First Met congregation marks its final service downtown Nov. 19

First Met congregation marks its final service downtown Nov. 19

Historic United Church congregation joins Broad View United at new site

The congregation of First Metropolitan United Church will mark its final worship service this Sunday, Nov. 19, at its historic downtown site. First Met and Broad View United voted earlier this year to amalgamate their congregations and move to a new purpose-built location.

First Met was formed in 1997 from a merger of the former First United and Metropolitan United churches and occupied the more than century-old First United Church building at Quadra Street and Balmoral Road in the North Park neighbourhood. Broad View is a three-year-old amalgamation of the former Cadboro Bay, St. Aidan’s and Gordon Head United churches.

The new congregation carries on the Broad View name and will hold its first Sunday service Nov. 26 at its new site at 3703 St. Aidan’s St., the location of the former St. Aidan’s church.

“First Metropolitan has a courageous history of leadership in changing times. This amalgamation and move will allow our vibrant community of faith to live into the future in an exciting new setting,” says Rev. Shelagh MacKinnon, who leaves her role as Lead Minister of First Met to become Pastoral Care and Transition Minister at the new Broad View United.

“We will continue to care deeply and act in ways that honour our history in several significant locations downtown. This historic site has been the locale for many events and services in the lives of our members and in the city as a whole. We treasure those memories as we journey on to create new ones."

Rev. Mark Green, Co-Lead Minister of Broad View says: “Broad View United, from its very beginning, incorporated the vision of being a regional church that would serve the Capital Regional District. Having First Met folks join with us is a natural amalgamation as we share so much in common regarding vision and a progressive theological perspective. This amalgamation will enable Broad View United to expand its vision and capacity to meet both current and future needs.”

Parishioners of First Met and Broad View have been gathering together at the First Met site since August. The historic building at 932 Balmoral Rd. reverts to the management of the Pacific Mountain Region of the United Church.

Contact: Rev. Shelagh MacKinnon: Shelagh.mackinnon@firstmetvictoria.com

                Rev. Mark Green:  mark@broadviewunited.com

                              www.firstmetvictoria.com            www.broadviewunited.org