The United Church Observer

In 1829 at the annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada, the members proposed to publish a weekly paper concerning religious and moral character. By the end of the conference, they raised enough funds to support the first year of expenses for this publication entitled The Christian Guardian. Egerton Ryerson was elected editor. At its onset, here were 450 subscribers and 1100 copies of the first issue released on November 21 1829. Within three years there were 3000 subscribers. The paper included: political and social commentary, current events, reports on missions to Indigenous peoples, the temperance movement, and practical tips for work and farming. In 1925 at the Church union, The Christian Guardian joined with the Presbyterian Witness and the Canada Congregationalist papers to form The New Outlook. In 1938 The New Outlook amalgamated with two other United Church publications including the United Church Record and the Missionary Review to form The United Church Observer. The Observer operated within the structure of the United Church of Canada, first as an arm of Ryerson Press, then the Division of Communication, and then finally the General Council Office. In 1986 the publication was independently incorporated which allowed the publication to exercise a significant degree of editorial independence. In 2019 the name was changed to Broadview.