This year, United Church of Canada faith communities across the country are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the formation of the UCC.
The United Church was founded in 1925 as a merger of four Protestant denominations:鈥痶he鈥疢ethodist Church (Canada), the Congregational Union of Ontario and Quebec, two-thirds of the congregations of the鈥疨resbyterian Church in Canada and the Association of Local Union Churches, a movement predominantly of the three鈥痯rairie provinces. The Canadian Conference of the Evangelical United Brethren Church鈥痡oined the United Church of Canada in 1968.
The United Churches of Campbell River and the Comox Valley are celebrating the anniversary with a joint worship service at St. George鈥檚 United Church in Courtenay on June 8 at 10:30 a.m. followed by a reception. All are welcome.
Campbell River United Church has been serving the community since the 1940鈥檚, at first sharing space with the Anglicans. Their own house of worship was built in the early 1950鈥檚 with a start up budget of $1700.00. This church across from Phoenix School opened June 14, 1953 with Rev. Don Irwin as Minister. The present church was built at the corner of Birch and Pinecrest Road in l980.
For years, the United Church has worshipped together and dedicated itself to serving the people of Campbell River. Today it operates community programs such as the Breakfast Club. Volunteers show up at 7:00 am every school day to prepare and serve breakfast to Pinecrest School students. Many volunteers also serve at the Saturday Soup Kitchen in the downtown area.
Since 1962, the United Church Women have always had a clear goal to foster inclusiveness and to build a new and better world. The Women鈥檚 Auxiliary worked towards the same vision before that.
The church has struggled over the years, with congregants coming and going, but it has remained true to the heart of Jesus鈥� mission: loving our neighbours as ourselves.
As Campbell River United Church celebrates the 100th anniversary of the United Church of Canada, it sees a future of continuing to help shape a community built on justice, kindness, charity and love.
