The Zion United Church on Moose Jaw’s Main Street started life as Zion Methodist Church and its design was based on that of Winnipeg’s Zion Methodist Church.  The name changed in the 1920s when the union of Presbyterian, Congregationalist, Methodist and the General Council of Local Union Churches joined together to form the United Church of Canada.

The building is Romanesque in style and reminiscent of the Pantheon with its doric columns, pediment and dome.  Five pillars frame four large doorways and at each end of the facade are stair towers.  The Heritage Buildings website says of the dome that, “... In Western Canada Zion’s dome is fairly unique both for its size (measuring 38’ in diameter and rising approx. 44’ from floor level) and for its stained glass centre (measuring 16’ in diameter). The circular shape is an ancient Christian symbol of eternal life and the eternal nature of God.”

The church cost $65,000 to build with an additional $6,000 being spent on the Casavant Organ.  “the first fully installed pipe organ in Saskatchewan. The visible pipes are voiced to play and are backed by approximately 1,800 other pipes in the organ chamber behind. The organ console, rebuilt in 1955, is located at the centre of the choir loft. The console was replaced by Casavant in 1993 at a cost of some $90,000.00.”

“In 1975 structural defects were discovered in the attic (southwest corner) and the building was declared unsafe for occupancy – so the church services were held in the C.E. Auditorium while the future of the church and a solution to the problem associated with a crack in a major beam in cantilever (bridging like structure) was found. A major program of restoration was undertaken to save this historic building. The four massive pillars in the sanctuary were installed to stabilize the dome and preserve this house of worship for future generations.”