Some might be obvious, but others just look like old houses.
In the early days of the City of Vancouver, churches played an important role around the city as community meeting places, event spaces, and religious hubs.
Over the years, that’s shifted, and new churches have been built for new or growing congregations.
But just because a church isn’t being used for its original religious purpose doesn’t mean the building is torn down, and there are several former churches that have continued as community centres and residences around the area.
Here are five in Vancouver.
Perhaps the easiest to guess its former occupants, this heritage site hasn’t been a church for more than three decades. It was converted in the 1990s into the “Cornerstone,” with 23 residential units, including in the towers.
Its history goes back to 1909, when the Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church congregation set down roots at the address.
This might not be a total surprise, as it’s now called the St. James Community Square, or just “The Square.”
For decades, it was a United Church until it became an independent community hub in the 1990s, with childcare, youth programs and event space. It was bought by the city in 2016 to remain as such. For decades, its been home to the Rogue Folk group.
Built in 1921 for the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, this simple building on Fraser does a better job than others in hiding its history. However, it’s symmetrical shape and stone fence are hints to its past.
Even more camouflaged is this Strathcona house, but it has a long history as a church.
Built in 1910, it’s over 110 years old now.
It was originally built as the First Scandinavian Lutheran Church and shares the Arts and Crafts style with many of its contemporaneous neighbours.
In 1918, it was sold to the African Methodist Episcopal Church congregation after community fundraising and became the Fountain Chapel. It was a central part of the Hogan’s Alley community, the centre of Vancouver’s historical Black community. Nora Hendrix was a central figure in the church’s foundation.
Eventually, it was bought by the Basel Hakka Lutheran congregation, which bought a new building in 2008, and the church was no longer a church. It has become a private residence.
Built in 1927, this was originally the home of the Douglas Park United Church until they moved.
The building fell to the local Baptist congregation, who had been using it as well; they remained until the 1950s, when it was transferred to the Ancient and Mystical Order of Rosae Crucis, a self-described “mystical and philosophical school dedicated to the study of the laws of the universe.”
It was converted into a residence around 2019.