A church with an A-frame roof, painted in shades of gray with purple accents including a cross above the entrance and a purple door. The steps in front are painted in rainbow colors.

Trinity-Grace’s 100+ Years of Growth

We, at Trinity Grace United Church, are proud to be part of the United Church of Canada – a socially and theologically progressive Protestant denomination with congregations across Canada.

In 2017 three nearby congregations; Trinity United, St. James United and Grace Memorial United brought like-minded, faithful and visionary people together to form Trinity Grace United Church. A mosaic providing enthusiasm and pride in existing relationships as it cultivates new ones.

The Roots and Pillars Trinity Grace Grew From

For over 100 years, our church has been located here (originally Grace Methodist Church), focusing on feeding bodies and souls. Its history includes hosting the first food bank in Vancouver, now becoming the current Community Breakfast with it’s heart for Jesus’ ministry of table hospitality. Simply, we've a strong tradition of welcoming strangers and neighbours to break bread together and to create spiritual community. Change continues being part of church experimentation, innovation and adaptation. At Trinity Grace it is an engrained tradition alive and flourishing today.

A historic wooden church with a steeple, stairs leading up to the front door, and elevated on stilts, surrounded by grass and trees.
  • Grace Methodist Church began serving the community through the help of Rev Dr. Robson and the Methodist and Extension Society of Vancouver. Rev Dr. A.M. Sanford and Rev Dr. E. Robson purchased its land at the corner of 16th and Burns (i.e. the current home of Trinity Grace United Church). It’s 1st official Service was in May, 1909, by Rev W. Elliott.

  • The Methodists began in 1908 in a small school building at Fourth Avenue and Vine. Kitsilano Methodist church was completed across the street and was dedicated.

  • Kitsilano Presbyterian Church was built in 1910 at the corner of Third Avenue and Vine Street.

A black-and-white photo of three people outdoors in front of a house, with two standing and one sitting on the ground.
  • Rev. William Elliot, Grace Methodist’s minister and his family shown in 1912.

    St James Church was established to do work in an ‘outlying’ area of Vancouver, at 2627 Trafalgar Road, for the First Congregational Church in Vancouver. This was one of two roots that grew into Trinity Grace United Church.

  • Financial issues closed the St James, 2627 Trafalgar Road church location until its reopening May 16th, 1920.

A group of people gathered on stage with tables filled with food and pumpkins, celebrating Thanksgiving with banners that read 'Give thanks unto the Lord Reigneth' and 'Offer unto God Thanksgiving' in the background.
  • Grace Methodist Choir 1922

An old brick house with a gabled roof and several windows, featuring a small porch with a sloped roof over the entrance.
  • Grace Methodist church hall and gymnasium that was added in 1923.

    November 1st, 1922 the church began the fund raiser that made this 63 by 48 ft gymnasium and 9 Sunday school classrooms possible, along with paying off the $2000 balance of the mortgage on the church a year later.

    It opened November 17th and was dedicated the following Sunday, by pastor Rev G. H. Hamilton.

Black and white group photo of young adults, men in suits and women in dresses, arranged in rows and seated or standing.
A black and white photo of a large group of people gathered outdoors, some sitting on the grass and others standing behind them, including men, women, and children, with trees in the background.
  • Grace United Church Ladies Aid Tea held in Bill Bateman’s garden in 1926

  • Trafalgar Road United Church closed March 25, 1928 to move to a new location.

  • The Trafalgar Road United Church reopened at 10th Avenue and Trutch as St. James United Church.

A black and white photograph of 16 women, some seated and some standing, gathered in what appears to be a room with curtains and a clock on the wall.
  • Grace United Church Clark Circle 1941-42

Sketch of a church with a tall spire, multiple windows, and notes handwritten on the image.
  • A newspaper article appeared April 2nd regarding Grace United Church celebrating it’s 40th anniversary. Rev T. W. Reed was the minister that the 40th anniversary celebration services that weekend.

  • Crosby United Church and St. Stephen’s United Church amalgamated and became Kitsilano United Church, where they met in the Crosby United Church building at Second and Larch.

  • St. James growth lead to expansion north to 10th Avenue. Completed and dedicated this day.

  • Plans for a new building began in 1956, and the new Kitsilano United Church building at Second and Larch was opened in November, 1959.

A newspaper article titled 'The Needs of Our Church' with a black and white portrait of a man in a suit and glasses, identified as Fred Westoff, General Chairman.
  • Grace United determined its needs for: ‘a more adequate Sanctuary’, ‘more suitable classrooms for a growing Sunday school’, and ‘new facilities for midweek activities the church was leading’ were adequate to commit to a new building. Fred Westcott, Grace United’s General Chairman helped guide the evolution to a ‘happier memories’ as the new building was completed. For the next 45 years he saw the benefit of that work and sharing, from the Grace congregation.

Memorial wall with names of individuals commemorated, titled 'In Memory', featuring names in red, blue, and black embroidered text.
A large group of people, mostly women in dresses and men in suits, posing outdoors in front of trees for a photo.
  • The original Grace church with all its additions was replaced and dedicated. At its dedication the name became Grace Memorial Church, in honor of those who had offered their lives for freedom.

  • Members of the congregation – Grace Memorial United Church

A church bulletin announcing the 60th anniversary celebration including an anniversary banquet, worship services, and a newsletter, scheduled for Sunday, May 4th, 1985.
  • Grace Memorial Church celebrated it’s 60th Anniversary.

Three women sitting at a dining table, smiling, with cups, plates, and utensils on the table.
  • May Harron, Beth McRoberts, Betsie Vaneldik at Grace Memorial 60th Anniversary Dinner

Group of women sitting at a dining table with cups, plates, and utensils, smiling for a photo.
  • Lily Bradshaw. Zella Black. Mabel Harron at Grace Memorial 60th Anniversary Dinner

A black-and-white photo of eleven people standing in two rows, dressed in formal attire, in front of a dark background.
  • Burning the Mortgage

    Back: Jim Arcus, Mrs Moffat, Floyd Roberts, Brit Ayers, Sam Hutchinson

    Front: Rev Hugh Irwin, Mrs Hoatson, Harry Matthews, Gail Bond, Ken Greenaway

Invitation card for Grace Memorial United Church's 1st anniversary and mortgage burning ceremony, scheduled for Sunday, May 10th, 1970, with morning and evening worship services in Vancouver, B.C.
  • Grace Memorial became a two point Pastoral Charge with St Luke’s United Church. St Luke’s was disbanded in June of 1981.

  • February 1981 St Margaret’s Anglican Church at Dumfries and East 22nd was gutted by fire. Next month St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church at 1612 East 18th and the Hope Reformed Church at 920 East 19th were both destroyed by fire. Grace Memorial’s 74 year old location would eventually become the latest in this series when at 5:06am fire took Grace Memorial lost 2 or 3 historic bibles, amazing stain glass windows, its building and it’s congregations home away from home. Luckily there were no injuries although a home behind the church was damaged.

  • Grace Memorial Church became the 1st distribution point for the Vancouver Food Bank.

Long line of people waiting outside a church for free food baskets, with a large building and cars nearby.
  • Grace Memorial had days of over 1,000 using its food bank distribution service.

A black-and-white photo of a partially destroyed church, with people walking nearby on a street. One man is walking a dog, and another person is seen in the background. The scene appears to be from early Sunday morning.
  • Grace Memorial United Church burnt down. At 10:30 am the congregation met for worship at Mount-View United Church.

    The minister, Rev Val Anderson also was the chairman of the food bank. He predicted the need for 5000 weekly food bags by the end the winter season. Continued work helped secure funding from changing sources and the on going delivery points at: West Burnaby United Church, St Jude’s Catholic Church, the Native Indian Centre, Christ Church Cathedral, and the North Shore Neighborhood House

Colorful stained glass windows casting vibrant reflections on the floor.
  • New Stained Glass Windows

    After a fire of 1983 that destroyed the church's 20 by 30 foot stained glass window, seven new two by eight-foot windows were commissioned for the rebuilt church. Alison Davie, the 25-year-old daughter of Don Babcock, who created that prior window in 1959, was tasked with this new challenge.

    Symbols and esthetics are the base of the seven windows: the Greek letters alpha and omega, the burning bush, the dove and the Bible. The windows reflect Christ's birth, a church's dedication to the children, the law, the human ability to receive, the Last Supper, Christ's promise to humanity and the tree of life, which Babcock called the "sacred marriage."

    The design is based on the lead lines, the flat blocks of colour combined into simple designs.

    Like the 12th-century artists Alicen respected, miniature glass painting was done with the handblown glass from Germany, France and England primarily used. Alicen did paint some pieces, like the head of the Christ child, later fired at 1250 ºF to melt those images into the glass.

    These windows are unique in how they modify the church's mood, depending on the lighting. Sunny days, cloudy days or at night when the light comes from inside all have different impacts.

     The windows are dedicated in memory of the following Ernest Morley by his wife and family; Mr. & Mrs. R. Merrick by Mellie & Bert McNeill; Gladys Robertson by May Paulson; William J. Kilfedder & Walter H. Cooper by their families; Mr. & Mrs. George Harron, Mrs. M.L. McEown, Mr. & Mrs. E.N. Harford, Mr. F. Westcott and Mr. Hole, all of whom are remembered from our former church windows; Window 6 was dedicated in loving memory of the Andrew and Reid families; Window 7 was presented by the Sunday School Students and friends of Grace Memorial United Church 1983 – 1984.

A small church with a red cross on the front wall, a few trees, and parked cars nearby.
  • Grace United Church rebuilt and rededicate. The third church building to be built on this site had the same outside dimensions as it predecessor. A member of the congregation who, as a child, attended the 1st church Service at this site in 1909, May Harron, was still among the regular worshipers.

    ​Unlike its predecessor, it incorporated new features. Handicap access was available to both floors. The sound system now included support for those hard of hearing and distribution of a video tape feed. It would now also include new Seniors Craft and Hobby, St John Ambulance Youth Brigade, and Academy of Religion and Life activity centers.

    The $370,000 investment the new church required still needed $30,000 at the time of dedication.Grace United Church rebuilt and rededicate. The third church building to be built on this site had the same outside dimensions as it predecessor. A member of the congregation who, as a child, attended the 1st church Service at this site in 1909, May Harron, was still among the regular worshipers.

    Unlike its predecessor, it incorporated new features. Handicap access was available to both floors. The sound system now included support for those hard of hearing and distribution of a video tape feed. It would now also include new Seniors Craft and Hobby, St John Ambulance Youth Brigade, and Academy of Religion and Life activity centers.

    The $370,000 investment the new church required still needed $30,000 at the time of dedication.

Inspirational quote about fellowship at church, expressing the importance of support, kindness, and prayer, with handwritten initials and date.
  • Discussions about the amalgamation of Kitsilano United Church and St. James United Church began.

  • St. James United Church and Kitsilano United Church agreed to amalgamate under the new name of Trinity United Church. That amalgamation was confirmed at this service.

  • St. James United Church reached an agreement with St Mark’s Anglican Church to hold services and share their building at 1405 Larch Street.

  • The Trinity United Church worked with a non profit society (i.e. St James Community Square Society) to arrange that the old St James property become a multi-purpose community centre… to be called St James Community Square. The Kitsilano United Church property had affordable housing built on it and was also used to partner in a new building that they shared with St. Marks Anglican parish.

  • St Mark’s Anglican congregation moved to Trinity United (across the street) while construction on their building proceeded. The next year, the former site of Kitsilano United was sold and the funds directed towards the renovations at St Mark’s. Trinity United Church shared worship space with St Mark’s at 1405 Larch Street until 2012

Plaque with the inscription: 1997 Mosaic Human Rights Award awarded to Trinity United Church for dedication to human rights issues. Quote about human kinship and connection.
  • Trinity United Church held worship services at various community centers and then rented space at Mt Pleasant Community Center.

Informational poster about Trinity United Church's banner, which was created in 2000 for the church's 75th anniversary, featuring rainbow colors and symbols of growth and inclusivity, including a tree and a rainbow.
  • Trinity United Church purchased the Rhizome Café at 317 East Broadway supporting the Heartwood Community Cafe and resurrecting Rhizhome Café goals. The church’s congregation worked to help those marginalized by society, 2SLGBTQ+ and those not comfortable in a church setting. August 12th, 2016 saw the official closing of Heartwood.

People marching in a pride parade holding a banner for Trinity United Church in Vancouver, BC, with rainbow flags and flags with Christian symbols.
People participating in a pride parade holding a large blue banner with rainbow-colored pride flags and balloons, supporting the United Church of Canada and affirming unity.
A group of people at a bar or restaurant counter ordering drinks from a bartender.
Three people sitting at a table in a cozy restaurant with brick walls, enjoying drinks and food.
A person standing and speaking or performing in a room with red and white artwork on the walls, and a seated audience in the background.
A woman standing next to a lectern in front of a presentation slide that reads 'Trinity's New Adventure in and Through a Café?' and 'Heartwood Community'.
  • Trinity United sold its building at 10th and Trutch to the City of Vancouver with St. James Community Square Society continuing to operate the site. 

  • Trinity United Church amalgamated with Grace Memorial to become Trinity Grace United Church at 806 East 16th Ave.

  • Trinity Grace United Church became a fully accredited Affirming Ministry declaring itself to be fully inclusive and meeting complete United Church criteria. The official celebration was help the 17th of November, 2019.

Group of people at Vancouver airport holding Canadian flags and smiling with a welcome sign for ALAA.
  • Alaa arrived at the Vancouver International Airport after over two years of work on behalf of his migration to Canada and numerous COVID delays.

    Trinity Grace committed to helping with the current Middle East humanitarian crisis.. Alaa’s arrival was a concrete visual bench mark of the evolution of those efforts.