Birchcliff Bluffs United Church

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Birchcliff Bluffs United Church
Denomination	United Church of Canada
Administration
Province	Ontario Toronto Conference
Presbytery	Toronto Scarborough
Clergy
Minister	Michael Kooiman
Other
Website	Church website

Birchcliff Bluffs United Church, a congregation of the United Church of Canada, is an amalgamation (2003) of Birch Cliff United Church and Birchcliff Heights United Church. The church is located 33 East Road in Scarborough, Ontario. Birchcliff Bluffs is active in social outreach, housing the Churches by the Bluffs Food Bank, a member agency of the Daily Bread Food Bank.

[edit] Birch Cliff United Church

Birch Cliff United Church began in 1919 as The Union Congregational Church, founded by Bond Street Congregationalist Church, later part of St. James-Bond Church. The first worship service was held on June 1, 1919 at Birch Cliff Public School under the leadership of the Rev. W.J. Gibson and Dr. Milar, Moderator of the congregation. The property at 33 East Road was purchased in 1920 and the building was completed in 1924. At the founding of the United Church of Canada in 1925, the congregation changed its name to First United Church, Birch Cliff. The mortgage was burned in 1949, and in 1951 the congregation was once again renamed, this time to Birch Cliff United Church. The following year the decision was made to expand the building, and in 1959 the present structure was completed. Following amalgamation with Birchcliff Heights United Church, the newly formed congregation decided to renovate much of the church to make it accessible and better able to serve the needs of the community. The newly renovated building was rededicated on May 6, 2007.