Showing 40 results

The first branch in B.C. of the Methodist Woman's Missionary Society was organized at the old Pandora Avenue Church in Victoria in 1888. It soon became the auxiliary of Metropolitan Church, and its original purpose was to help in the setting up of a "rescue home" for Chinese women and girls who had been forced into prostitution. Other local auxiliaries soon appeared throughout the province, and in 1891 they were unified through the establishment of the B.C. Conference Branch of the W.M.S. In 1904, District branches were created for Victoria, Vancouver, Westminster and Kamloops. Besides the rescue home in Victoria, the Methodist W.M.S. in B.C. supported Residential Schools such as the Crosby Girls' Home in Port Simpson (Lax Kw'alaams), the Coqualeetza Institute in Chilliwack, the Elizabeth Long Memorial Home in Kitamaat (Haisla); the Turner Institute in Vancouver; and Methodist hospitals at Port Simpson, Bella Bella and Hazelton.

The Presbyterian Woman's Missionary Society, nationally organized with a few auxiliaries in B.C., was originally concerned with foreign missions. Both native Indian and Chinese work in B.C. (as they were known at the time) were included as foreign. As an outgrowth of the committee, which supported the Atlin Hospital, a new organization emerged in 1903: the Woman's Home Missionary Society. In 1914, the two societies were united nationally as the Woman's Missionary Society and a provincial synod branch was organized. In addition to its support for the Atlin Hospital and a hospital at Telegraph Creek, it took special interest in the Loggers' Mission. Support was also give to Indian Residential and Day Schools at Alberni, Ahousaht, and Ucluelet. After church union in 1925, the society was merged into the Woman's Missionary Society of the United Church of Canada.

Joan Imai was a member of the Vancouver Japanese United Church English-Speaking Congregation, from 1971 until 1979. Her husband, Gordon, was the minister of the Lower Mainland Pastoral Charge of the Japanese United Church during that period. She and her husband returned to the Vancouver Japanese United Church after Gordon retired, and she remained a member until the English-Speaking Congregation closed in 2017.

Patricia and Glen Baker were married in the mid-1950s. Both served as clergy within The United Church of Canada. Glen was ordained by BC Conference in 1958, and served several congregations throughout British Columbia, including the Nisei congregation of Vancouver Japanese United Church (1957) while he was a student at Union College; Prince George Rural; McBride; Richmond-Sea Island; First United (Vancouver); and Dunbar Heights (Vancouver). Patricia was a public health nurse (1955-1962). She later studied at Vancouver School of Theology and was ordained by BC Conference in 1984. The couple served in team ministry at First United, Kelowna (1984-1993) and West Howe Sound Pastoral Charge, Sechelt (1993-1998).

Dorothy Yamamoto was a longtime member of the Vancouver Japanese United Church English Speaking congregation, until it closed in 2017.

Chizu Uchida was born in Vancouver and attended the Powell Street Church (Japanese Mission) with her family until the internment of Japanese Canadians in 1942. She and her family attended the Japanese United Church in Montreal for a short while until returning to Vancouver in the mid-1950s. From that point, Chizu was a member of the Vancouver Japanese United Church, and a founding member of the English-Speaking Congregation in 1969. She served on the Church Board and also for a time as secretary of the national Japanese United Church Conference (Kyogikai). She died in 2017.

Cumberland United Church, established in 1926, had its origins in two earlier congregations, both founded in 1888, at the Union Mines coal mining operation, which later grew into the village of Cumberland. Union Presbyterian Church, which was later renamed St. George's, became St. George's United Church in 1925. Grace Methodist Church, which was part of the larger Cumberland Circuit which included points at Denman Island, Union Bay and Grantham, became Grace United. A Japanese Mission church also existed in Cumberland, although the only record of activities in this fonds are baptismal records of Cumberland Circuit. St. George's and Grace merged in 1926 to form Cumberland United Church and one pastoral charge. From 1950 until 1980, Union Bay and Denman Island congregations were again part of the Cumberland Pastoral Charge. Cumberland United Church disbanded on December 31, 2017.

In 1861, the Presbyterian Church of Ireland sent a missionary to British Columbia. After months of travel throughout the colony, he organized "First Presbyterian Church of Vancouver Island" in Victoria in February, 1862. Initial services were held in various halls, until the church was opened in October, 1863 at Pandora and Blanshard. Difficulties arose in 1866, leading to the founding of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, and the closure of First Presbyterian Church from 1867 to 1876. In 1882, the First Presbyterian congregation joined the Presbyterian Church in Canada. It was burned in a fire in 1883, but rebuilt the same year, and expanded in 1890. In 1913, a new church school hall at Quadra and Fisgard was completed; the congregation vacated the church and met at the school hall. The cornerstone for a new church building at that site was laid in September 1914, and the building was completed and dedicate in May 1915. The First Presbyterian Church congregation entered the United Church of Canada in 1925, becoming First United Church.

In 1861, the Presbyterian Church of Ireland sent a missionary to British Columbia. After months of travel throughout the colony, he organized "First Presbyterian Church of Vancouver Island" in Victoria in February, 1862. Initial services were held in various halls, until the church was opened in October, 1863 at Pandora and Blanshard. Difficulties arose in 1866, leading to the founding of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, and the closure of First Presbyterian Church from 1867 to 1876. In 1882, the First Presbyterian congregation joined the Presbyterian Church in Canada. It was burned in a fire in 1883, but rebuilt the same year, and expanded in 1890. In 1913, a new church school hall at Quadra and Fisgard was completed; the congregation vacated the church and met at the school hall. The cornerstone for a new church building at that site was laid in September 1914, and the building was completed and dedicate in May 1915. The First Presbyterian Church congregation entered the United Church of Canada in 1925, becoming First United Church. The First Presbyterian Church congregation entered the United Church of Canada in 1925, becoming First United Church. In 1997, First United Church and Metropolitan United Church were amalgamated in the First United Church building and the congregation became known a First-Metropolitan United Church.

As far back as the 1870s, ministers of the Presbyterian and Methodist churches travelled through Williams Lake and preached. Regular work was not established until 1920, initially under the leadership of Rev. J.H. White. The Rev. Dr. A.D. MacKinnon arrived in the fall of 1921 for a long-term ministry for the Presbyterian Church, serving the people of Williams Lake and the vast surrounding area until 1941. St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and manse were built on Oliver Street, Williams Lake, and was officially dedicated in 1922. During church union in 1925, the congregation joined The United Church of Canada and its name changed to St. Andrew’s United Church.
In 1953, St. Andrew’s sold its original buildings and moved to the corner of Cameron Street and Third Avenue. A hall, later to be named MacKinnon Memorial Hall, was built. The congregation intended that a sanctuary would also be erected, but this did not materialize, so the hall served as a sanctuary and Christian Education centre. A manse was built beside the hall, and served the ministry staff until it was sold in 1974 to give the minister opportunity to choose suitable housing.
On April 9, 1980, a fire destroyed MacKinnon Memorial Hall. St. Andrew’s worshiped in the Anglican church and then in local school gyms. St. Andrew’s sold the Cameron Street lot in 1981 and purchased a new site in the 600 block of Midnight Drive from B.C. Rail. A new structure, 1000 Huckvale Place, was completed in July 1982.

The Rev. A.D. MacKinnon was a pioneer minister of the Presbyterian Church in British Columbia. He was born in Nova Scotia, attended theological college at Queens, and came to the Kootenay region of B.C. as a student in 1893. He was ordained in 1896 in Kamloops and served at Quesnel, where he opened the first Presbyterian Church in the Cariboo. He later served at Kitsilano Presbyterian Church in Vancouver (1913-1920) Williams Lake (1921-1941) and Peachland (1941-1946). Like many Presbyterian ministers of his generation, MacKinnon joined The United Church of Canada during church union in 1925.

Rev. Dr. Hedwig Dorothea Henrietta Bartling was born in Germany. As a young child, she emigrated with her family from Germany to Canada, settling in Saskatchewan, just a year before the First World War. In 1933, she was engaged by the Woman's Missionary Society (W.M.S.) of The United Church of Canada to work among the Ukrainian people in northern Alberta. In 1942, she went to Lethbridge to work among the Japanese-Canadian internees. After the war, Bartling worked first at the Chinese Christian Community Centre in Victoria, B.C. (1950-1951), followed by several years at Steveston United Church in Richmond, helping build the integrated Caucasian-Japanese congregation (1952-1956). Following three years at Queen's Avenue United Church in New Westminster (1960-1962), and studies at Union College, she was ordained. Hedwig Bartling died in 1993.

Greenwood Pastoral Charge began as the result of Presbyterian and Methodist activity. The Kettle River Mission had been opened in 1890 and reopened in 1893 by the Presbyterian Church; by 1896, mission stations had been opened up at both Greenwood and Midway. By 1920, Greenwood and Midway had been combined into one field. The congregation at Greenwood was called St. Columba Presbyterian Church and continued as the central point in the Greenwood field. The Methodists opened work in Greenwood in 1899, which was variously combined with activity carried on at nearby Phoenix. In 1925, the local Methodist and Presbyterian bodies entered church union without a vote, at which point the combined congregation at Greenwood became St. Columba United Church. Since union, Greenwood Pastoral Charge has consisted of various congregations and preaching points, including Midway, Kettle Valley, Beaverdell, Bridesville, Rock Creek and others. Due to declining membership, the congregation disbanded as of January 1, 2017.

Jim Chisholm's work for The United Church of Canada is most strongly related to the Metropolitan Council of Church in the Lower Mainland, where he served as Administrator (1969-1979), and to BC Conference, where he served as Conference Administrator (1979-1983).

The position of Conference Administrator was established in 1979, when BC Conference implemented a new staffing model. The responsibilities of the Administrator included management of Conference finances, oversight of the operation of the Conference office, and consultation with division, committees, presbyteries, congregations, and individuals concerning budget planning, stewardship, and property matters. The functions remained the same, but the position title changed several times, including Financial Manager and Stewardship, Finance Minister, and finally Director of Finance.|James A. Chisholm, formerly the Administrative Officer for the Metropolitan Council of The United Church of Canada in the Lower Mainland of B.C., became the first Conference Administrator. He was followed by Arthur H. Jones (1983-1993); Nellie Tang (1994-2018); and Houston Mo (2018). The position of Director of Finance continued under the Pacific Mountain Regional Council from January 1, 2019.

Art Jones served as Financial Manager for BC Conference of The United Church of Canada, from 1983 until his retirement. He continued as a financial consultant for the Conference until his death in 2006.

It is not clear from available sources when Salmo United Church was organized, although it did form part of larger Presbyterian fields before Church Union and various United Church pastoral charges after Union in 1925. A church was built ca. 1940, known also as Salmo Community Church, because other denominations used the building. Salmo was part of East Trail Pastoral Charge, 1928-1936; Ymir-Salmo Pastoral Charge, 1936-1952; and Fruitvale Pastoral Charge, 1952-1959. In 1959 Salmo became a separate charge. In 1972 it joined with Fruitvale in the Beaver Valley-Salmo Pastoral Charge. In 2003, Salmo and Beaver Valley joined charges at Trail and Rossland to form Communities in Faith Pastoral Charge. Salmo United Church disbanded on June 30, 2016.

United Church activity began in Fruitvale in 1936, at first under the oversight of the Ymir-Salmo Pastoral Charge in Kootenay Presbytery. The congregation built a church in ca. 1939 and at least since the early 1940s the congregation has been named St. Paul's United Church. The congregation has constituted a part of various pastoral charges: Fruitvale Pastoral Charge, 1937-1939, which included Castlegar and Robson; East Trail-Fruitvale Pastoral Charge, 1939-1952; Fruitvale Pastoral Charge, 1952-1959, which included Beaver Falls, Montrose, Salmo, Ymir and other points. In 1959 Salmo and Fruitvale became separate charges, although Beaver Falls, Montrose and other points remained connected to Fruitvale. In 1970-1971, St. Paul’s United Church sold its property and entered into joint ownership with St. John’s Anglican Church. In 1972, the St. Paul's congregation joined Salmo United Church to form Beaver Valley-Salmo Pastoral Charge. Then in 2003, Beaver Valley-Salmo entered into the Communities in Faith Pastoral Charge. Salmo United disbanded in 2016, and the new Beaver Valley United Church was constituted, separated from Communities in Faith.

St. Andrew's United Church was founded in 1895 with the purpose of bringing the Presbyterian faith to the small mining town of Rossland, British Columbia. The first religious services were held on the last Sunday in May 1895, in a partially constructed butcher's shop. The first church was erected in Nickel Plate Flat and opening services were conducted on August 28, 1895. Although originally a Presbyterian church, St. Andrew's would, in 1917, vote to unite with the Rossland Methodist Church (founded 1897). The name and church of St. Andrew's were retained for the new church, however, Methodist ministers continued to lead "union" services from 1918-1925. After this time the church was referred to exclusively as St. Andrew's United Church and United Church services and ministers were used. By the late 1960s, there was a spirit of growing cooperation with the local Anglican congregation, St. George's. Negotiations with St. George's Anglican Church regarding the sharing of services and buildings through a lease ended with a five year lease being approved by both congregations in 1969. Shared services were held between St. George's and St. Andrew's until 1982, when St. George's terminated the arrangement. Major renovations to the church building were completed by 1985. The church continued to grow into the 1980s, recording a membership growth and budget surplus by 1987. In 2003, St. Andrew's joined with the congregations at Trail, Salmo, and Fruitvale to form the four-point Communities in Faith Pastoral Charge. Salmo United Church disbanded 2016 and the new Beaver Valley Pastoral Charge (based at Fruitvale) left Trail and Rossland congregations in a two-point pastoral charge. In 2018, the congregations amalgamated to form a single congregation, Communities in Faith, overseeing two properties.

In 1984, Kootenay Presbytery approved the joint application of Knox United Church, Trail, B.C. and East Trail United Church to become a single two-point Trail Pastoral Charge. In January of 1985 the two congregations became one Pastoral Charge functioning with one Official Board. The two congregations were fully amalgamated in 1987, when Knox United Church became Trail United Church, and the East Trail property was sold. Trail United came together with congregations at Rossland, Salmo, and Fruitvale in 2003 to form a four-point charge, Communities in Faith. In 2016, the congregation at Salmo disbanded and the new Beaver Valley Pastoral Charge was formed, leaving Trail and Rossland congregations in Communities of Faith Pastoral Charge. The two congregations amalgamated in December, 2018, to form a single congregation (Communities in Faith) overseeing two properties.

Vera Bell (neé Lyon) was born December 2, 1933 in Clinton, Ontario.  She took her nursing training at Victoria Hospital in London Ontario, graduating as an RN in the class of 1955. She arrived in Hazelton, B.C. in early 1956, serving for five years at Wrinch Memorial Hospital.  In 1961, she moved to Queen Charlotte City, where she served as matron of the hospital for two years. She received midwifery training in Edmonton in 1963.  She attended Covenant College (Toronto) in 1963-1964 before being posted to Portugal and Kenya.  In 1971, she completed her Bachelor of Nursing at McGill University in Montreal, before marrying Alfred Bell, former auditor for United Church of Canada Hospitals.  She was a She was a vital member of First United Church (Prince Rupert, B.C.) and Brechin United Church (Nanaimo, B.C.) Vera died November 14, 2020 in Nanaimo, B.C. 

In 1974, Youth and Young Adult (YAYA) ministry formally became a part of BC Conference in The United Church of Canada. In 1979, YAYA ministry ended at the conference level and the Youth Section was formed by a group of volunteers. YAYA ministry was reinstated at the conference level in 1982, along with the creation of an executive with representatives from each presbytery. Two YAYA sub-committees, the Young Adult Ministry Section (YAMS) and the Youth Ministry Section (YMS) were formed in 1987. YAYA ministry expanded into presbyteries and congregations throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In 2019, BC Conference was dissolved and ministry to youth and young adults was absorbed into the First Third Ministry (children, youth and young adults) in the new Pacific Mountain Regional Council structure.

The first United Church Chaplain, Rev. M.J.V. Shaver, was appointed to the University of British Columbia after its creation by BC Conference in 1959. An interdenominational committee, the Anglican-United Joint Chaplaincy Committee, was formed in 1969, through the BC Conference Committee on Church and State in Education, to begin the process of creating a joint chaplaincy at UBC. In 1970 the Anglican United Campus Ministry (AUCM) was created. In 1974, the AUCM and the UBC Student Christian Movement (SCM) merged to form the Cooperative Christian Campus Ministry (CCCM) at the University of British Columbia. In 1979, the SCM left the CCCM and the United Church and Anglican Church continued to operate campus ministry at UBC through the CCCM. In 1986, the CCCM was dissolved and the partnership between the United Church and Anglican Church at UBC ended. Later that year, after a brief period without a United Church campus chaplain, the United Church Campus Ministry (UCCM) at UBC was formed. In 2021, Campus Ministry at UBC became a part of Pacific Mountain Regional Council through the formation of Campus United.