Woodstock church celebrates century of faith, community, and activism
By Hannah MacFarlane
In June, the United Church of Canada will celebrate its 100th anniversary. Since 1925, the United Church of Canada and the Saint James United Church have provided a caring and compassionate community for the Woodstock area and beyond. As the church commemorates its centennial anniversary, the River Valley Sun looked into the history of The United Church of Canada, speaking with a few congregation members to hear what the Saint James United Church has meant to them over the years.
In the early 1900s, representatives from Methodist, Congregational, and Presbyterian churches across Canada began to discuss unifying to create a joint church. After the First World War, on June 10, 1925, the United Church was officially recognized.
In 1940, they established the Statement of Faith, declaring the beliefs of the United Church of Canada. In the past five years, the United Church of Canada announced their new strategic plan – a Call, Vision, and Plan- outlining a bold, hopeful, and sustainable future of deep spirituality, discipleship, and daring justice.
As The United Church of Canada commemorates their centennial anniversary, The Saint James church is planning several events to celebrate this significant time.
There was a dedication of the Kirk Church bell placed beside Saint James after their Sunday service on May 25. Additionally, they will be planting the anniversary tree at the same time. On June 8, the church will be having a celebratory service. To mark its 100th anniversary, the church bell will ring 100 times by the Sunday School children.
As part of a local initiative with the community, the United Church of Canada will partner with the Multicultural Association of Canada to create a community garden beside the Saint James United Church.
Lastly, the church will celebrate this significant period through a time capsule. If you have items you would like placed in the capsule that represent the church’s history, please bring them into the office.
After a Sunday service at Saint James, the River Valley Sun spoke to a few church members about their experiences. Many members echoed similar sentiments about the church being an encouraging and inclusive environment where everyone was welcome, as demonstrated by a map displayed that points to all the countries from which the different members came. Celebrating diversity is a key theme in the Saint James Church.
Furthermore, the Saint James Church is involved in several outreach programs. As an initiative with the United Church of Canada, they aim to raise $2,500 for the Canadian Food Grains Bank. The Saint James Church is also heavily involved in the local food bank, providing donations monthly. Additionally, the United Church of Canada has been an outspoken advocate for refugees. In 1998, the Saint James United Church was awarded a Citation for Citizenship from the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
Cathy Simister is a long-time member of the church. She said the church was a “constant” in her life. In her early years, the church played a significant role during her youth, when she was baptized and later married in the church. Simister moved away from the Woodstock area but was welcomed back into the Saint James United Church after 30 years. Simister said the church has been a pillar in her life, always welcoming her no matter how long she was absent.
The church’s message is clear to its members, who look at their church as much more than a building. The church has provided a place of worship, hope, and action for numerous community members in the past century. Since the birth of the United Church of Canada in 1925, it has continued to advocate for many social, environmental, and humanitarian issues.
If readers of The River Valley Sun are interested in attending any events celebrating their 100th anniversary, they can find more information on the Saint James United Church’s website: https://www.saintjamesunited.ca/.
