Presbyterian Church in Canada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Presbyterian Church in Canada |
|
|---|---|
| Église presbytérienne du Canada | |
 |
|
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Mainline Calvinist |
| Polity | Presbyterian |
| Associations |
|
| Region |
|
| Origin | 1875 |
| Separations | 70% of the Presbyterian Church in Canada joined the United Church of Canada in 1925 |
| Congregations | 821 |
| Members | 79,961 (2019) |
| Ministers | 1,337 |
| (source, Acts and Proceedings 2007 p 713) | |
The Presbyterian Church in Canada (in French, Église presbytérienne du Canada) is a Christian church group. It has been known by this name in Canada since 1875. In 2021, about 301,400 Canadians said they were Presbyterian. This means about 0.8 percent of Canada's population.
The church's history in Canada began with Scottish settlers and French Huguenots. The first Presbyterian churches started in the late 1500s and early 1600s. They followed the ideas of European Protestant Reformation leaders like John Calvin and John Knox.
The Presbyterian Church was once the biggest Christian church in English-speaking Canada. But in 1925, about 70 percent of its churches joined with other groups. They formed the United Church of Canada. Those who did not join the new church were called "Continuing Presbyterians." They fought to keep the name "Presbyterian Church in Canada." In 1939, they won the legal right to use the name again. Important leaders like Governor General Lord Tweedsmuir and Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King supported them.
Contents
How Presbyterian Churches Started in Canada
The roots of the Presbyterian Church in Canada go back to the 1700s. In 1759, Great Britain took control of New France. A Scottish army group, the 78th Fraser Highlanders, came with a Presbyterian chaplain. This group helped start St. Andrew's Church in Quebec City.
In Nova Scotia, early Presbyterians were German settlers. They began St. Andrew's Church in Lunenburg in 1753. In Truro, Nova Scotia, Scottish settlers founded First United Church in 1760. After the 1925 church union, St. James Presbyterian Church was formed by those who did not join.
After the American colonies became independent, more people moved to Canada. Many early Canadian Presbyterians were loyal to Britain. Others came directly from Scotland. One famous ship, The Hector, brought Scottish settlers to Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1773.
Early church leaders came from Scotland, Ireland, and the United States. American influences came from Dutch Reformed and other Presbyterian groups. It took a long time for churches to form in many places. For example, in the Red River Colony in Manitoba, it took 30 years to get a minister.
Two wars affected American support for Canadian churches. These were the War of 1812 and the Rebellions of 1837. These events led to political changes in Canada.
Bringing Presbyterian Churches Together
Over time, different Presbyterian groups in Canada began to unite. In 1818, the United Presbytery of the Canadas was formed. By 1839, this group joined with "The Presbyterian Church of Canada in Connection with the Established Church of Scotland."
In 1831, another Scottish group sent missionaries to Canada. On Christmas Day 1834, a Canadian Synod was formed in Toronto. This group also included some churches from the United Synod of the Canadas.
In 1841, a college called Queen's College was started in Kingston, Ontario. This college helped train ministers. However, in 1844, many students left to form a Free Church of Scotland Canadian Synod. They then started Knox College in Toronto.
In 1860, a big union happened in the Maritime Provinces. Free Church and United Presbyterian churches merged to create the Presbyterian Church of the Lower Provinces. In 1866, churches in New Brunswick joined them.
In June 1861, the Canada Presbyterian Church was formed. This was a merger of the Free Church and United Presbyterian Synods in Canada. This became the main Presbyterian group in Canada. It grew across cities, towns, and even into parts of the United States. It also expanded into the Canadian Northwest Territories.
The Canada Presbyterian Church started another college, The Presbyterian College, Montreal, in 1867. Both Knox College and The Presbyterian College, Montreal, stayed with the Presbyterian Church in Canada after the 1925 union.
In 1867, the Church of Scotland groups in the Maritimes also merged. They became the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of the Maritime Provinces of British North America.
By 1869, the Canada Presbyterian Church created a higher level of leadership called a General Assembly. This led to a meeting in Montreal in 1870. The goal was to unite all Presbyterian groups in Canada.
The Presbyterian Church in Canada: 1875 to 1925
On June 15, 1875, four major Canadian Presbyterian churches officially joined together. This happened in Montreal. The four groups were:
- The Canada Presbyterian Church (formed 1861)
- The Presbyterian Church of Canada in Connection with the Established Church of Scotland (formed 1831)
- The Synod of the Presbyterian Church of the Maritime Provinces of British North America (formed 1867)
- The Presbyterian Church of the Lower Provinces (formed 1866)
They all came together to form The Presbyterian Church in Canada. Some churches did not join at first, but many of them did later.
As a united church, the Presbyterian Church in Canada grew across the country. It expanded into new areas as Canada developed. Different regions of the church were organized into Synods:
- The Synod of the Maritime Provinces (now called Atlantic)
- The Synod of Montreal and Ottawa (now Quebec and Eastern Ontario)
- The Synod of Toronto and Kingston (now Central, Northeastern Ontario, and Bermuda)
- The Synod of Hamilton and London (now Southwestern Ontario)
As Western Canada grew, new Synods were created. The Synod of Manitoba and the Northwest was formed in 1884. The Synod of British Columbia was created in 1890. In 1905, when Alberta and Saskatchewan became provinces, separate Synods were made for them.
Leaders of the church began to discuss uniting with other Protestant churches. This led to the formation of the United Church of Canada on June 10, 1925. Most Methodist and Congregationalist churches joined, along with many Presbyterians.
The Church After 1925
After many years of discussion, the vote on church union happened in 1924 and 1925.
On June 9, 1925, the Presbyterian churches and groups that did not agree to the union met. They gathered at Knox Presbyterian Church (Toronto). About 79 leaders and others who wanted their church to continue met. They were led by Reverend Dr. David George McQueen. He was a former leader of the church. They decided to continue as the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada.
These "continuing Presbyterians" kept their name. The law had said the "Presbyterian Church of Canada" no longer existed. But the continuing Presbyterians kept using the name. In 1939, the law was changed to officially recognize their right to do so. They believed strongly in the traditional ways of Presbyterianism.
About 30 percent of the former Presbyterians did not join the United Church. In Western Canada, many churches and colleges joined the United Church. For example, Manitoba College in Winnipeg became part of the University of Winnipeg. Westminster Hall in Vancouver also merged with other colleges.
After 1925, the church faced challenges like the Great Depression and Second World War. But after 1945, it grew again. Many new members came from countries like Scotland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Hungary, Taiwan, Ghana, and Korea. In 1997, two special Korean Presbyterian groups were created.
Since 1966, the church has allowed women to be both elders and ministers. By 2014, almost half of the elders in the church were women.
Missions and International Work
The Presbyterian Church in Canada also works with people around the world. It has churches in Bermuda. Many churches in Canada have members from different countries and cultures.
The church sends missionaries and partners to other countries. Before 1875, Canadian Presbyterians went to places like Vanuatu in the South Pacific and Trinidad.
Later, missionaries like George Leslie MacKay went to Formosa (now Taiwan). Jonathan Goforth went to China. Others went to India, Korea, and Japan. After the 1925 union, some missionaries moved to new areas. Wars and political changes in Asia sometimes forced missionaries to leave.
Since 1954, the church has been active in Africa, especially in Nigeria. Other African countries like Malawi, Ghana, and Kenya also partner with the church. The church also works in Central America and Eastern Europe.
Working with Other Churches
The Presbyterian Church in Canada works with other Christian churches. It was a founding member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches in 1875. This group brings together Reformed churches from around the world.
The church was also a founding member of the Canadian Council of Churches (1944) and the World Council of Churches (1948).
Since 1939, relations with the United Church of Canada have improved. They often work together on projects. Many churches hold joint services during the summer. They also work together on events like the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. They help their communities with things like food banks and homeless shelters.
How the Church is Organized
The Presbyterian Church in Canada has about 1000 churches across the country. Most of these are in Southern Ontario.
The church has a General Assembly every year in early June. This is where important decisions are made. Delegates, called commissioners, attend from different churches. They include ministers and elders. Young adults and students from theological colleges also attend.
The General Assembly is usually held in Ontario or Quebec. But every ten years or so, it is held in other parts of Canada. For example, it was held in Edmonton in 2005 and in Sydney, Nova Scotia, in 2010.
The church has churches, missions, and preaching points in every Canadian province. It also has a church in Hamilton, Bermuda.
How the Church Communicates
Communication has always been important for the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Before 1875, each group had its own newspaper or journal.
In January 1876, the Presbyterian Record began. It combined earlier church newspapers. It was published monthly until 2016. Now, the church publishes The Presbyterian Connection, a quarterly newspaper, and PCConnect, a monthly online newsletter.
Other publications include Glad Tidings and the Presbyterian Message, which share news about missionary work. Presbyterian History shares stories about the church's past.
See also
- Protestantism in Canada
- Christianity in Canada
- Religion in Canada
Images for kids
-
Presbyterian Church in Edmonton
-
Central Presbyterian Church in Galt, Ontario
-
Stamford Church in Niagara Falls
-
Rev Bruin Romkes Comingo, 1st Presbyterian Minister ordained in Canada, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Lunenburg)
-
General Assembly Presbyterian Church of Canada in 1917
-
First Presbyterian Church of Vancouver, Picnic in North Vancouver July 1891 featuring Vancouver Mayor T.S. Baxter
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg){kind=small}
