History

The Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Cathedral is a large, rectangular Modern church building with a flat roof and central copper dome located on 4th avenue at the corner of 5th street in New Westminster, British Columbia.

Constructed in 1968-69, the Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Cathedral is valued as the see of the Bishop of the New Westminster Ukrainian Greek Catholic Eparchy, governing the Eparchy's 12 parishes of British Columbia. The temple-like, formal design, and its high-visibility corner location and siting, give the church building the air of a landmark.

This church and hall complex symbolizes the culmination of over 25 years of effort by local Ukrainian Catholics to achieve an adequate and permanent parish in New Westminster, starting in 1941 at the Holy Spirit church in the Queensborough neighbourhood, followed by two subsequent attempts in the 1950s and 60s to formalize the St. George’s parish in different locations before the current property was developed. The unrelenting fundraising, organization and perseverance of this community, resulting in a successful and well-functioning church and hall, was likely one of the reasons this parish was chosen by the Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church (UGCC) as the cathedral and headquarters for a new Eparchy in British Columbia when it was established in 1974.

The architectural design is very significant in that it represents a Modern, mid-century interpretation of a traditional Byzantine basilica, illustrating the optimism and progress envisioned in urban renewal approaches of the 1960s era and the relevancy of the engaged and forward-thinking parish of the time, while still paying homage to Catholic and Ukrainian church design traditions and symbols. Byzantine in its square footprint and capped by a dome, the simplified, rectangular form is punctuated by tall, slim windows which emulate the rhythm of classical columns. A prominent element of the facade is the over- scaled stairway, adding a formality to the ascent to the central front doors, not unlike the experience at a classical temple or courthouse. The design’s formality is softened through the use of pared-down, flat architectural elements which give the church its Modern identity along with the use of trending 1960s finishes such as stucco and aluminum-frame windows. The balance of Modern and traditional treatments continue on the interior where colourful byzantine icons and wood-carved furnishings embellish an otherwise rectilinear and naturally-lit Modern space.

The Holy Eucharist church holds further value for its association with its designer, architect Bing Gregory Marr (1926-1991) who is remembered as one of the first registered Chinese-Canadian architects in BC. His firm, B. G. Marr & Associates, was known for Modern apartment buildings and complexes and was co-author of an important 1969 study commissioned by the City of Vancouver - “Restoration Report: The Case for Renewed Life in the Old City”.

The Holy Eucharist church is valued not only as a continuous sacred site for New Westminster’s Ukrainian Catholic community, but also as a community-wide venue since the doors opened, with the church hall serving a diversity of community groups, with and without religious affiliations. The church hall has been a place of celebration of important moments in the life of the parish family and of the community at large from birthdays and chrismations to weddings and funeral receptions; hosted endless events from perogy dinners, bridge club nights, bingo nights, art, dance and singing classes, community meals, fundraisers, as well as a plethora of courses and cultural events contributing to the preservation of Ukrainian culture, language and traditions. Today, the church hall is a seven-day-a-week work-horse venue, functioning as a daycare on weekdays and as a community venue in the evenings and weekends.