Our History

This short document, published for the 80th anniversary of the first meeting of The Canadian Council of Churches at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church in Toronto, September 26-28, 1944, cannot possibly capture all that remains to be told. A comprehensive history of the Council—and its unique role within Canada and the broader ecumenical movement—has yet to be written, and I encourage anyone interested to follow my steps to the archives, housed by the National Library and Archives of Canada and by the Council itself.

Rather, this document offers snapshots and key quotes from each decade of the Council’s journey, beginning in 1944. Through these glimpses, you’ll encounter the wide-ranging work of the Council, the many organizations that have shaped its legacy, and the remarkable continuity of themes and concerns addressed by Canada’s churches, committees, initiatives, and projects.