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The Committee on Ecumenical Affairs was established by General Council in 1958 to cultivate an understanding of the ecumenical movement and its relevance to the United Church. Through participation in the Canadian Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches, as well as through direct contact with several Canadian churches and coalitions, the Committee promoted interdenominational cooperation with other Christian denominations and later, other faiths. At the November meeting of the General Council Executive in 1969 the Committee on Ecumenical Affairs submitted the following recommendation: That the work of the following four committees – Ecumenical Affairs, Committee on Union, Protestant-Roman Catholic Relations, Joint Committees of Seven (Presbyterian-United Church) be subsumed into one Committee which would assume the present responsibilities of each Committee and that its name be “The Committee on Inter-Church and Inter-Faith Relations”. The Committee was superseded by the Committee on Inter-Church and Inter-Faith Relations in 1971.

The Purpose of the Committee, as stated in 1971, was to “challenge the Church to a vision of ecumenism which includes the whole inhabited world. The committee shall encourage, support, enable, and hold the Church accountable to its role as a sign of reconciliation and renewal among human communities at both the local and global levels. The Committee shall constantly remind the whole church that ecumenism is not an option, but rather, an integral part of its life and witness.”

A standing Committee of the General Council, the Committee on Theology and Faith was established by the 27th General Council in 1977 “to study, to clarify, and to make provision for the issuance of position statements expressive of the theology of The United Church of Canada”.

In 2009 the Committee on Theology & Faith and the InterChurch Interfaith Committee were integrated to form the Theology and Interchurch and Interfaith Relations Committee.

Peter Wyatt, Steven Chambers and Bruce Gregersen (2007-2015) have served on staff.

Upon formation of the United Church in 1925, a Historical Committee (whose name changed in 1932 to the Committee on Archives) was given responsibility to preserve the records of the Church, albeit with no provision for a repository or a permanent archivist. The Committee's role was strengthened in 1940 when Victoria University agreed to serve as the repository for the Church's records; in 1953 the first full-time Archivist-Historian was appointed. The Archives occupied various places on the Victoria campus; in 1972 the Central Archives moved into the former Birge-Carnegie Library, which had been renovated to house the Archives. The Committee continued its dual role of operating the Central Archives, and coordinating archival activities across the Church. In 1978 the name was changed to the Committee on Archives and History. The Committee remains a standing committee of the General Council and is accountable to the General Council for the co-ordination and promotion of archival and historical activity for the United Church and all its Conferences, and for policies affecting the same. The committee is composed of an appointed membership.

The United Church of Canada has always sought the widest possible union of Christian communions, and a Committee on Negotiations with other Communions with a view to Union was instituted in 1926 at the first General Council. Apart from negotiations with some smaller Churches leading to unions (Wesleyan Methodist Church of Bermuda, 1930 and the Evangelical United Brethren, 1968), most of the union activity had been directed towards an organic union with the Anglican Church of Canada and the Church of Christ (Disciples). Beginning in 1943 the United Church Commission on Reunion, the successor body to the Committee on Negotiations, entered into earnest consultation with the Anglican Church which continued for thirty years.
The United Church Commission on Reunion was made up of smaller subcommittee groups of fifteen members, and also five representatives to report to the fifteens, which held joint meetings with corresponding Anglican Committee on Reunion members. In 1950, the Commission was renamed the Commission on Union and by 1959, subcommittees were organized to include discussions with the Evangelical United Brethren. By 1968, the Evangelical United Brethren formally joined the United Church of Canada.
In 1969, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada formally joined union talks alongside the United and Anglican Churches. Generally, talks up to this point attempted to formulate a general basis of union, although study guide materials were created. In 1958, a Montreal sub-committee produced “Outline Scheme of Union,” which became an initial working paper for a basis of union, however, such development never arose at the national level. While cooperation continued along local and regional lines, union development stalled until the mid-1960s when the “Principles of Union” put forth by the joint union committees was officially accepted by the Anglican church of Canada in 1965 and the United Church in 1966. Thus, in 1967, the General Commission was established along with five special commissions focusing on their respective fields: Church in the World, Legal, Constitution, Liturgical, and Doctrine. Reverend Robert B. Craig of the United Church and Canon Ralph Latimer of the Anglican Church acted as Executive Commissioners. Besides those on the commission, critiques and opinions on matters of union were openly sought after from members of various denominations and theological backgrounds as part of the consultation process. International and ecumenical perspectives were also actively incorporated into the General Commission, including the World Council of Churches and foreign church bodies.
After initially releasing drafts and seeking input, the General Commission formally endorsed their document, the “Plan of Union,” in November of 1972 and presented to the churches in February of 1973. This officially ended the General Commission. The Committee on Church Union and Joint Mission (CUJM), led by Rev. Craig, took over continued union collaboration and revisions of the Plan of Union through to 1974. In early 1975, however, the Anglican Church rejected this basis of union, never reaching a congregational vote, and withdrew from joint union work. Discussions between the United Church and the Christian Church (Disciples) continued through the Joint National Committee on Union Negotiations until talks ended in 1985.

The Manual Committee was appointed by the Executive of the General Council following the Council of 1960 to give a thorough revision to The Manual. It has been continued in this activity by succeeding General Councils.

Within the newly-formed United Church of Canada, a Committee on Law for the Church was authorized by the First General Council (1925). The Committee’s mandate was to take charge of the legal problems following Church Union--many pertaining to property--and to examine all proposed legislation of the Church to advise about conformity with provisions of the Basis of Union or provincial and federal legislation. It continued the work of the Subcommittee on Law (Law and Legislation after 1921) which was established at the first meeting of the Joint Committee on Church Union in 1904 to provide the legal framework for the achievement of Church Union. The Committee was disbanded by General Council in 1942; its work was continued by Sessional Committees on Law and Legislation which met during General Council.

Trinity United Church, located at 20 First Avenue in Uxbridge, was established in 1925 when Trinity Methodist Church joined the United Church of Canada. The Methodist Church had been established in Uxbridge in 1855. It is still an active congregation of the United Church of Canada.

Mildred Elizabeth Hart was born in England in 1936 to Rev. H. Maurice Hart, a Methodist minister. She grew up in Cornwall, attending Methodist services as a child, and eventually emigrated to Canada. Hart was a scholar of Charles Wesley, and she wrote a thesis on the influence of Milton's 'Paradise Lost' on Wesley's hymns. She was an avid researcher and scholar, a founding member of the Charles Wesley Society, and before her death she was working on a book of daily meditations using the hymns of Charles Wesley. Hart became the Head Librarian at the Vancouver School of Theology in 1983, a position she held until her sudden death in 1993.

Olivet United Church began in 1925 at the time of church Union. Previously the congregation had been known as Olivet Union Church. The Church was closed in 2017.

Annan - Woodford Pastoral Charge was formed in 1970, when Annan Pastoral Charge and Woodford Pastoral Charge joined together. It included Trinity United Church in Annan and Woodfrod United Church, until Woodford United Church closed in 2004. It is currently a single-point pastoral charge.
Annan Pastoral Charge was formed in 1925, formerly Presbyterian. it included Annan, Johnstone Church in Johnson, Leith
Trinity United Church, located at 303234 Sideroad 33 in Annan, was established in 1925, formerly Presbyterian. The Presbyterian Church was established in 1855 and shared a minister with Division Street Presbyterian Church in Owen Sound until 1877 when it formed part of Annan-Leith Presbyterian Pastoral Charge. In 1906, the charge also included Daywood and Johnstone congregations. It joined the United Church of Canada in 1925. It was also known as Annan United Church. It is still an active congregation of the United Church of Canada.
Woodford United Church, located at the intersection of Mallory Beach Rd & 8th Ave, was established in 1925, formerly Methodist and Presbyterian. It joined the United Church of Canada in 1925 and formed part of Woodford Pastoral Charge until 1970. The congregation closed December 2004.
Johnstone United Church was established in 1925, formerly Presbyterian; it closed ca. 1969
Leith United Church was established in 1925, formerly Presbyterian; it closed ca. 1969

Elizabeth Mackenzie was born in England on May 9, 1888. She was appointed to Angola by the Congregational Woman’s Missionary Society in 1919, and arrived there in 1920. Once there, she became fluent in Portuguese and Umbundu and began to train other new missionaries. Her first appointment was to Means School, Dondi but she was soon transferred to Camundongo for evangelistic work. Her first furlough was in 1925 and when she returned to Angola in 1926 she was stationed again at Camundongo where she remained until 1931. Her next term was at Lutamo, 1932-1937. There, she taught Scripture at the Currie Institute, and was the W.M.S. corresponding secretary for the Angola Mission. After her second furlough she was again appointed to Lutamo, and spent the rest of her time in Africa there, except one year at Galengue in literature production, and the last few years at Chissamba in literature work and teaching language to new missionaries. She became seriously ill in Angola in 1949, and passed away there on March 3, 1950.

Helen Elizabeth Mack, B.A., D.D. (1917-2007) was a diaconal minister in the United Church of Canada who spent several years as a United Church Chaplain/visitor at hospitals in Edmonton. She was born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan and attended Elmwood Public School and Swift Current Collegiate Institute, graduating in 1934. She attended Reliance Business College in Regina from 1935-1936, and trained as a teacher at Moose Jaw Normal School from 1941-1942. Afterwards, she taught in Swift Current public schools from 1942-1948. Mack took Deaconess training at United Church Training School in Toronto from 1948-1950. She was appointed by the Woman’s Missionary Society to serve in Sudbury, from 1950-1952 as an Association Worker. Whilst there, she served at All People’s United and did Church Extension work with New Sudbury United Church and St. Peter’s United Church. In 1952 she was commissioned as a Missionary by Hamilton Conference. From 1957-1958 she attended Teacher’s College at Columbia University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. Afterwards, she was sent by the W.M.S. to work at St. Columba, an inner city ministry in Montreal from 1958-1964. After some time traveling, she studied Church and Society at McCormick Theological College in Chicago until 1965. She then served on staff at Fred Victor Mission in Toronto from 1965-1971. She was appointed to Edmonton in 1972 as a hospital visitor to out of town United Church patients. She served over four hospitals in Edmonton until her retirement in 1985. On April 29, 1982 she received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from St. Stephen’s College, Edmonton. In her retirement years, she organized an Albino Support Group in Edmonton, and was active at Robertson-Wesley United Church, and Garneau United Place. Mack was an ardent volunteer and was active in many professional associations including the World Federation of Diaconal Associations and Sisters, and the Association of Professional Church Workers of the Anglican and United Churches of Canada. She passed away in 2007.

Trinity United Church (Huntsville, Ont.) was formed in 1925. The congregation was formerly Methodist.

Hugh McCullum (1931 – 2008) was the son of an Anglican priest and born and raised in the Yukon.

A graduate of McGill University, he began his career with the Montreal Herald, then moved on to the Kingston Whig-Standard, the Regina Leader-Post, and the former Toronto Telegram.

Mr. McCullum was named editor/publisher of The United Church Observer in 1980. He was not only the first layperson appointed as editor, he was also the first editor who came from outside The United Church. McCullum had also been editor of the national newspaper Canadian Churchman (predecessor to the Anglican Journal) for the Anglican Church of Canada from 1968-75.

As editor of The Observer, McCullum presided over the magazine’s transition from an arm of the General Council to an independently incorporated publication with full editorial autonomy. While editor of the Observer he travelled extensively, reporting on church-backed struggles for justice in Canada’s North, in Central America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. McCullum won dozens of church press awards and was a three-time National Magazine Awards winner. During his time at The Observer, he also hosted CBC TV’s Meeting Place, from 1984 to 1989.

McCullum’s books and publications reflected his belief that the church needs to be a voice of the marginalized: Africa’s Broken Heart (2007), The Angels Have Left Us (2005) and Radical Compassion (2004), a biography of Archbishop Ted Scott, former primate of the Anglican Church of Canada.

McCullum moved to Zimbabwe in 1990 and worked on numerous ecumenical projects including training programs for African journalists.

McCullum returned to his family in Canada in 2002. At the time of his death, he was working with Aboriginal groups on issues relating to northern resource development.

Huntington University Huntington University was founded in 1960 as a federated university of Laurentian University. The course of study was in Religious Studies and Philosophy and it was affiliated with the United Church. Many of the Chancellors and Presidents of Huntington were United Church ministers, including Rev. Douglas Joblin. In 2007 the chapel was transferred to the care of the first University Chaplain.

St. James United Church, was established in 1927.The trustees of St. James U.C. first bought land in the Township of Sandwich East at William Street and Remington. The original building from Giles Boulevard United Church was moved to the site at that time. A new church was built in 1963 at 2595 Remington Avenue after the old building was sold.Over time, the congregation could not afford a minister and after a few lay ministers, a shared congregation of St James U.C. and Free Will Baptist was formed under the name 'Remington Park Community Church'. St. James United Church disbanded October 21, 2001.

East Peel Pastoral Charge was formed in 1952 when Caledon East and Mono Road Pastoral Charges united. It included Caledon East, Salem Church in Albion Township, and Sandhill. It ceased to exist ca. 1986 when Caledon East United Church formed its own single-point charge and Salem and Sandhill formed a two-point charge, Salem-Sandhill Pastoral Charge.

Maple Grove United Church, located at 346 Maple Grove Drive in Oakville, was established in 1955 under the sponsorship of St. John's United Church, Oakville. It is still an active congregation of the United Church of Canada.

McKellar - Dunchurch Pastoral Charge was formed in 1993 following the closure of Waubamik United Church, making McKellar - Dunchurch - Waubamik Pastoral Charge a two-point charge. It is still an active pastoral charge of the United Church of Canada. McKellar Pastoral Charge was formed in 1925, formerly Methodist. It included McKellar, Balsam Church in McKellar Township, Hemlock Church in McKellar Township, Middle River Church in Hemlock Township, Hurdville, and Waubamik. Knox United Church in Dunchurch joined the pastoral charge ca. 1969 and the charge was renamed McKellar-Dunchurch. McKellar - Dunchurch - Waubamik Pastoral Charge was established in 1981 when Waubamik reopened and joined the pastoral charge. It closed in 1993.

Corbetton - Keldon Pastoral Charge was formed in 1997 with the closure of St. James United Church located in Corbetton.
•Corbetton Pastoral Charge was formed in 1925, formerly Methodist and Presbyterian; it included Corbetton, Keldon, Riverview, Pleasantview, Jessopville and Melancthon
•Riverview United Church was established in 1925, formerly Methodist and Presbyterian; it closed ca. 1990
•Gandier United Church in Keldon was established in 1925, formerly Presbyterian.
•Corbetton United Church was established in 1925, formerly Methodist and Presbyterian. It closed in 1997.

Maple United Church became New Hope United Church in 2006, joining with Carrville United and Teston United at that time. On Feb 14, 2006, Presbytery declared all properties of the above three churches be one under New Hope United Church. Aug 31, 2007 was the last day of possession of the Maple United Church building and manse by the United Church of Canada. Last service in Maple United was held on Sept 2, 2007 with special permission of the new owners.

Mount Albert Methodist Circuit in 1870 consisted of Mount Albert, Eastville (Holt), Boaks, Rayners, Mount Zion, Sharon, Ebenezer, Mount Pleasant, and Wesley; ca, 1880s the circuit included Mount Albert, Eastville (Holt), Zephyr, and Shrubmount; Hartman replaced Zephr in 1899; in 1905 Mount Albert and Holt amalgamated; Shrubmount closed ca. 1915, leaving the two preaching places up to general union in 1925.
•Mount Albert Pastoral Charge was formed in 1925; consisted of Mount Albert United Church and Hartman United Church and later as a single point charge.
•Mount Albert United Church was established in 1925, formerly Methodist and Presbyterian; a new Mount Albert Methodist Church was constructed in 1878; Chalmers Presbyterian Church in Mount Albert was first built in 1864 and later moved to a new building in 1881 and again in 1921; in 1925 the Presbyterian congregation amalgamated as Mount Albert United Church in the former Methodist church building; in 1967 the Hartman congregation joined Mount Albert United Church.
•Hartman United Church was formed in 1925, formerly Methodist; Hartman Methodist Church was first built ca. 1863; in 1925 the church became Hartman United Church; the church closed in 1967 and the congregation united with Mount Albert.

Huron Shores United Church was founded in 2014 through the amalgamation of Grand Bend United Church and Greenway United Church.

In 1926 the Presbyterian Missionary and Deaconess Training Home and the Methodist National Training School joined to form the United Church Training School in Toronto. In 1930 the School became affiliated with Emmanuel College, whose staff contributed to the courses of instruction. The School was first located at 135 St. Clair Avenue West, the former Methodist building. In 1942 the Canadian Women's Army Corps took over the St. Clair building and the school moved to 214 St. George Street West; in 1955 a new building was constructed at 77 Charles Street West. The purpose of the school was to train women for work as missionaries for home and foreign fields, Social Service, as congregational workers in pastoral charges, and other non ordained Church vocations. The School was under the direction of a Board of Management which was appointed by the United Church of Canada General Council, and was supervised by a Principal, a position held by Jean E. Macdonald, 1926 1934, Gertrude L. Rutherford, 1934 1946, Jean D.H. Hutchinson, 1946 1953, and K. Harriet Christie, 1953 1970. In 1962 the name was changed to Covenant College, and the constitution amended to permit the admission of male students.

In 1970 Covenant College amalgamated with the Anglican Women's Training College to constitute the Centre for Christian Studies. The two amalgamating bodies continued to operate as separate administrative entities until a complete merger was constituted in 1991. The Centre was located on Charles Street West in Toronto, before moving to Winnipeg in 1998. Its mandate was to act as a theological school of the United and Anglican Churches of Canada which prepared and supported women and men in educational, pastoral and social justice ministry in the church and the world, including providing a diploma program for diaconal ministers in the United Church. The Centre was governed by a volunteer board called the Central Council, which was composed of directors representing the Anglican and United Churches, as well as Friends of the Centre. Principals of the Centre have been Marion Niven 1970- 1982, Gwyn Griffith, 1982-1991, Trudy Lebans, 1991-1995, Wendy Hunt (Coordinator), 1996-1998 and Caryn Douglas, 1998-2008.

Donlands Methodist Church began as a portable mission at Langford and Danforth Avenues in 1914. The church relocated to corner of Donlands Avenue and Strathmore Blvd. in 1923. It joined the United Church of Canada in 1925

Birch Cliff United Church in Scarborough was established ca. 1951, formerly First United Church. First United Church was established in 1925, formerly Birchcliff Union Congregational Church. In 1951 the church was re-named Birch Cliff United Church. In 1998, Scarborough was amalgamated with Metropolitan Toronto to form the present day city of Toronto. The congregation closed on November 30, 2003.

Established in 1886, Bloor Street Presbyterian Church became Bloor Street United Church in 1925.

St. Clair United Church was Methodist in origin, starting in 1876 when residents of the Bracondale neighbourhood began meeting in various homes. A meeting house was erected in 1878, and in 1890 a new building was dedicated at the corners of St. Clair and Rushton, known at Zion Methodist. A subsequent rebuilding on the same site from 1914-1924, and a new name, St. Clair, was adopted prior to the congregation joining the United Church in 1925. In 1966 when St. Clair and St. Columba United Churches amalgamated It was soon joined by Epworth United Church and Oakwood United to form St. Matthew's United Church.

Oakwood United Church began life as a mission of the Earlscourt Methodist Church in 1913, and became a separate church in 1917 with a building near the corners of Vaughan Road and Glenora. In 1975 it joined with St. Matthew's as a two-point charge, later being absorbed into the larger congregation.

Northern Congregational Church was founded ca. 1867-1868, the congregation moved north, building a new church at the present site in 1913, and offering its first service in the following year. In 1919 it became a Union Church, and in 1925 joined the United Church and assumed the name, Rosedale United.

Yonge Street Methodist was located at the corners of Yonge and Summerhill streets in Toronto. It began in 1873 at the corner of Yonge and Marlborough streets in the city. That church was torn down in 1911, and the new building had its first service in the same year. It joined the United Church in 1925.

Elverston Park United Church was established in 1927 as a United Church; prior to that, beginning in 1910, the congregation was part of the Church of Christ Disciples. The church was originally located at 176 Maple Leave Drive, which was later sold to the Reformed Church and in 1960, a new church was built at Hopcroft Avenue.

Forest Grove United Church was established on February 4, 1959. The congregation first met at the Elkhorn Drive Public School and a new church building was constructed in 1961 at 43 Forest Grove Drive in the community of Bayview Village in Toronto. In 1998, North York amalgamated with Metropolitan Toronto, to form the city of Toronto. It is still an active congregation of the United Church of Canada.

Humber Valley United Church, located at 76 Anglesey Boulevard, was formed in 1952. It is still an active congregation of the United Church of Canada.

The Donway Covenant United Church was formed in November 1992 with the amalgamation of the two congregations - Donway United Church and Covenant United Church - Oriole. The newly formed congregation used the property of the former Donway United Church. It is still an active congregation of the United Church of Canada.

Donway United Church was formed in February 1955 to serve the north-west quadrant of Don Mills. Members met at Norman Ingram Memorial School until the church buildings were constructed in 1956 at 230 The Donway West.

Motherwell United Church in Fullarton Township was established in 1925; formerly Presbyterian. The Presbyterian Church was established in Motherwell in 1858. A church building was constructed ca. 1882. The church joined the United Church of Canada in 1925. It closed ca. 1968.

Edith Rankin Memorial United Church was formed in 1958, with the congregation from the former Collins Bay on Hillside Congregation.

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.

Wesley Methodist Church, formerly Wesleyan Methodist, was part of the Wesley Methodist Circuit which also included preaching places at Chemong, Lakehurst.

First United Church was established in 1925, formerly Methodist. The church was originally located in the town of Port Credit. Port Credit was a independent municipality until 1974 when it merged with the city of Mississauga. In 2019 the church amalgamated with Christ Church to form Christ First United Church.

Trenton United Pastoral Charge, located at 85 Dundas Street East in Trenton, was formed on January 1, 2015 with the amalgmation of the United Church congregations in Trenton: Grace, King Street and North Trenton. It is still an active congregation of the United Church of Canada. This was a unique amalgamation as it incorporated three separate pastoral charges to create a new single point charge.

King Street United Church in Trenton was originally established as the New Canada Methodist Church on King Street in Trenton, in 1877. It joined the United Church of Canada in 1925 and served as a single-point charge until North Trenton United Church joined, making it a two-point charge until 2015 when the two congregations amalgamated with Grace United Church in Trenton.

North Street Methodist Church was established pre-1905. In 1925 the church became a United Church.

Calvary-Wallace-Zion Pastoral Charge in Listowel, also known as Calvary Pastoral Charge, was formed in 1968 and included Calvary Church in Listowel and McKillop. The following year with the closure of McKillop, Wallace and Zion joined the charge. It is still an active pastoral charge of the United Church of Canada.

The Listowel Mission of the Evangelical Association included preaching places to German-speakers in Listowel, the 2nd Concession of Wallace Township, and in Maine, Ontario at the turn of the century. By 1920 the Maine station had been replaced by Kurtzville. Calvary Evangelical United Brethren Church joined the United Church of Canada in 1968 and formed part of Calvary-Wallace Pastoral Charge.

Wallace United Church, located at 5206 Line 88, Town of North Perth, was established in 1925, formerly Methodist. The Methodist Church was established ca. 1855. It joined the United Church of Canada in 1925. It formed part of Wallace Pastoral Charge until ca. 1969 when it joined Calvary Pastoral Charge. It is still an active congregation of the United Church.

Brant Avenue was established in 1925, formerly Methodist; in 1937 the former congregation of St. Andrews United Church joined; and in 1995 Brant Avenue amalgamated with Zion United Church to form St. Andrew's United Church in the former Zion building. Brant Avenue Methodist Church was established circa 1871 as a Wesleyan Methodist church; it joined the United Church of Canada in 1925

Carleton United Church was established in 1961, initially running services out of the Carleton Public School.The church bulding was built in 1963. The church was located at 527 Carlton Street. The congregation closed in 2014.

Lyon's Creek United Church was formed in 1925; formerly Methodist. It closed on October 26, 2008.
Lyon's Creek Methodist Church was established ca. 1820; the church was built in ca.1860-1861.