Coastal Church

The Coastal Church is notable as a rare example of a building constructed during the First World War. The two-storey building is a finely-executed example of the Colonial Revival style, uncommon in Vancouver. The building was opened in 1919.. The architects were Frederic Claude De Guerre and Robert Michael Matheson. De Guerre died in 1918 during the height of the Spanish Influenza epidemic. Matheson later formed a partnership with Fred Townley. The building has tall arched windows and a large light-filled inner sanctuary. The interior has seen only minor alterations. The exterior is dark brown Clayburn brick trimmed with Haddington Island stone. In the late 1950s, a pair of flanking two-storey wings were added to the Georgia Street façade. The building operated as the First Church of Christ, Scientist until 2002. It was then sold to Coastal Church, who still operates a church from this location. The church was in danger of being demolished when the Shangri-La Hotel was built. However, Westbank Development agreed to save the church in exchange for density for the hotel.

Source

Exploring Vancouver: The Architectural Guide, Harold Kalman and Robin Ward

More information

http://historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=11022