Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church

Description of the Historic Place

The Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church is a large stucco church with brick and concrete accents. Built in 1931, the church is situated in the neighbourhood of Nutana at the corner of Dufferin Avenue and Eighth Street at 1020 Dufferin Avenue.

Heritage Value

The heritage value of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church lies in its architecture. Originally of brick and tile construction, the church has a rectangular plan, with a cross-wing and gabled parapet. There are 'through the eave' dormers toward the rear of the building and a single Norman-style square tower on the left front corner.  The exterior finish is predominantly stucco (painted white), with dark red-brown, variegated, clinker-brick and cast-concrete accents. 

The heritage value of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church also lies in its association with the Lutheran and Greek Orthodox communities.  St. Paul's Lutheran Church officially became a congregation on September 1, 1907. At this time, worship often took place in Methodist and Baptist churches or in homes. On December 27, 1908 the congregation decided to build its own church and purchased land on 8th street not far from Broadway Ave. 

In the 1920's the congregation established many children's and youth programs and even instituted Sunday evening services in the downtown area. It was becoming clear that "the little church on 8th Street" was too small for their needs. After four years of discussions, a motion was passed in 1930 to build a new church at a cost not exceeding $9,500. On October 12th, 1930 a cornerstone was laid, and on September 27, 1931 the congregation proceeded from the old church to the new building located on the corner of 8th Street and Dufferin Avenue. The excitement over the new church would be tempered by the arrival of the Depression. The congregation encountered numerous financial difficulties during this era. 

In 1976, the church was renamed the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church. While Eastern Orthodox Churches had long existed in Saskatchewan, a specific Greek Orthodox congregation was not formally established in Saskatoon until 1964.

Source: City of Saskatoon Built Heritage Database

Character Defining Elements

Key elements which contribute to the heritage value of this historic resource include:

• Its architecture, evident in its brick and cast-concrete exterior accents, gabled parapet, dormers, and Norman-style square tower; and
• Those elements that reflect its historical and cultural importance including its original location in the neighbourhood of Nutana.