Intention to Designate 252 Caroline Street South, Hamilton (Central Presbyterian Church)

Description of Property

The 0.32-hectare property municipally addressed as 252 Caroline Street South is comprised of a one-storey brick church constructed in 1908. The property is also comprised of an attached two-storey brick Sunday School building, municipally addressed as 165 Charlton Avenue West, constructed in 1908 and modified in 1960. The property is located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Caroline Street South and Charlton Avenue West, in the historic Durand Neighbourhood, in the City of Hamilton.

Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

The 1908 one-storey brick structure located at 252 Caroline Street South has design value as a representative example of a place of worship influenced by the Beaux-Arts and Colonial Revival styles, and as an early example of a Colonial Revival building in Ontario. The property also displays a high degree of craftsmanship through its elaborate steeple, carved stone decorations and eclectic classical elements, including the portico with pediment supported by Ionic columns and carved stone head. 

The historical value of the property lies in its association with the historic Central Presbyterian Church, which has had a presence in Hamilton since 1841. It is also associated with prominent Canadian architect John McIntosh Lyle (1872-1945), the subject property being both one of his first designs and one of the buildings which introduced the Colonial Revival style to Canada. Raised in Hamilton and educated at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts of Paris, Lyle championed the idea of a uniquely Canadian style of architecture. Other Hamilton properties designed by Lyle include Gateside at 135 Aberdeen Avenue (1905), the Gage Park Fountain (1926), Wynnstay at 437 Wilson Street East, Ancaster (1926), and the York Street High Level Bridge (1927). 

Contextually, this property is important in defining the historic character of the historic Durand Neighbourhood. It is historically and visually linked to its surroundings, being on its original location within a sympathetic residential streetscape. As a large and highly visible structure in a distinctive architectural style, this property is considered a local
landmark.

Key attributes that embody the physical value of the property as a representative example of a place of worship influenced by the Beaux-Arts and Colonial Revival styles, as an early example of the Colonial Revival style and in displaying a high degree of craftsmanship, and its associations with the Central Presbyterian Church and architect John Lyle, include:

• All elevations and roofline of the one-storey brick 1908 place of worship, including its:
  • T-shaped plan;
  • Red brick façade laid in Common bond;
  • Brick steeple with stone accents including belfry; including the:
    • Open belfry with round-headed stone arches supported by brick piers, stone Ionic pilasters supporting entablature with dentils and moulded cornice and stone balconies supported by brackets;
    • Lantern above the belfry, with stone oculus openings with carved floral motifs, Doric pilasters, and corner niches with decorative elements; and,
    • Octagonal brick spire with stone accents.
  • Flat roof with a brick parapet and stone entablature with projecting cornice, modillions, and dentils below;
  • Symmetrical front (east) façade with its:
    • Main entrance in projecting base of steeple tower with its moulded stone door surround with floral motif and carved stone head in the Classical style;
    • Main entrance portico with segmental pediment with dentils supported by entablature with dentils and plain frieze and architrave on top of Ionic columns and pilasters;
    • Flanking oculus windows with brick voussoirs and stone keystones;
    • Flanking entrances with moulded stone surround with moulded flat pediment supported by carved brackets;
  • Round-headed window openings with elaborate stained glass in the side facades with brick voussoirs and stone keystones, endstones and stone lug sills with moulded cornice and supporting carved brackets; and,
  • Projecting rounded side entrances with half-dome roof and moulded cornice with moulded stone door surround, transom and triangular pediment supported by carved brackets.

The original first storey on the 1908 Sunday School building is considered to be of cultural heritage value or interest but is not included in the list of Heritage Attributes forming part of this designation by-law.

Key attributes that embody the contextual value of the property as a defining element in the character of the surrounding area, and as a local landmark include its:

• Location at the corner of Caroline Street South and Charlton Avenue West with a moderate setback from the public right-of-way; and,
• The highly visible brick steeple with belfry, lantern, and octagonal spire.