds. –1921-1970. –.25m textual records + photographs.

All Peoples’ Stella Avenue United Church existed in Winnipeg from 1925 until 1970. The original site of the Stella Avenue Mission was purchased by the Methodist City Mission Board in 1895. In 1904, a mission for Slavic immigrants was established on Stella and Powers (in the former Bethlehem Church structure which has been purchased in 1895), under the direction of Jaromir V. Kovar and Rev. Hamilton Wigle. The ‘ Mission for Foreigners’ was renamed Bethlehem Slavic Mission in 1905, and was eventually renamed simply Bethlehem upon moving from Stella to Burrows Avenue. In1909, a permanent structure was erected on Stella Avenue to serve as a mission station of All Peoples’. The design of the building was based on the Euclid Avenue Institute, which had been erected the year prior. The structure was well used by the community, especially its programs for women and children. Upon joining the United Church of Canada in 1925, Stella Avenue Mission became the Stella Avenue United Church, though it remained commonly referred to as Stella Mission or All Peoples’ Stella Avenue. In 1939, a room in the Stella Avenue building was renovated in order to serve as an auditorium for the congregation. Stella Avenue United Church, along with Sutherland United Church, remained under the guise of All Peoples’ Mission for the duration of its existence. Stella and Sutherland were temporarily joined in All Peoples’ Mission by both Maclean United Church and St. Giles United Church. During the latter years of All Peoples’ (the 1960’s), the work of the Mission was centred out of St. Giles. By 1970, the congregation of All Peoples’ Stella Avenue United Church had disbanded, and the manse at 712 Alfred Avenue was sold, due to declining neighourhood conditions. Winnipeg Presbytery evaluated and re-directed the work of All Peoples’ Mission during 1971-1972 and as a result, most of the work of the Stella Mission became incorporated under PACT (People Acting on Concerns Together), as of July 1, 1972. PACT functioned until 1978, when it was replaced by the North End Community Ministry (NECM).

The records of All Peoples’ Stella Avenue United Church came to the conference archives on Manitoba and Northwest Ontario as part of several transfers of records between 1970 and 1983.

The surviving records of All Peoples’ Stella Avenue United Church are arranged in the following series: Sacramental Registers, pertaining to Baptisms, 1960-1969, Marriages, 1921-1938, 1961-1969, and Burials, 1961-1969; records of the Board of Managers, including minutes, 1959-1960; records of Annual Congregational Meetings and Annual Reports, 1959-1970; records pertaining to the Board of Stewards and church property, including financial records, 1961-1965; miscellaneous correspondence, minutes, financial records, agreements and reports*, 1925-1951; records of the Pastoral Relations Committee, 1965, 1969; records of lay associations, including the Women’s Missionary Society, United Church Women, Primary Club and Monday Club, 1954-1970; records of the Charity Fund, including financial records, 1960-1963; and reference material, including photographs, histories, clippings, a Ukrainian newspaper, music book, and an honour roll.

Titled based on contents.

No further accruals expected.

*Records described as ‘miscellaneous’ were created by various stations, congregations, groups and individuals within All Peoples’ Mission. These records were donated and accessioned collectively and have been described collectively within the All Peoples’ Mission fonds, All Peoples’ Stella Avenue United Church fonds and All Peoples’ Sutherland Avenue United Church fonds.

Accession: Ex-35; 80-15; 83-9.

Location: All Peoples’ Box A – Box B; O/S.

All Peoples’ Sutherland Avenue United Church fonds. –1925-1958. –.25m textual records + photographs.

All Peoples’ Sutherland Avenue United Church existed in Winnipeg from 1925 until 1970. The Euclid Avenue Institute (which later became Sutherland Mission) was built on the corner of Euclid and Sutherland in 1908. The Euclid Avenue Institute was commonly referred to simply as the ‘Institute’. In 1913, the Institute was officially renamed after Sutherland Avenue. Early services of the Sutherland mission were conducted in Polish. A Tuesday Evening Social and Literary Program was one of the earliest community programs offered by the Institute, along with a Boys Club. The Sutherland Avenue Mission/Institute joined the United Church of Canada in 1925, becoming Sutherland Avenue United Church, though it remained commonly referred to as Sutherland Mission, Sutherland Institute, and All Peoples’ Sutherland Avenue. Sutherland United Church, along with Stella United Church, remained under the guise of All Peoples’ Mission for the duration of its existence. Stella and Sutherland were temporarily joined in the All Peoples’ Mission by both Maclean United Church and St. Giles United Church. In 1967, one of the larger rooms within the Sutherland structure, located at 119 Sutherland Avenue, was renovated into a chapel. The congregation of Sutherland Avenue United Church disbanded around 1970. Winnipeg Presbytery evaluated and re-directed the work of All Peoples’ Mission during 1971-1972 and as a result, the Sutherland Mission was put on a one year to year holding status, while most of the work of the Stella Mission became incorporated under PACT (People Acting on Concerns Together). In the summer of 1972, further meetings were held to consider the fate of the Sutherland mission station. The Sutherland Investigative Group was organized, and the mission evolved into a community centre known as the Sutherland Activity Centre. The building was also later used by the Point Douglas Co-operative as a community centre. In 1977, Winnipeg Presbytery supported a rental/purchase agreement for 119 Sutherland Avenue between The Manitoba Indian Cultural Education Centre and the Division of Mission in Canada.

The records of All Peoples’ Sutherland Avenue United Church came to the conference archives of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario as part of several transfers between 1970 and 1983.

The surviving records of All Peoples’ Sutherland Avenue United Church are arranged in the following series: records of the Official Board, 1951-1958; miscellaneous correspondence, minutes, financial records, agreements and reports*, 1925-1951; records pertaining to track meets, 1925; and reference material, including an honour roll and photographs.

Title based on contents.

No further accruals expected.

*Records described as ‘miscellaneous’ were created by various stations, congregations, groups and individuals within All Peoples’ Mission. These records were donated and accessioned collectively and have been described collectively within the All Peoples’ Mission fonds, All Peoples’ Sutherland Avenue United Church fonds.

Accession: Ex-35; 80-15; 83-9.

Location: All Peoples’ Box A – Box B.

Jewish Mission fonds. –1911-1927. –1 vol.

The Jewish Mission, also known as the Presbyterian Mission to the Jews, originated in Winnipeg in 1911. The organizational meeting of the Jewish Mission was held in March 1911 and was presided over by Dr. Baird. The Mission was originally located at 215 Jarvis Avenue and later moved to 549 Burrows Avenue.

The records of the Jewish Mission came to the conference archives of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario as part of a transfer of records around 1970.

The surviving records of the Jewish Mission include minutes of the meetings of the committee of the Jewish Mission of Winnipeg Presbytery, dating from 1911 to 1922.

Title based on contents.

No further accruals expected.

Accession: Ex-35.

Location: All Peoples’ Box A.

Maple Street Mission fonds. –1900-1920. –1 vol.

Maple Street Mission existed in Winnipeg from 1901 until 1925. Maple Street Mission served as a branch of All Peoples’ Mission from 1901 until 1917, and existed primarily as an independent station from 1917 to 1925. In 1901, All Peoples’ bought a church structure from the Congregationalists on Maple Street, located between Higgins and MacDonald. The Maple Street church structure came under the direction of Superintendent Rev R. Morrison and the name ‘Maple Street Mission’ was adopted. Maple Street Mission served as the original branch mission of All Peoples’, and was eventually joined by other mission centres on Stella Avenue, Burrows Avenue and Sutherland. In 1917, Maple Street Mission became an independent station separate from All Peoples’, though it was temporarily joined with Kildonan in 1919. From 1920 until 1924, Maple Street came under the direction of Immigration Chaplains, E. Chambers and John Maclean, respectively. After church union in 1925, Maple Street Mission united with Point Douglas United Church.

The records of the Maple Street Mission came to the conference archives of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario as part of a transfer of records around 1970.

The surviving records of Maple Street Mission include a Sacramental Register, pertaining to Baptisms, 1900-1920, Marriages, 1902-1919, and Burials, 1904-1919.

Title based on contents.

No further accruals expected.

See records of All Peoples’ Mission for records pertaining to Maple Street Mission dating from 1908.

Maple Street Mission Sacramental Register included entries from Maple Street Mission, All Peoples’ Mission, as well as various locations and homes within Winnipeg, and surrounding areas such as Portage and Rosser.

Accession: Ex-84.

Location: O/S

All Peoples’ Missions in Digest of the Meetings and Proceedings of the United Church of Canada Manitoba Conference

Date	Place	Page
May 25-27, 1926	Westminster Church, Winnipeg	38-41
June 1-6, 1927	Augustine Church, Winnipeg	33-35
June 5-10, 1928	Central Church, Winnipeg	81-84
June 2-6, 1930	Grace Church, Winnipeg	56-57
June 4-8, 1934	St. Stephen’s – Broadway Church, Winnipeg	18-21
June 5-9, 1939	Portage La Prairie	48
June 2-6, 1941	Augustine Church, Winnipeg	34-35
June 1-5, 1942	Young Church, Winnipeg	30-32
May 31 – June 4, 1943	Grace Church, Winnipeg	44-46
June 4-8, 1945	Westminster Church, Winnipeg	62-64
June 5-11, 1946	Grace Church, Winnipeg	17-18
June 4-9, 1947	St. Stephen’s-Broadway Church, Winnipeg	56-59
June 2-6, 1952	Crescent-Fort Rouge Church, Winnipeg	46-47
June 2-5, 1953	St. Stephen`s-Broadway Church, Winnipeg	42-45
June 7-11, 1954	Westminster Church, Winnipeg	54-55
June 4-8, 1956	Knox Church, Winnipeg	11, 67
June 3-7, 1963	United College, Winnipeg	48