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Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, (Isaiah 46:9)

The following is an abbreviated history of Lynn Valley United Church taken from the References listed below. It is intended to provide an overview of the church’s history. Refer to the resources listed in the References should you desire more information.

Lynn Valley United Church Make-up

The various congregations which came to make up Lynn Valley United Church today include Lynn Valley Methodist Church, Knox Presbyterian Church, and West Lynnmour United Church.

Methodist Congregation

The first Methodist services were held in Lynn Valley in 1900 in a Shingle Mill. In 1904 the first school in Lynn Valley was built and worship services were moved there, and then later held in Institute Hall. In May 1912 a church was erected and dedicated on Institute Road.

Presbyterian Congregation

Presbyterian services in Lynn Valley began with the exploration of Mission work from St. Andrew's Presbyterian in 1906. The first Presbyterian services began in 1909 and in 1911 a church building was dedicated, with the church being named "Knox Church."  It was built on property donated by Mr. Julius Fromme.

The Amalgamation Which Formed the United Church of Canada in June 1925

In 1925 the Methodist and Presbyterian congregations entered into a Union to form Lynn Valley United Church. The Knox Church and Manse property were retained for use of the new congregation, and the Methodist property with its Church and small parsonage were sold to the School Board. The 1911 building was demolished in 1967 and replaced by a new one on the corner of Harold Road and Mountain Highway.  It is hard to imagine that under all the ferns, trees, flowers and garden implements at Maple Leaf nursery lies the foundation of this church building. When it was demolished the basement remained and formed the foundation of the new nursery operation you see today – the place where local citizens buy their pots and trellises.  Then on March 22, 1959, a new church building was dedicated. The congregation, led by Rev. Clerihue, walked from the old to the new church, singing “The Church’s  One Foundation.”

West Lynnmour Church

West Lynnmour Church began its life at a vacant Presbyterian Church at the corner of Fraser St. and SE Marine Drive in Vancouver. In 1932, the structure was torn down and transported by truck and ferry to the Lynnmour site. The church encountered financial difficulties in the early 1960s and had difficulty remaining solvent. In 1965, the West Lynnmour Congregation voted in favor of a Session recommendation that their congregation "cease to exist" and to affiliate from then on with Lynn Valley United Church, as of January 1, 1966.

Lynn Valley United Church imagines a new church

After retirement of Rev. Sharon Copeman and an interim ministry, the congregation chose renewal. Part of that would be replacement of our building. In 2008, three committed members volunteered to lead the process.

  • Ken McKeen
  • John Bruce
  • Roger Eastwood

Two more joined at the request of the board.

  • Anna Sanders
  • Wendy Watson

In 2010, the congregation called Blair Odney. Renewal took shape as the building plans proceeded. The Property Redevelopment Committee was responsible for locating and acquiring all the resources we needed to accomplish the task of developing our property. Many choices had to be made. Many people were consulted. A detailed plan was developed. It was a multi-stage process: from submission of the preliminary development application in November 2011 to final approval of re-zoning in July 2014. New construction started March 2015.

Occupancy permit was issued just in time for Christmas in 2016.

First service was held on December 18, 2016.

Open house was held on February 25, 2017.

Lynn Valley United Church Ministers

  • Rev. John D. Gillam 1925 – 1928 (First Minister of Lynn Valley United Church)
  • Rev. J. Wesley Miller 1928 – 1937
  • Rev. C. H. Ballard 1938 – 1947
  • Rev. Paton 1947 – 1951
  • Rev. Hislop Dickson 1951
  • Rev. J. Edgar Clarke 1952 – 1956
  • Rev. J. L. Clerihue  1956 – 1961
  • Rev. Stan F. Sears 1962 -1967
  • Rev. Dermott McInnes 1967 – 1974
  • Rev. Douglas Weatherburn 1974 – 1975
  • Rev. Ernest  Rands 1975 – 1976
  • Rev. W. A. Stevens 1976 -1978
  • Rev. Harold Jenner 1978 – 1986
  • Rev.’s Eleanor and John O’Neill 1986 -1994
  • Rev. Sharon Copeman 1994 – 2007
  • Rev. Mollie Williams 2007  -2010
  • Rev. Blair Odney 2010 – 2020
  • Rev. Eric Hamlyn 2017 - Present
  • Rev. Debra Bowman 2020 -2021
  • Rev. Franklyn James 2021 - 2022
  • Rev. Karen Millard 2023 - Present

Moving  Forward At the 2018 Annual General Meeting, Lynn Valley United Church adopted a new Mission Statement which is:

to engage people to be followers of Christ to make a difference in God's world

This simple yet bold statement is an active invitation to any and all to come and be the hands and feet of Christ in this time and place for the healing of the world- all are welcome!

On November 14, 2021 – Affirm Certification Sunday Lynn Valley United Church was recognized by the Affirm United as an officially LGBTQIA2s+ Affirming congregation of the Unitd Church of Canada.

For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.  (Ephesians 2:10)

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.  (Matthew 28:19-20) 

References:

  • Sowing and Reaping – The History of Lynn Valley United Church –  compiled by Anita Saari with the assistance of British Columbia Conference Archives (See Church office for copy)   ·      
  • Let us Build a House Where Love Can Dwell - Presented to John Bruce, Roger Eastwood, Ken McKeen, Anna Sanders and Wendy Watson of the property Redevelopment Committee with thanks from the congregation of Lynn valley united Church June 2017. (See Church office for copy)   ·      
  • Website Memory BC - Lynn Valley United Church (North Vancouver, B.C.) https://www.memorybc.ca/lynn-valley-united-church-north-vancouver-b-c
  • Website LynnValleyLife.com – History https://lynnvalleylife.com/life/history/ 
  • United Church of Canada Pacific Mountain Regional Council Archive  https://pacificmountain.ca/ministry/the-pmrc-archives/