ASSINIBOIA — It’s been a century of love, hope and unity as St. Paul’s United Church in Assiniboia celebrates 100 years in 2025.
The church began in 1925 with the amalgamation of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregationalist Churches, with Rev. George Glover becoming the first minister at this United Church in Assiniboia.
The United Church of Canada will also mark their 100th year in 2025 with the theme “Deep*Bold*Daring.”
St. Paul’s goal for their anniversary celebrations will be to honour their past and embrace the future. Although organizers of their centennial events say they have not determined what church they were before joining the United Church of Canada, there is a long history of a United Church in Assiniboia.
“To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the United Church of Canada, St. Paul’s will hold a special church service on Sunday, June 1 at 10:30 a.m.,” Carol Munro and Better Malesh, two of the committee members planning centennial celebrations at St. Paul’s United Church, say.
A Come and Go Tea will also take place on June 10 from 2 to 4 p.m., to which the community and surrounding area, as well as former ministry personnel and members of St. Paul’s, are invited to attend.
“While there was a United Church in Assiniboia, plans were made to build a new church, and in 1928 the basement was dug on its location on Centre Street,” the committee’s duo adds.
“With a lack of funds due to the Depression, a roof was placed over the basement with services still being held in the old building on 5th Avenue East. Finally, on April 11, 1954, the new church was dedicated. In 1964, due to overcrowding in the Sunday School, an Education Wing was added to the church and the stairs from the outside of the building were moved inside the narthex. Unfortunately, we have had no Sunday School classes since 2020 when COVID hit.”
In 1946, the Willows Charge was welcomed into the membership of St. Paul’s.
Munro and Malesh tell the Assiniboia Times, “In 1969, Willow Bunch United Church joined with St. Paul’s to become the Assiniboia Pastoral Charge. In 2008, due to declining population, Willow Bunch made the difficult decision to close, with their final service being held on Dec. 21, 2008.”
In early 2014, St. Paul’s reached out to Borderlands Pastoral Charge, which was without a minister, and asked if they would be interested in sharing a minister. Arrangements were made, and in March 2014, Rev. Marilyn Leuty also took over services and pastoral care for Borderlands Pastoral Charge in addition to St. Paul’s. This arrangement continued until April of 2019, when Rev. Leuty retired. In September of 2019, the worship committees from both pastoral charges decided that instead of travelling, services would be emailed to all points with lay people delivering the services in their respective churches.
“Since October of 2020, we have been fortunate to have services the first and third Sundays of each month with retired minister, Wendy Gibson DLM from Mossbank. Wendy provides services and pastoral care to the 51 families on our membership roll. She also continues to email her services down to Borderlands Pastoral Charge.”
Munro and Malesh say that over the years, the church had many active UCW groups, however, the last one disbanded in June of 2017. They were recognized during a special Sunday service
St. Paul’s United Church has held several fundraising events over the years which have included fowl suppers, art shows and sales, teas, bake sales, fashion shows, B.C. apple sales, Purdy chocolate sales, rummage sales, garage sales, auction sale lunches, congregational suppers, concerts, soup and sandwich luncheons and congregational pancake breakfasts.
“We, at St. Paul’s, hope to keep the United Church a viable presence in our community for many years.”
