Coastal Church, Vancouver

Vancouver's Coastal Church is highly valued for its unique American Colonial Revival architecture. It's a remarkable survivor from the post-World War I period, symbolizing both history and religion. Situated on Georgia Street, it dominates as a notable heritage landmark.

Designed by architects Matheson and De Guerre, the Coastal Church was built in 1918 and revealed in 1919. Its archives store original blueprints and a detailed account of its inauguration, including an extensive list of trades and suppliers from the BC Business Register. A rare example of Colonial Revival architecture in Vancouver, the church features tall arched windows, intricate brick and stone decorations, and a spacious, luminous sanctuary at its core.

In the late 1950s, the Georgia Street-facing façade of the building expanded with dual two-story wings, filling recesses beside the entryway. It changed from being the First Church of Christ, Scientist to the Coastal Victory Church in 2002. The new leadership maintained its religious role and expanded services to include various community programs.

At Coastal Church, the main focus is the sanctuary, once called the auditorium. It fills the upper floor with unchanged architecture. Tall arched windows on the north and south walls fill the space with light. A magnificent organ stands on the central eastern wall. Curved rows of pews face it. Below, there are service spaces, making the most of the site's layout. The church has two entrances: Alberni Street for the upper auditorium and West Georgia Street for the lower service area. Both entrances have charming brick walls and exposed wooden-beamed ceilings.