Church History

First United Church, White Rock had its beginnings in May 1910 when a baptism was held in the garden of Henry & Margaret Thrift, representing the first Protestant worship service in White Rock. Services continued to be held in various homes until a Mission Church was built in 1912 on Prospect Avenue. In 1914, Rev. B. H. Balderson became the first resident minister for the White Rock Methodist Church. The Ladies' Aid was organized in 1912, and worked many hours to raise money for the new church that eventually was built on land between Victoria and Columbia Avenues. The church was dedicated in April 1922.

On June 10, 1925, members of the Methodist, Presbyterian & Congregationalist Churches celebrated the official formation of the United Church of Canada. The little church on the hill became White Rock United Church and, together with Crescent United, formed the pastoral charge. In 1928, the church made application to Presbytery to build a new manse, and the first CGIT group was formed at the church. Rev. W. C. Frank began a ministry that continued from 1929 to 1939, during which time White Rock United became self-supporting. In 1931, Hazelmere and Sullivan also became designated points in the charge but in the mid-thirties the charge was once again made up of White Rock and Crescent United Churches.

At the beginning of WWII, Rev. Frank Hardy was appointed minister. The Ladies' Aid was renamed the Women's Auxiliary in 1941, and the women of the W.A. often teamed with the Red Cross to volunteer for community duties for the war effort. Many women also belonged to the Women's Missionary Society and corresponded with missionaries all over the world, many of whom were interned during the war. Rev. Peter Connal was appointed minister in 1944, and once again the church faced change as the war ended and the members of the armed services returned to the community and to the church.

Following the war, the church grew steadily and membership in the Sunday School crowded the basement of the church. By the time celebrations were held for the 25th anniversary of the United Church in 1950, it became evident that a new church building was needed. When the Rev. Walter Ward became minister in 1952, he spearheaded the drive to build a new church. It was at this time that White Rock United became a separate charge. The Expansion Fund & Budget Program was launched in 1956, and property for church and manse near Buena Vista & Centre Streets was purchased in March of 1957. The corner stone was laid on October 2nd, 1957, and the church was named First United Church, White Rock. Shortly after the dedication service of the church on February 9, 1958, Rev. Ward announced his resignation, and Rev. Alfred Laing's induction service was held the following August.

Activities were bustling with a church membership of over 500 with 260 children and 26 teachers in the Sunday School. There was a large enrollment in Messengers, Explorers, CGIT and Youth Fellowship, and there were 80 voices in the combined junior and senior choirs.

The W.A. and the WMS became known as the United Church Women, and the UCW inaugural service was held on Jan. 21, 1962. The women had been leading fundraisers for the manse, and at the AGM in 1963 they celebrated the payment of all the notes on the manse. In 1964 the church celebrated the 50th anniversary of work by the women of the congregation.

Rev. Laing resigned in early 1963, and Rev. Howard Filsinger was called to begin a ministry that would continue for over 30 years. During the sixties, several changes were made in the services. The evening service was discontinued in 1967, and an early Sunday morning service was initiated for the parents of the Sunday School children. This was changed the following year to a family service at 9:30 a.m. In 1965, a three-year plan was introduced for retiring the debt with each contributor to give one dollar more per month to the fund. The final payment was made on the mortgage in 1969. This decade also marked the decision of an active church member to enter the ministry. In 1965, Session approved the application for ministry of Gordon Laird, and in 1968 the church celebrated his ordination at St. Andrews' Wesley United. On July 1, 1969, the White Rock Pastoral Charge was constituted, combining First United and Sunnyside United Churches. Ministers for the pastoral charge were Rev. Howard Filsinger and Rev. R. J. Love.

In 1972, Rev. Trevor D. Jones took over the position of Rev. "Bert" Love. First and Sunnyside United held several family camps at Cultus Lake UC Camp, and also joined together to sponsor a family from Viet Nam. In 1972, Alice Neilson became Clerk of Session, and in 1975 she arranged a series of fellowship suppers for which over 95% of the people on the church rolls were contacted. Her interest in outreach sparked the church's activity in the "Ten Days for World Development" in 1979.

There were also changes in the music department. A new organ was installed in 1975, and several musicals were presented in the following years. After serving for over 25 years, choir director Winnie Robinson and organist Elsie Turnbull retired. In 1980, Gloria Doubleday became the organist and director for the senior and junior choirs.

In 1978, Rev. Mollie Williams joined the ministerial staff, and she oversaw the unification of the Session and Stewards into a Council concept in 1981. A long range planning committee was struck from First, Sunnyside and Crescent United. Donations were received that year to have hearing aids installed and cushions made for the pews. In 1983, Rev. Trevor Jones retired and Rev. Bob Faris filled his position.

In the late 70s, several changes were made to the church building. An access ramp was built at the front steps of the church, a memorial garden was created, stained glass windows were donated for the rear of the choir loft, and the Marion Brown Administration Wing was opened in September 1987. These years also saw the beginning of the annual Santa Claus Breakfast in 1986, and the introduction of the "Secret Pen Pals" project in 1988. Difficult times were experienced over the report of the 32nd General Council entitled "Toward A Christian Understanding of Sexual Orientation, Lifestyle and Ministry", and many members left the church in 1988. 1989 was also a year of changes as the White Rock Pastoral Charge separated, and a decision was made at First United to proceed with a Congregational Vitalization Program.

In 1991, proposals were presented by the Vitalization Program amidst a change in ministry. Rev. Mollie Williams resigned and Rev. Norman Pettersson accepted the call in August. For the first time since 1987 the position of paid youth worker was discontinued and volunteers filled the position. In 1992, a Strategic Planning Committee was struck to consider the church's role in the life of the congregation and the community over the next ten years. In 1993, a mission statement was adopted at the February AGM. That year the catering group, "Remember and Write" and the White Rock Raging Grannies were formed. The Senior and Praise Choirs joined their voices.

In January of 1995, the congregation presented a musical entitled "Hurrah for Howard" on the retirement of Rev. Filsinger's to celebrate his 31 years of service to First United. Rev. George Searcy served an interim ministry until the arrival of the Rev. Merv Lutes in July of 1995. The congregation voted to proceed with a series of major projects beginning with the renovation of the kitchen and the installation of an elevator. These were followed by alterations to the Cedar Room, chancel and sanctuary, and the manse. The first Vacation Bible School was held in 1996. In 1997, Kevin Parks took over the organist's position from Gloria Doubleday and presented a children's musical in December. For the first time in 39 years, the manse was occupied by someone other than the minister when Kevin and his wife Dana Pardy rented the manse.

During the late nineties, staff changes were made as a youth leader was hired and the congregation approved the initiation of the parish nurse program. The congregation also raised money for a grand piano and a new organ. Audio-visual equipment was purchased for power point presentations, and the 9:30 service took on a new look as the numbers attending the early service began to grow.

In the year 2000, celebrations were held every month in honour of the church's 90th anniversary. In June 2000, Rev. Lutes retired with farewell presentations by the congregation, and Rev. Sarah Wallace began a two-year position that terminated with her resignation in August of 2001. Rev. Pettersson carried on with the additional assistance of the parish nurses and the youth leader until he retired in June of 2002.

The Rev. Joan K. McMurtry was called to ministry at First United on September 2002, and began a time of planning and visioning with the congregation. Reynhardt Crause was appointed as the director of music at the same time.