Centenary church in Vancouver’s Point Gray for sale for $10 million

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West Point Gray Presbyterian Church has been serving its congregation since April 1, 1928.

But the congregation has dwindled to just 19 people. So they decided to merge with Kerrisdale Presbyterian Church and put their old building up for sale.

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Collier has the listfor 10 million dollars.

The listing describes the church property as a “large multiplex development site on the west side” with “three legal lots” in a “prime corner location.” The total size is 12,065 square feet, with two 33-by-122-foot lots and one 32.9-by-133-foot lot.

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Under the new city R1-1 ZoningThis allows for up to six homes in a multiplex, or up to eight in a rental building, as well as duplexes and single-family homes.

But real estate agent Morgan Dyer said it could very well be sold to another religious group.

“It’s an assembly use; trying to recreate it is very difficult,” Dyer said. “There is a high demand for these assets from other church groups or religious organizations.

“To find a church building (where) you can just turn the key, walk in tomorrow and start having a prayer service is very rare. “Trying to duplicate this property, rebuilding what is there, would be very expensive.”

Both churches and developers have expressed interest in the property, which is located at 4397 West 12th in Trimble, two blocks south of Point Gray’s main commercial street on West 10th.

The sale is being managed by Richard Watson, minister of Kerrisdale Presbyterian Church.

“We made the decision (to sell) to help support not only the Kerrisdale church but also the Presbyterian churches in the region, and even the Presbyterian Church of Canada,” Watson said.

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The Point Gray church has officially been for sale since December 20, but was still in use by the congregation until March 10. It was also rented to the University Chinese Baptist Church, which worshiped there until April 28.

Watson said the ideal situation would be to sell it to another church.

“That is our hope and our prayers,” he said.

But if not, they will sell it to a developer and even give you time on a rezoning application.

“They are not speculators. They have owned the property for almost 100 years,” said listing agent Dyer.

“They’re not going anywhere and they’re prepared to achieve the highest value possible, because they’re not looking to sell it quickly and reduce the price to do so.”

The cornerstone of the church was laid by BC Lieutenant Governor R. Randolph Bruce on November 10, 1927. The Province reported the cost as $12,000.

There’s a postcard from the original Uno Langmann collection building at UBC, and shows a small but beautiful church with distinctive wainscoting.

Watson said the building was expanded with a vestibule in the rear in 1940, which was probably when the original siding was covered with stucco. The stucco was originally white, but is now gray.

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The interior appears to be in very good condition, with capacity for 200 people.

“The sanctuary is actually quite beautiful,” Watson said.

“Personally, I would call it cozy; It’s not one of those sanctuaries that are super spacious. (They also) have nice stained glass windows and things like that.”

If they sell to a developer, the church would like to remove some of the building’s features.

“Our plan, if sold to a developer, is to bring some of the beautiful stained glass that is there to Kerrisdale and install it here,” he said.

“A couple of them were dedicated to the memory of people and we want to honor that continuity.”

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