Celebrating a Century of Witness
A Message from Archbishop Anne Germond on the 100th Anniversary of the United Church of Canada
Dear friends in Christ,
Tuesday, June 10 will be the 100th anniversary of the United Church of Canada. We give thanks to God for a bold and beautiful expression of Christian unity that began in 1925. Formed through the historic union of Methodist, Congregationalist, Presbyterian, and Local Union Churches—and later joined by the Evangelical United Brethren—the United Church has long been a courageous and creative voice within the Christian family in Canada.
Over the past century, Anglicans have been blessed to journey alongside our brothers and sisters in the United Church of Canada. From coast to coast to coast, our churches have worked together to advance social and ecological justice, to speak out against racism, to honour the dignity of women and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, and to engage in deep and respectful interfaith dialogue. We have learned much from your daring and faithful witness to the Gospel.
We also share a more painful inheritance: our complicity in colonial systems that harmed Indigenous peoples, cultures, and spiritual traditions. As churches, we are called to tell the truth about our shared past and to walk humbly in the ongoing work of healing and right relations. This is holy work that belongs to all of us.
Here in the Diocese of Algoma, our partnerships with United Church congregations are woven into the fabric of many communities. We share sacred spaces, worship side by side, support one another’s outreach efforts, and build enduring relationships of trust and goodwill. These local, often quiet collaborations are the true heartbeat of ecumenism.
As we mark this significant day, I invite our Algoma family to consider three ways we can honour this centennial moment:
Reach Out – Extend congratulations to your local United Church congregation. A card, phone call, or social media message can be a simple and meaningful act of ecumenical friendship.
Share Worship – Plan a joint service, hymn sing, or community celebration in the months ahead. Let this anniversary inspire new opportunities to gather together in Christian fellowship.
Recommit to Reconciliation – Explore how your parish can deepen its commitment to truth, healing, and justice in partnership with others. Look for ways to support local Indigenous-led initiatives, especially those that build relationships across denominational lines.
To our friends in the United Church of Canada: as you celebrate this remarkable anniversary, may your next century be as faithful, spirited, and courageous as your first. We give thanks for your witness, your partnership in ministry, and your enduring presence in the Body of Christ. May God bless you richly in all the ways you seek to serve.
Come, Holy Spirit.
+Anne
The Most Rev. Anne Germond
Archbishop of Algoma
Acting Primate, Anglican Church of Canada