Some might be obvious, but others just look like old houses.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Over the years, that’s shifted, and new churches have been built for new or growing congregations.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Here are five in Vancouver.<\/p>\n
2525 Quebec St.<\/a><\/p>\n Perhaps the easiest to guess its former occupants, this heritage site<\/a>\u00a0hasn’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<\/a>.<\/p>\n Its history goes back to 1909, when the Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church congregation set down roots at the address.<\/p>\n 3214 W 10th Ave<\/a><\/p>\n This might not be a total surprise, as it’s now called the St. James Community Square, or just “The Square.”<\/p>\n 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\u00a0to remain as such. For decades, its been home to the Rogue Folk group.<\/p>\n 3092 Fraser St.<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u00a0are hints to its past.<\/p>\n 823 Jackson Ave.<\/a><\/p>\n Even more camouflaged is this Strathcona house, but it has a long history as a church.<\/p>\n Built in 1910, it’s over 110 years old now.<\/p>\n It was originally built as the First Scandinavian Lutheran Church and shares the Arts and Crafts style with many of its contemporaneous neighbours.<\/p>\n In 1918, it was sold to the African Methodist Episcopal Church congregation after community fundraising\u00a0and 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<\/a> was a central figure in the church’s foundation.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n