United Church of Canada 100 years

United Church of Canada – 100 Years

The United Church of Canada is an amalgamation of the Union of Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational churches.

 The United Church of Canada was inaugurated at a large worship service at Toronto’s Mutual Street Arena on June 10, 1925. Participants were handed a 38-page order of service containing the full text of the liturgy, prayers, hymns, and music. Hymns from all three churches were sung: “All people that on earth do dwell” from the Scottish Presbyterian psalm tradition; the Methodist favourite “O for a thousand tongues to sing”  by Charles Wesley; the Congregationalist "O God of Bethel"; and “When I survey the wondrous cross” by the British Nonconformist, Isaac Watts.

The ecumenical tone of the new church was set at this first General Council. The former Methodist General Superintendent, Samuel Dwight Chown was considered the leading candidate to become the first Moderator because the Methodist Church made up the largest segment of the new United Church. However, in a surprise move, Dr. Chown graciously stepped aside in favour of George C. Pidgeon, the moderator of the Presbyterian Church and principal spokesperson for the uniting Presbyterians, in the hopes that this would strengthen the resolve of the Presbyterians who had chosen to join the new Church. 

Although the entirety of the Methodist and Congregationalist Churches adopted the new union, the Presbyterian Church allowed each congregation to vote for or against union.

It was the first union of churches in the world to cross historical denominational lines and received international acclaim.

by Helen Roberts

Source: Wikipedia

Note: The majority of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church members in Aurora voted to remain separate. Aurora Methodist Church at Yonge & Tyler became Aurora United Church.