Toronto, Ontario

Islington is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, located in the west end of the city.  It borders Mississauga to the West, Lake Ontario to the South and more cities to the North.  Islington received its name in 1858, when the original Mimico petitioned for a new post office and is named after the London neighbourhood of Islington.

Methodist circuit riders began coming to Islington for worship as early as 1815 from the Toronto Circuit ministering on horse back covering over 30 preaching points.  Around 1823, Islington received its first clergyperson and built their first building in 1843.

Times sure have changed from horseback circuit riders, slowly making their way through the forested terrain between Toronto centre and the village of Islington.  Today, Islington United Church ministers through its building and its people. It was built in 1949 and 1965, and is nestled just off the historic Islington main street. Home to many long-term residents, a new influx of Condominiums and apartments attracting young families, newcomers and refugees to Canada and retirees, the face of this community will change once again.  One hundred and sixty-three years of faith and service has shaped this community.

Halifax, Nova Scotia

St. Andrew's United Church was formed from Methodist and Presbyterian churches at the birth of the United Church of Canada in 1925.

The earliest forebearers of the congregation were Methodists who, led by Rev. William Black, built a church on Argyle Street, Halifax in 1787. Presbyterians opened a church on Garrington Street in 1817. Both denominations built and moved into a number of different churches over the years. At the time of the church union in 1925, the United Methodists and St. Andrew's Presbyterian congregations joined to form St. Andrew's United Church. The bell, cast in Glasgow, Scotland, was presented to the "Old" St. Andrew's in 1871, and was wrung at the dedication of the unified church in 1927. Today, this location is within the dense urban core centred on the Halifax Peninsula, a hub of activity within the Halifax Regional Municipality.

St. Andrew's United is now the worship place of many families within Halifax, and believes in continued partnerships with outreach programs like the Sunday Suppers meal program.