Vision • Mission • History

We are more than the sum of our parts.

The history of the ministry at the corner of Gore and Hastings Streets in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside is a long one.

First Presbyterian Church was organized in 1885,  a year before Vancouver was a city. Through the years of colonialism,  joint outreach projects with Princess Street Methodist Church foreshadowed the work established in 1925 when The United Church of Canada was founded.

As an inner-city ministry of the United Church of Canada that has been called to be a part of the Vancouver Downtown Eastside, we seek to be and become a faithful and authentic “Gospel Community” which, rooted in our Christian faith, is:

  • inclusive of all people regardless of their place of residence, religious or political beliefs, economic or social circumstances
  • grounded in the call to both be Christ for others and to recognize Christ in others
  • values diversity and individual difference and lives out a relationship of mutuality
  • intentional in its primary commitment to stand with and to sit at table with those who otherwise live on the margins of society
  • inspirational in celebrating Life, in proactively fostering peace and justice, and in consciously and actively embracing responsibility for the environment.

The community of faith, which is this First United Church, will strive to include people of various economic means, including youth and children, while always remaining rooted in standing with those who are exiled in their own land.

First Church has always served those in need.  During  the Depression of the 1930’s soup lines surrounded the building.  Small businesses were created and  people were employed by First Church Welfare Industries, which rebuilt small appliances and repaired furniture. Throughout its  history,  social workers, prison visitors and ethnic ministries from First United have been active  in the community and were instrumental in the birthing of many community organizations including – Dugout Day Centre, the Downtown Community Health Society, and the Downtown Eastside Residents Association (DERA).   In recent years as the Downtown Eastside has continued to be the home for the most marginalized members of society, the outreach work at First has tried to keep pace with the growing demands to walk with those struggling with issues of addictions, mental illness, homelessness and poverty.

Mission Statement

Inspired by the Christian Gospel
Which nurtures, empowers, liberates
First United Church is an inner-city ministry of
The United Church of Canada.
Called by the Spirit
To be part of the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver,
This ministry:
Affirms the worth of individuals
Empowers communities, and
Works for social justice.