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Chase River United Church Women fonds [textual record]. -- 1962-1968.
5 cm of textual records
Across Canada, women within the United Church have been forming United Church Women (UCW) groups since the organization was formally inaugurated on January 1st, 1962 through the amalgamation of the Woman's Missionary Society (WMS) and the Woman's Association (WA). Locally, the Chase River United Church Women organization was founded in January 1962. Their mandate was to unite the women of the congregation and to provide a medium to express loyalty and devotion to Jesus Christ in Christian Witness, Study, Fellowship and Service. The group had many functions: to deepen understanding of the nature and purpose of the Church, to encourage growth in Christian knowledge, to provide opportunities for fellowship, to co-operate in the programme of education and secure commitment to the mission of the Church, to cultivate and develop Christian leadership and stewardship, to provide funds, to co-operate with the Boards and Committees of the congregation and finally, to appoint four delegates and alternatives to the Annual Meeting of the Presbyterial United Church of Women. In the inaugural year, chief officers included: President Mrs. T.D. McDonough; Secretary, Mrs. G. Naylor (Bernice); Treasurer, Mrs. J. Weeks; Leader of the Morning Unit, Mrs. L. Barker; Leader of the Evening Circle, Mrs. W. Ranger; and Education Chairman, Mrs. J. Cowling. The Central Executive Committee Unit 1 (morning group) and Unit 2 (evening group) met at monthly meetings. Both units were charged with building a 'sinking fund' for the purpose of a new church or to meet unexpected requirements in future years. The United Church Women participated in a wide range of activities including: building maintenance and fund-raising events that benefited both the Chase River parish and external charities. For example, funds were raised to send parish children to Camp Moorecraft in Nanoose Bay in the summer, purchase Sunday school materials, purchase groceries and clothing for the Cape Mudge Indian Village, supply craft materials for the Port Alberni Residential School and help the parish's needy. Dwindling attendance caused the group to dissolve in 1968.
Fonds consists of records related to the governance and activities of the Chase River United Church Women. Includes constitution and bylaws (national version), minutes (1962-1968), Chase River United Church Annual Report (1963), a programme of the inaugural service (1962), Nanaimo South Pastoral Charge (Cedar, South Wellington & Chase River) Annual Report (1964), copies of the national UCW publication "The Clip Sheet" (1962, 1965-66) and copies of the publication "Partners on the Frontiers of Christian Community (1965). The latter focusses on international missionary work.
Title based on the contents of the fonds.
Related records available in the Chase River United Church fonds.
Materials were donated by Barbara Cowling.