Landmark Building
BISHOP'S COURT
1029 Hillcrest Avenue SW, Calgary
Built in 1914
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This residence was built in 1914 for Alexander M. Martin, the owner of A.M. Martin sporting Goods Company Limited. Martin was a gunsmith who came to Alberta from England and in later years represented the province in various rifle competitions.
The house changed hands several times in the 1920s and 1930s and was finally purchased by the Anglican Church in 1938. The house then became the residence of the Anglican bishop residing in Calgary, hence its present name.
The first bishop to live in the house was Louis R. Sherman who resided there until 1943. Sherman was only the second Canadian-born Anglican bishop. He was born in Fredericton in 1886, attended the University of New Brunswick, was a Rhodes Scholar, and was ordained a priest at the age of 27. He then served in a number of positions across the country before being consecrated bishop in 1927. Sherman was bishop of Calgary until 1943.
The house, which served as residence for a number of succeeding bishops, was sold by the Anglican Church in 1980. It is a fine two and a half storey brick structure distinguished by a bellcast roof, L-shaped plan, angular entrance, and high corbelled chimneys. This structure has a tiered appearance, created by the angular entrance, the second storey enclosed balcony, and the flat-roofed dormer. This house, unlike many others built just before World War I, is noteworthy for its appealing simplicity and stylistic uniqueness.
The Landmark Buildings and Places Database draws on the series of walking and/or driving tour booklets produced by Alberta Culture (now Alberta Culture and Community Spirit). The Heritage Community Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ministry through permission to reprint these materials online. Extracted from Driving Tour: Inglewood and Mount Royal, Calgary. Alberta Culture, n.d., with permission from Alberta Culture and Community Spirit. Visit the Alberta Culture and Community Spirit for more information.