Ailsa Craig Pastoral Charge was formed in 1925 at church union and included: Ailsa Craig and Carlisle. Brinsley United Church would join the charge ca. 1956 with the dissolution of Crediton Pastoral Charge. It is still an active pastoral charge of the United Church of Canada.
Ailsa Craig United Church, located at 156 Main Street in Ailsa Craig, was established in 1925, formerly Presbyterian.
Brinsley United Church, located at 34713 Brinsley Road in North Middlesex, was established in 1925, formerly Methodist.
Carlisle United Church, located at 19 Falkirk Street in North Middlesex, was established in 1925, formerly Presbyterian
Ainsworth was visited by both Methodist and Presbyterian missionaries in the early 1890s. In 1893 a Methodist church was built in Ainsworth. In 1903, the Methodists withdrew from the area and the Presbyterians purchased the Methodist church, renaming it Ainsworth Presbyterian Church. Shortly after Church Union in 1925 the community of Ainsworth gradually declined and the church was deserted.
Alberni Residential School was located on the west bank of the Somass River, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, just south of the Tseshaht Reserve and about four kilometres north of Port Alberni. It was operated by the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, and after 1925 The Woman's Missionary Society of The United Church of Canada. A day school first opened at the site under Missionary Rev. J.A. MacDonald of the Presbyterian Church in Canada in 1891. Soon, with the support of the government the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Presbyterian Church opened a larger boarding home called Alberni Girls' Home to operate alongside the day school until 1899. Then, the Alberni Residential School opened in 1900. The United Church of Canada took over operations in 1925, and the school remained open until 1966. The Alberni Student Residence operated there from 1967-1973, with the Government of Canada taking over full responsibility in 1969.
Alberni Valley United Church formed as a result of an amalgamation of St. Andrew's and First United Churches (Port Alberni, B.C.) In June, 2001, First and St. Andrew's became one pastoral charge known as Alberni Valley United Church. They maintained the two congregations until they were physically amalgamated in the former First United Church building in April, 2002.
Albert College was founded in 1857 by the Methodist Episcopal Church as the Belleville Seminary. It received it's University Charter in 1866 and was renamed Albert University. At this time it was an affiliate of the University of Toronto. Once the Methodist Churches united as the Methodist Church of Canada in 1884, the school federated with Victoria College. At this time the school became a high school. The original building was partially destroyed by fire in 1917. The current building located on the Dundas Street West opened in 1926 and was affiliated with the United Church of Canada. The School began admitting girls in 1934.
Albert Street United Church was established in 1925; formerly Methodist. South Oshawa Methodist Mission was established in 1910 and the first church opened in 1914; it became Albert Street United Church when it joined the United Church of Canada in 1925. in 1996 the church amalgamated with Centennial United Church in the former centennial building.
Albion Primitive Methodist Mission included Bolton, Albion, Columbia, Tecumseth, Shiloh in Albion Township, Caledon East, King Township and Palgrave; it was active from at least 1851 until 1884, when the Methodist Church, Canada was formed.
Albion United Church, located in Maple Ridge District Municipality, began as an interdenominational effort under Presbyterian auspices in 1909 when a Board of Trustees was formed to build a church at Albion. The congregation became part of the United Church in 1925. Services ceased between ca. 1936 and 1948, when a board was reestablished and the church was reopened in 1950. By ca. 1960 church activity ceased and Fraser Presbytery sold the building in 1965. From 1912 to 1927, the congregation was part of the Whonnock field; then, part of the Haney charge; and from 1953 till the congregation closed it was again part of Whonnock charge.
The Albrights were a Methodist/United Church family in Beamsville, Ontario. Charles Raymond Albright was born 1888 March 26 in South Cayuga. His parents were Josiah D. Albright and Sarah Moyer. He grew up in Beamsville, Ontario. In June 1917, he was ordained into the ministry of the Methodist Church. He retired in June 1952 and returned to Beamsville. His wife was Jean Little Wright. Other family members were his brother F.S. Albright (Fred), killed at Passchaendale in 1917, his brother W.D. Albright (Don) and his sister Mrs. Roy Hobden (Margaret). Before his death in 1960, Rev. Albright gave to The United Church of Canada a piece of property in Beamsville. This property later became the location for Albright Gardens, a community for retired United Church personnel.
Albright Gardens Retirement Community is home to 41 households on a 25 acre parcel of land in Beamsville, located along the Niagara Escarpment. The original lands for the project was donated by Rev. Raymond Albright this coupled with funds donated by Miss Elsie Watt, launched the development of the seniors housing community in the 1950's. The project was intended to provide affordable housing for retired United Church personnel.
Albright Manor was opened ca. 1968, when it became necessary for nursing services to be provided for the United Church pensioners in Albright Gardens
The Ontario Prohibition Union was founded as a successor organization to the Ontario Branch of the Dominion Alliance at the Alliance’s Annual Convention held in Toronto, March 18, 1924. Following several turbulent and controversial years of Alliance activity, leading temperance workers were urged by the Prohibition Federation of Canada to constitute a more representative organization to unify temperance forces in Ontario. This new group was initially called the Ontario Temperance Alliance but was changed to the Ontario Prohibition Union (OPU) at a subsequent meeting. The need for greater unity in the prohibition effort was cited in the new organization’s constitution:
The temperance workers of Ontario will expect that, in its leadership of the Prohibition forces, the Ontario Prohibition Union will, very earnestly seek the co-operation of all organizations and individuals that are all in sympathy with its one great object “The total and immediate suppression of the traffic in all intoxicating Liquors and beverages.”
Policy of the Organization was set at Conventions and carried out by an Executive Committee. The Union’s activities spanned an increased emphasis on temperance tracts, non-partisan political activity urging the abolition of the liquor traffic, the organization of county units, and assistance to ‘dry’ forces in local option contests, and the forwarding of information received at OPU offices regarding bootlegging and Liquor Control Act violations to the Provincial Attorney-General’s office.
After the passing of the Liquor Control Act in 1926 approving government control of liquor sales, prohibition sentiment experienced a gradual decline, especially in urban area. In 1934 the OPU was again reorganized, this time to reflect a stronger emphasis on education rather than legislation, and emerged the Ontario Temperance Federation.
The Ontario Temperance Foundation defined itself as “An interdenominational, non-partisan organization maintained largely by support of church congregations and individuals to co-ordinate the efforts of religious and other groups concerned with the promotion of sobriety in personal conduct and social behavior.” The Ontario Temperance Foundation emerged as the most influential temperance group in the nation.
Throughout its history the Federation found its main source of support in the United and Baptist churches, and to a lesser extent among Presbyterian, Congregationalists, and a number of smaller Protestant denominations. Little or no support was provided by the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches and in many cases was never actively strong.
Combining scientific temperance with the moral appeals of earlier prohibitionists, the Federation became active in many fields, including education, youth work, legislation, community organization, and an administrative role as coordinator of provincial temperance forces. The Federation dissolved in 1968 to become the Alcohol and Drug Concerns Inc. The aim of the new organization was to promote lifestyles non dependent on drugs and alcohol, foster public awareness on the harms of those substances, advocate reduction of their use, counteract advertising promoting the use of substances, reinforcing the spiritual dimension of the work, and creating support and funding resources for the previous initiatives. In 1987 the organization surrendered its Ontario Charter and filed a National Charter to operate on a national level.
Prohibition sentiment in Ontario reaches a peak in the early 1920s following the majority vote against repeal of the Ontario Temperance Act in 1919 (The Hearst Referendum) and the 1921 vote against the legal importation of liquor into the Province. In the 1919 Provincial Election the strongly prohibitionist United Farmers of Ontario party came to power under the leadership of Premier Ernest C. Drury. Despite the energetic zeal and harsh penalties applies by his Attorney-General William E. Raney) a former member of the Dominion Alliance) in the enforcement of the Ontario Temperance Act, bootlegging and rum-running became so wide-spread as to discredit the prohibition experiment, particularly in urban areas.
In 1923 the Conservative Part of G. Howard Ferguson capitalized upon a general disenchantment among voters with the controversial Drury government. Despite the entrenchment of prohibition in law it once more became an election issue which Ferguson deftly handled, making vague statements of support in rural areas where prohibition remained popular, and equally vague promises of change in the urban areas where ‘wet’ sentiment was on the rise. The Conservatives easily ousted the United Farmers of Ontario and the voters now waited to see what action Ferguson would take.
On July 24, 1924 a plebiscite was announced for October 23, 1924 to secure a popular judgement on the Ontario Temperance Act. The questions to be voted upon where:
- Are you in favour of the continuance of the Ontario Temperance Act?
- Are you in favour of the sale as a beverage of beer and spirituous liquor in sealed packages under Government Control?
The Executive Committee of the Ontario Prohibition Union moved quickly to create a special Plebiscite Committee to handle the campaign. Prominent citizens and churchmen were recruited to carry out the campaign under the leadership of Campaign Director the Rev. Dr. Thomas Albert Moore, Secretary of the Board of Temperance and Moral Reform of the Methodist Church, and a later Moderator of the United Church of Canada. The Committee promised a campaign which would be “brief, intense, and courageous.”
Campaign activity was conducted by three working sub-committees; Organization, Publicity, and Finance. The Province was divided into 14 major districts with further division in county, riding, and municipal organizations. Women volunteers were united in the Ontario Women’s Prohibition Committee and young people of Sunday Schools and religious youth groups were encouraged in active participation.
When the votes were tallied the result was 585,676 for the retention of the Ontario Temperance Act, and 551, 645 for Government Control. The 1924 Plebiscite Campaign was to prove a pyrrhic victory for Ontario’s prohibitionists. Although the campaign demonstrated the organizational abilities of the prohibitionists in mounting a major and effective campaign, their narrow margin of victory demonstrated a significant dissatisfaction among the voters with the practise of prohibition as opposed to the theory that had provided such vast majorities in the 1919 and 1921 votes. The disparity in voting between the rural and urban areas, the latter of which had voted resoundingly against prohibition, prompted action by the Ferguson government. Within a year the distribution of 4.4% beer was approved and, following the re-election of the Ferguson government in 1926 on a platform of government control the Ontario Liquor Control Act was passes, ending Ontario’s prohibition experiment.
Toc Alpha was the youth wing of the Ontario Temperance Federation and antecedent organizations overseen by the Youth Work Committee. Toc Alpha stands for the letters “T” and “A” which representing “Teen Ager for Total Abstinence.” The organization served young people from fifteen to twenty-five primarily in Ontario with smaller affiliated groups across Canada.
During the 1930s the Ontario Temperance Federation organized a Total Abstinence Youth Movement and under the direction of Rev. R.A. Whattam established youth posts in local churches across Ontario. However this movement soon lapsed into inactivity. In 1944, Rev, Albert Johnston joined the Ontario Temperance Federation to expand youth work and showed films and gave talks at various high schools in Ontario. In the early 1950s, he was joined by Roy Bregg of Allied Youth from the United States and the educational work among young people was expanded. In 1953 Albert Johnston began organizing local youth conclaves where teenagers could openly discuss alcohol and related problems among themselves. This conclave movement culminated in the Christmas conference of 1957 where it was decided to organize a permanent volunteer movement to serve teenagers and young adults. Thus in 1958 TOC Alpha came into existence.
Through regional gatherings and Local organizations as well as annual conventions, the organization of Toc Alpha attempted to bring in as many young people as possible. The purpose of Toc Alpha was to encourage young people to become aware of themselves, their environment and their environment and their responsibilities, in order to relate successfully to others, particularly in the area of alcohol and other drugs. It examines the responsible use of alcohol and encourages a life style independent of its use.
Toc Alpha’s work closely related work by the United Church of Canada’s Division of Mission in Canada and the Board of Evangelism and Social Service.
Aldergrove United Church began as Aldergrove Presbyterian Church in Langley District Municipality. Services began as early as 1885 with regular services commencing in 1889, although a church was not built until 1911. The earliest Session records (1914) indicate that the Aldergrove charge consisted of three other points: Aberdeen, Pine Grove and Patricia. After union in 1925, Aldergrove remained a separate charge until becoming part of the Murrayville charge in 1932. In 1961 Aldergrove and Murrayville became separate charges. Since 1963 Aldergrove has, with Mount Lehman, constituted the Aldergrove-Mount Lehman Pastoral Charge in Fraser Presbytery.
The first Methodist gatherings in the Duncan area were camp meetings that were held at Maple Bay in 1868. In 1869, a Methodist church was built at Maple Bay, part of a Circuit comprising Nanaimo, Somenos, Cowichan and Saltspring Island. This became known as Cowichan and Saltspring Island Circuit. After Saltspring Island became a separate Circuit in 1899, it became the Cowichan Circuit. In 1890, Alderlea Methodist Church was built in Duncan's Station (later known as Duncan). After church union in 1925, the Alderlea Methodist Church merged with St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Duncan, B.C.) to form Duncan United Church.
Alderville United Church located at Alderville First Nation was established in 1925; formerly Methodist. It is still an active congregation of the United Church of Canada.
Alderwood United Church was established in 1951. Services were originally held at Sir Adam Beck Public School on Horner Avenue in Etobicoke until 1958 when a new church building, located at 44 Delma Drive, Etobicoke, was built. In 2017, St. Paul's United Church, Long Branch (Etobicoke, Ont.), amalgamated with Alderwood United Church with services held at the Alderwood location. It is still an active congregation.
St. Paul's United Church in Etobicoke was established in 1925, formerly Presbyterian. Located at 85 Thirty-First Street, it served the Long Branch community of Toronto. On January 1, 2017, it amalgamated with Alderwood United Church with services at the Alderwood location.
William Edward “Ed” Aldworth (1905-1995) was a United Church minister and missionary. He was born in 1905 to parents Rebecca Northcott and Charles Edward Aldworth in Hay Township, Huron County, in Ontario. As a child he worked on his family’s farm and at seventeen left home for a harvest excursion in Saskatchewan. Upon his return home a year later he decided to become a minister and to also attend university in Saskatoon. He finished high school in Ontario and from 1928-1931 he attended the University of Saskatchewan and then St. Andrews College from 1932-1934. In 1927 he became a ministerial candidate and served as student missionary until his ordination in 1934 by the London Conference. He served as a minister for sixty years at the following charges which included student missionary work and rotary work: Springside, Saskatchewan; Golden Prairie, Saskatchewan; Uffington, Muskoka Presbytery; Lintlaw, Saskatchewan; Canora, Saskatchewan; Staffa, London; St. Marys, London Conference; St. Pauls, Tillsonberg; Harrow, Ontario; Merlin-Fletcher; Epworth Kingsville, Former Main St. United Church Exeter. In 1935 he married Janet (Netta) Pryde. In addition to serving as a minister he also served various roles within the Saskatchewan and London Conferences as well as holding positions within the General Council including Commissioner and Executive on the Board of Christian Education. Notably he was a charter board member of Iona College, University of Windsor, and he published a genealogy of his family entitled Western Sunset.
Methodist work began in Alert Bay in 1913. In 1925, the congregation became part of the larger activity of the Alert Bay Marine Mission which operated until 1976. In 1976, the North Island Air Ministry, in which Alert Bay was included, was founded. Alert Bay United Church disbanded in 1981. The North Island Air Ministry ended in 1996.