(Header image: St. Michael and All Angels Church, postcard, after 1920, from the Rob McInnes Postcard Collection, Public Domain. Accessed via pastforward.winnipeg.ca.)

In June of 2024, St. Michael and All Angels Church was purchased by Mark Chipman of True North Sports and Entertainment. The historic Anglo-Catholic church will be the new home of local recording label Birthday Cake Records, who will continue to share the space with the congregation.

Chipman has been connected with Birthday Cake Records since 2019, when he provided them with a small office space on the third floor of the Burton Cummings Theatre. Since then, the label has grown to represent almost 30 artists and have been in need of a larger space.

While St. Michael’s Church was never officially for sale, the parish has struggled financially since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thankfully, a friend of the congregation mentioned this to Dave and Joey Landreth, members of The Bros. Landreth, a group represented by Birthday Cake Records. The Bros. Landreth brought the information to Chipman and he immediately began working on a deal.

St. Michael and All Angels Church at 300 Hugo Street North was built in 1920 and was designed by H.W. Greene. The building is a rare example of Norman style, which combines elements of Roman, Byzantine, and Viking design. Interior rehabilitation of the church has been ongoing since a 1970 fire, and the exterior is in magnificent condition. St. Michael’s Church received heritage designation from the City of Winnipeg in 1989, and has continued to serve its parish, which was organized in 1904.

Chipman’s passion for the Winnipeg music scene is what drove this purchase. He hopes that the building can become a collaborative space for local artists while still serving its congregation. The Bros. Landreth plan to record their next album within the church, utilizing the unique acoustics of every room and corner.

As religious facilities across the country struggle with the upkeep of their historic properties, this resolution provides a beautiful example of partnerships and adaptive reuse. The reverberant church sanctuary, office rooms and gathering spaces will allow Birthday Cake Records to function in the space with little-to-no alterations. Applying secular uses to historic religious buildings is beneficial to both groups. For members of the general public, it provides a more inviting opportunity to experience the building’s unique architecture. For the church congregation, it gives them a chance to connect with the community and share in the beauty of the building.

Heritage Winnipeg would like to congratulate Mark Chipman, Birthday Cake Records, and the parish of St. Michael and All Angels Anglo-Catholic Church on the exciting news. This will have such a positive impact for all the involved parties, as well as the heritage and arts communities as a whole.

Sources

Searle, Tyler. “Music-lover Chipman brings salvation to Bros. Landreth, struggling parish” Winnipeg Free Press, 19 July 2024.

“St. Michael and All Angels Anglican Church” Canada’s Historic Places.