Ruth Morton Memorial Baptist Church
The Ruth Morton Memorial Baptist Church (at the corner of 791 East 27th Avenue) is a historic link to one of Vancouver’s earliest pioneer settlers, John Morton.
Famous for being one of the “Three Greenhorns”, along with Samuel Brighouse and William Hailstone, these three Englishmen were the first white settlers of the area that is now today’s Vancouver downtown West End. In 1862, they arrived in the place that is now Vancouver and purchased the land at an inflated price that earned them ridicule and thus their nickname.
John Morton’s first wife was Jane Ann Bailey of Blackpool, England, who unfortunately died in childbirth. Later, he married Ruth Mount and this lifelong romance is now captured in the Ruth Morton Baptist Church. When Ruth arrived in 1884 to marry John Morton, she became the first white woman to settle in the area.
The church began in 1911 with meetings in vacant stores, homes and even a tent until the building construction was completed in 1914. Upon John’s death in 1912, he provided substantial funds to build the church as a memorial to his wife. The church retains much of its heritage of original pews and stained glass windows. For over a century, the church has been ringing its bell and playing its 1920’s pipe organ for Sunday Service.
(source: http://ruthmorton.org/site/about-us/history)
(source: http://www.vancouverhistory.ca/archives_1939.htm)
(source: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three_Greenhorns)
References
- ^ a b c Morton, Michael Quentin (May 2006. 1st edition), In the Heart of the Desert (1st edition) (In the Heart of the Desert ed.), Aylesford, Kent, United Kingdom: Green Mountain Press (UK), ISBN 9780955221200, 095522120X
- ^ George Redmonds (2004), NAMES AND HISTORY (NAMES AND HISTORY: PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS. ed.), LONDON: HAMBLEDON AND LONDON LTD, ISBN 185285426X, 185285426X
- ^ a b c d e f g h “New Liverpool and the Greenhorns”. Vancouver Exposed – A History in Photographs. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
- ^ Derek Pethick (1984), Vancouver, the pioneer years, 1774-1886, Langley, B.C: Sunfire Publications, ISBN 091953113X, 091953113X
- ^ a b c Chamdler, Maggie. “West End History”. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- ^ a b Jill Foran (2003), Vancouver’s old-time scoundrels, Canmore, Alta: Altitude Pub. Canada, ISBN 1551539896, 1551539896
- ^ Tom Snyders (2001), Namely Vancouver, Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press, ISBN 155152077X, OCLC 42683110, 155152077X
- ^ Derek Pethick (1984), Vancouver, the pioneer years, 1774-1886, Langley, B.C: Sunfire Publications, ISBN 091953113X, 091953113X
- ^ Richard M. Steele (1993), The Stanley Park explorer (Stanley Park ed.), Heritage House Publishing Co., ISBN 1895811007, 1895811007
- ^ “The birth of a city, from humble beginnings as a two-block strip on the Gastown waterfront”,Vancouver Sun, 6 April 2011, [1]
- ^ Vancouver History and Heritage [2]
- ^ “Samuel Brighouse fonds”, City of Vancouver Archives, retrieved 24 July 2011
- ^ “William Hailstone fonds”, City of Vancouver Archives, retrieved 24 July 2011
- ^ “George Cunningham Memorial Sundial”, Public Art Registry (City of Vancouver Community Services Group), retrieved 25 July 2011
10 comments
sarah stevenson said:
June 10, 2012 at 11:02 am
John Morton (Ruth’s husband) was the great grandson of Edmund the brother of my ggggg grandfather Edward. My father Edward Morton Ripley’s mother was Alice Morton. The Morton’s go back to Edmund of Lindley (Huddersfield,England) who died 1585 as far as we’ve discovered. We continue to be a strong Christian family.
Neville Morton said:
November 9, 2014 at 11:37 am
Hi,
We are direct descendants of Edmund Morton of Lindley and my father (Herbert) was the last potter from Lindley.
We have a copy of the family tree back to 1585.
Mike Klassen said:
November 9, 2014 at 1:27 pm
That is fantastic, Neville. Thank you for your comment, and for making that connection!
Mike Klassen said:
June 23, 2012 at 10:15 am
Ruth Morton Memorial Baptist church is celebrating its 100th anniversary on June 24, 2012. The public is encouraged to visit. Service 11-12:30. After 12:30 a presentation begins on the building’s heritage, and the public can tour the church — some refreshments will be served.
linda said:
January 15, 2013 at 12:38 am
people in the church, i just want you guys to know that we might have the noise problem here for over a decade, we are not surely what this happen to us and i want God to assist this problem so that we don’t want this happen anymore. we are living in renfew height area, and there is a noise problem we have no idea how to solve it. the owner who lives in 3249 e23rd ave vancouver bc v5r1b6 canada puts out the silver plate at the balcony for 24 hours(we guess 24hours). most of time we could hear some ping ping noises and we sure that those noises are coming from the plate. we don’t know what to do. we cannot reach the owner, the owner won’t even concern us, ignoring our comment for the plate. is there anyone who can reach the owner so that we won’t have any noises again. Please help us God. or someone who likes to give us a hand. thank you
we don’t want any noises, we need a quiet environments, thank you so much!!!
Mike Klassen said:
January 15, 2013 at 7:02 am
Of course, the noise you’re experiencing is not happening at Ruth Morton, which is a good distance from your Renfrew-Collingwood community. However, if the sound of coins dropping into a metal pan is an annoyance, surely the church could place a cloth or felt in the bottom of the pan to reduce the noise? You should notify the City of Vancouver about this via 311.
linda said:
April 9, 2014 at 11:00 pm
the noise really bothers me alot in this area we are living, Renfrew Height area. a neighbourhood owner who lives at 3249e23rd avenue vancouver bc canada puts the silver baking plate at the back of the house. or at the balcony. as we see it, the plate is hanged near a metal pole. when the plate blows by the wind. the plate would hit the metal pole. it would create noises at all. we notice that the plate is hanged for 24hours: morning, afternoon, night, mid night early morning. we don’t know what is the purpose of that plate for but we are surely that the plate creates noises for this neighbourhood. people in this neighbourhood attempt to reach her. however, the owner refuse to discuss anyone of us here. we don’t know what to do . We need a help from God that we wish God could remove the plate for us. thank you
Kathleen Thorsen said:
January 25, 2017 at 5:16 pm
I am wondering if you can tell me if you have records of Wilhelm Thorsen,, Julia Thorsen who attended the church during 1910 up until 1946. I am also curious to know if Ingrid Thorsen attended the church.
Jill said:
February 7, 2021 at 3:16 pm
I have a few diplomas dated 1922-2928 from the Sunday a school given to my mother. Do you have a collection for your archives? I can donate them.
Brenda Wilbee said:
October 31, 2021 at 4:31 pm
Does your church have any historical records of the Wilbees, who attended there from 1911 to the 1950s. Victor Wilbee taught Sunday School, purchased camp grounds at Hatzic Lake and Pt Roberts for the church. My father and mother, Roy Wilbee and Betty Goodfellow, attended the youth group there in the 40s. Any info is welcome.
Brenda Wilbee