Our History

OUR HISTORY

First United Church has its roots in the Wesleyan Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church. We began in 1845 when the government built a frame Chapel on the corner of 24th St. and 4th Ave. West, for the First Nation village of Newash. By 1857-58 most of the First Nations people had been moved to the Cape Croker Reserve, and in 1861 the Methodist Mission bought and took over the Newash Mission property.
Presbyterianism began in this community with Sunday School in Lethbridge Hall on the north side of 22nd St., east of 4th Ave. West. In 1906 St. Paul's Presbyterian Church began services in "the Old Church" at the west end of our present church property, and in 1918 the Methodists from the hill united with the Presbyterians. Since this union took place well before the General Union of Churches in Canada, in 1925, our Church has become known as First United Church.
In 1956 a new structure was built to house the growing number of worshippers, and in 1990 a further addition was completed to look after the needs of a still growing congregation as we know it today.
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