March Run

Additional information about the
First Church of Christ, Scientist,
taken from More Victoria Landmarks, by Geoffrey Castle & Barry F. King:

Church architecture often attempts to provide a visual interpretation of the precepts upon which the institution is founded. The First Church of Christ, Scientist is a good example. Standing just about on the site of the old Royal Hospital on Pandora Hill, looking down Harris Green towards the town, this fine neoclassical building was completed in 1919. The structure, with its tall Ionic columns, successfully captures the spirit of reason and order which are at the heart of the Christian Science doctrine.

To achieve these results, the architects, George Foote Dunham and C.H. Wallwork of Portland, based their design on the Mother Church in Boston, Massachusetts, which was built nearly thirty years earlier. Inside, the hall accommodates over eight hundred people and, because of the slope of the floor, the podium is visible to everyone.

...... For some years, the Christian Scientists have operated the 1909 Maclure-designed "Wayside House" on Foul Bay Road as a sanatorium and, in 1979, just one hundred years since the founding meeting in Boston, the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Victoria was designated a heritage building and extensively refurbished.

Because of Roman and Greek architectural influences, the building exudes a sense of timelessness fully in keeping with its purpose.

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Additional information about Wayside House,
provided by Helen Edwards, Hallmark Society:

The house was built for Major Guy Mortimer Audain by architect Samuel Maclure. Born in Belfast in 1864, he attended schools in Ireland and Switzerland and went to the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. His regiment eventually went to India. While returning home on leave in 1901, he stopped in Victoria and met his cousin Robert Cassidy who introduced him to the James Dunsmuir family. He met and married Byrdie, the eldest daughter in October of that year. As she did not like living in India, he resigned his commission and settled in Victoria. They first lived at Burleith, the Dunsmuir home on the Gorge while James was serving as Lieutenant-Governor of BC.

Knowing his father-in-law would want to return to his home once his term of office was over, Guy Adain purchased four ares of land in what was then called "Pemberton Wood" in 1909. By 1910, the Audains were in their Foul Bay Road home. Maclure's design featured a huge, wide, half-timbered gable with prominent roof brackets and massive granite piers that give the impression that the house and grounds are integrated with the gently rolling land. The name of the house, Ellora, was taken from the name of caves in India where Audain had served. An additional Indian connection came from the use of Sikhs who helped to build the home; Audain spoke to these men in their own language. The Audains lived in the house until 1922 and it was the hub of a very full social life in Victoria.

In 1954 Ellora was acquired by the First Church of Christ, Scientist, for its nursing home, Wayside House. Wings were added later. In 1993, the remaining 2.8 acres was subdivided, with the nursing home retaining about 15% of the property including the mansion. The later wings were torn down and the remainder of the land sold to a developer who built tasteful new residences with access off Chandler Avenue.

	Spring is almost here and you could feel it today as we gathered at the Pacific Forestry Centre to prepare for our March Run. There was a good turn-out of 30 cars, 20 of which were vintage.
Barb and Al Kent had planned today's route carefully. It led us from the Forestry Centre, along McKenzie Avenue, up and over Doncaster Hill, along Cedar Hill, to Fernwood. Then we zigzagged back and forth through the quaint streets of Fernwood -- enjoying the Spring blossoms and seeing many old and heritage homes. We completed this leg of the tour by ending up at the First Church of Christ, Scientist. Barb and Al gave us a brief history and a guided tour of the Church.
	The cornerstone of the present church building was laid in August 19, 1919, and the first service was held on August 29, 1920. The church occupies a commanding position across from the open space known as Harris Green. The church was designed by architects George Foote Duncan and C.H. Wallwork of Portland, OR. The edifice was "conceived in the Neoclassical style", as "a monument to the spacial forces of reason and order which form the core of Christian Science."
The second half of the tour took us from the Church, over to the other side of Fort Street and through another older area of town. We passed by many more stately heritage homes, including Government House and Craigdarroch Castle. The end of our tour was Wayside House on Foul Bay Road. Again, we were given a guided tour of this lovely heritage home, designed by Samuel Maclure. (See below for a more detailed history of the house.)
	In 1953, it was considered a perfect place for Wayside House. The first impression on entering was one of graciousness, comfort and warmth. A fly wing expansion to accommodate the nursing care was added to the Tudor-style house and in March 1956 was opened for business.
Our members were treated to coffee, tea and goodies in the Dining Room. This was a very interesting afternoon tour and again we travelled on some streets that some folks had never been on. Thanks to Barb and Al for a great Sunday Run.