Women have always played an integral role in the life of the church. From as early as the nineteenth century, women worked as teachers, missionaries, and nurses, providing care in communities. As time went on, fundraising and social function organizing were also added to the women’s roles.
When the United Church officially formed in 1925, the Ladies Aid, later the Woman’s Association (WA) was supporting the local church and community, and the Women’s Missionary Society (WMS) was more involved with education and world mission. In 1953 General Council took action to ensure that women could share in a much more meaningful way in all the work of the church by allowing them to participate on the boards of The United Church at all levels. The UCW officially came into being on January 1, 1962.
To unite women of the congregation for the total mission of the church and to provide a medium through which we may express our loyalty and devotion to Jesus Christ in Christian witness, study, fellowship and service.
As women of faith,
We believe in nurturing Christian spirituality by reaching out through commitment and devotion to all God’s people in the promotion of truth, justice, peace, caring, and respect for all throughout the earth, God’s world;
We believe in honouring God the Creator, and loving others through generous giving and joyful living;
And we believe in affirming and strengthening ourselves both individually and together through creative study, prayer, and action.
Love God.
Foster Christian commitment, faithfulness, and spirituality.
Promote respect and love for all God’s creation.
(From UCW Handbook)
There are three UCW units within the UCoL congregation - Trinity, Friendship and Friendship Circle.