1961 – Chapel, St. Benedict’s Convent, West St. Paul, Manitoba
This fantastic parabolic arched church was designed by the Vancouver architectural firm of Gardiner Thornton Gathe, with site supervision by the local firm of Waisman Ross, Its dramatic nave has two shallow aisles both with large quanties of modern stained glass designed by Gabriel Loire (1904-96). Loire was a leader in the modern use of “slab glass”, dalle-de-verre, probably best known for his work at Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche in Berlin. The copper clad exterior of the chapel roof and the campanile provides the major architectural expression of the convent complex.
St. Benedict’s was constructed between 1960 and 1961 as a convent and private school for girls. It provided accommodation for sisters of the Order of St. Benedict, novices, boarding students, and 200 days students. The convent closed in 1970 and was converted to a Retreat and Conference Centre. The Benedictine sisters moved out in July 2022, sold off the property, but have retained their cemetery.
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Published March 13, 2026
