the original building was completed in the spring of 1881 on alexander street in the town of granville, burrard inlet to the north west of the present site and was sponsored by captain james raymur, the manager of hastings mill. granville was renamed vancouver and the town was incorporated as a city on april 6, 1886. this building burned down in the great vancouver fire of june 13, 1886. the heat of the fire melted the church bell into a puddle that was eventually put on display at the museum of vancouver.