You’re invited to support a Centennial story-telling project focused on the lives and contributions of Black people in the United Church of Canada. This exhibition celebrating Black individuals’ remarkable contributions and experiences within the church amplifies these voices and showcases their incredible impact on our faith, history, and community. But your help is needed! Here’s the overview poster to share widely.
Here from the beginning / Ici depuis le début: Celebrating the history of The United Church of Canada through the lens of Black people is the overall project, and it has two related parts:
Telling the stories of individuals we want to honour.
A travelling historical exhibit.
Black people have played a significant role in the history of The United Church of Canada, but their stories have often gone untold. As we commemorate the 100th anniversary of The United Church of Canada in 2025, we invite you to join us in bringing these untold stories to life.
Finding stories of leaders
We need your help. There is little or no documentation of lay Black people’s involvement in the church at the congregational level in western Canada and the Prairies. This is where you come in! If there have been lay Black people you know or knew who were or are currently involved in the work of the church, help us tell their stories. Think through stories and direct experiences you’ve had with Black people whose stories you want to lift up. What’s needed:
First, approach the person for consent, or their loved ones if the person you want to honour has died.
The names of the persons (including date of death where applicable).
A short narrative (no more than 100 words) about their involvement in the work of their community of faith.
A picture of them.
Paragraph of up to 100 words, and a photo if possible.
Please send these to Rev Paul Walfall: rev.walfall@gmail.com
Travelling historical exhibit
“Here from the Beginning” is an exhibition that showcases the contributions and experiences of Black people within the church, amplifying voices that have long been overshadowed by the dominant narrative. Join us in making history together! Donate now using this link, and help us make the exhibit a reality.
This is a celebration of faith, history, community and The United Church of Canada. This will tell the story of Black individuals and peoples in the United Church, uplifting experiences and voices that have so often not been heard across the church. This is an opportunity for all of us to widen our understanding of our church’s history and future.
The exhibit will be hybrid physical and online, focussing on photos and stories of Black leadership and ministries. The hope is for the exhibit to travel around. More details are to come!
