Winnipeg Places: 193 McGregor Street - Independent Greek Church (R.I.P.)

Place: Holy Transfiguration Independent Greek Church
Address: 193 McGregor Street (Map)
Constructed: 1907
Architect: Unknown

The Independent Greek Church (which, despite its name, was Ukrainian), was established in Winnipeg in 1903 with the assistance of the Presbyterian Church. It is considered the forerunner to the Ukrainian United Church in Canada.

The congregation worshiped in an old church, likely called Church of the Savior, at the corner of McGregor and Powers. The second and third annual convention of the Manitoba and Northwest Consistory of the Independent Greek Church was held at that building in 1905.

Oct. 28, 1933, Winnipeg Free Press

In 1907, a new, 300-seat church was built. The wood frame building cost $5,000 and was described as "neatly built in the Greek style of architecture". Ukrainians from across the province came to attend its formal opening on November 10. (The old church was used as a hall and was torn down ca. 2010).

The Czecho-Slovak Bethlehem Baptist Church bought the building from the United Church in 1933 and had their first service on November 2nd. They were the first congregation of the Czecho-Slovak Baptists to own their own building. It was often referred to simply as the Bethlehem Chapel.

In 1937, it was purchased for $6,000 by the Ukrainian Seventh-Day Adventist Church which operated it until around 1985. It then became the evangelical Bethel Chapel for Indian and Metis until the early 2000s. Most recently, it was Springs Church's inner city youth church until 2019.

The church was demolished in February 2020.