Our Early History
Our church history goes back to 1820 when occasional preachers visited this district. In 1822 Rev. Ezra Healey, an American devoted to the Methodist ministry, came to the Rideau Circuit which included Richmond. He preached in homes, often walking in mud with a saddlebag on his back, hence the expression "saddlebag preachers".
Building & Growth
In 1827 the Richmond Circuit was formed. Early Methodists held services in homes. In 1846 a small chapel was built, and by 1866 the church became Wesleyan Methodist. The new church built in 1877 on McBean Street cost $3,000 and was considered a beautiful structure with 10 gothic windows.
Modern Developments
Major renovations occurred from 1965 onwards, including expansion of the church hall, choir room, new pews, and a chancel. The church also became active in community outreach, hosting the Richmond Community Food Bank and supporting refugees since the 1970s.
Our Core Values
- Providing excellence in worship, especially music
- Ensuring an environment for Spiritual growth
- Fostering respect and love for all people
- Creating a welcoming, inclusive Community of Faith
- Exploring an open and diverse theology
- Encouraging a collaborative leadership style
- Practicing timely communication and conflict resolution skills
- Honouring our elders, the foundation of our congregation
- Working in partnership with community organizations to help and support each other
- Providing pastoral care for all people in need
- Providing opportunities for fun and fellowship together – hospitality
- Sharing our resources, our time and our talents
Our Theology
We are evolving as a community of faith. We believe faith is a journey and value that our members have a diversity of beliefs and theological understandings. We seek to grow individually and collectively in response to the teachings of Jesus and the United Church of Canada. We recognize that some of us live out our faith more traditionally, whereas others have a more exploratory approach. We are grounded in the past and excited about new directions for the church. We are focused on reaching out to the community in service, rather than looking to them for our survival.
