Abrey, Frederick Elmer Leighton

ABREY, Frederick Elmer Leighton (1888-1975) was an architect who made a substantial contribution to the design of many institutional works erected in China for the Methodist Church of Canada. Born in Toronto, Ont. on 15 April 1888 he served his architectural apprenticeship with the Toronto firm of Burke & Horwood from 1903 to 1908 and then went to Chicago, Illinois to gain further experience in the office of Holabird & Roche. He lived and worked in China from 1910 until 1924 where he designed Methodist church mission buildings, hospitals, schools, and churches built with financial assistance from Canadian Methodist congregations. Abrey was in partnership with a 'Mr. Morrison of Chungking' for seven years during which time his office worked for British and American interests and designed the main Post Office for the Chinese Government, the Salt Gabelle Building, and altered the building for the British Consulate. Returning to Toronto in 1927 he worked in the office of Darling & Pearson and then as head draftsman and field superintendent for John M. Lyle. In 1931 he moved back to China to reside in Chengtu, the provincial capital of Szechuan Province, but was forced to return to Canada in 1938 shortly after the outbreak of the Japanese-Chinese war. Abrey remained in active practise until December 1962 (inf. Ontario Association of Architects). He died in Peel County, Ontario on 3 August 1975.