The Presbyterian Church in Canada

Canadian Presbyterians have a long history. We are part of the Old Testament story of God's covenant with his people, part of the two thousand years of witness to Jesus Christ and part of a distinctive Reformed and Presbyterian History.

Presbyterians get their name from a Greek word which means "elder". It refers to mature members of the community who are respected for their experience and faithfulness and who are called to give leadership. A Presbyterian church is one governed by elders who are elected by members of the congregation.

Presbyterians are also "Reformed". The roots of our denomination go back to the sixteenth century when church leaders began to protest against the corruption they saw in the Church and seek its reform. They believed that people were put right with God through his grace alone. That grace was received by faith and not by anything they had done. They also stressed the sovereignty of God and claimed the indwelling of Christ in the believer through the Holy Spirit. The Reformed (Presbyterian) Church came into being under the teaching and leadership of John Calvin in Geneva. After studying under Calvin in Geneva, John Knox returned to his native Scotland to establish the Presbyterian Church there.

Presbyterianism came to Canada through French Huguenot, Scottish and Irish pioneers. The first worship services were held among the Acadians in 1604. In 1875 several groups of Presbyterians came together to form The Presbyterian Church in Canada. Today we have over one thousand congregations from many national and social backgrounds and these congregations worship in a variety of languages. On Vancouver Island there are thirteen congregations stretching from Campbell River to Victoria.