St. James' Anglican Church, Saskatoon

Located in the historic Nutana neighborhood on Dufferin Avenue, Saint James' Anglican Church has stood as a place of worship and community since 1912. Modest in scale but rich in character, the church is built in Romanesque Revival style, featuring solid red brick walls, a front-facing gable roof, and a distinctive four-sided tower topped with a hexagonal steeple. The structure was designed by Thompson, Daniel & Colthurst and includes hallmark elements like buttresses, arched voussoirs, and a rear gabled cross-wing.

One of the church’s most striking features is its large front “rose” window, crafted from fragments of stained glass salvaged after two devastating fires-first in 1976 and again in 1982. These events severely damaged the interior, but the original stone foundation and exterior walls were preserved during restoration.

Next to the church stands The Refinery, originally built in 1928 as a hall and recreational space. This one-and-a-half-story building with half-timbered stucco, bell-cast eaves, and steep gable roof has transitioned into a vibrant hub for arts and community programming.

As the first Anglican church established on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River, Saint James' holds not only architectural value but also historical and cultural significance. From its beginnings in a relocated wooden chapel to its current role as a welcoming spiritual home, the church continues to offer space for worship, reflection, and community engagement.