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The Millennium year marked the 240th year of the congregation of First United Church. The congregation had its beginning when the first British Planters - staunch Presbyterians - arrived here from New England in 1761. It now has about 722 families.
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The present structure, built in 1916, is the congregation's third building. Its large brick and stone Georgian Revival building, with a 143 ft steeple in the center of town, has been designated both as a Municipal and Provincial Heritage Site.
When Methodist, Congregational, and Presbyterian churches made plans to unite in 1925, this former First Presbyterian congregation voted overwhelmingly to join the new United Church of Canada.
Today, First United has a faithful ministry of Word and Sacrament, Visitation, Music, Christian Education, and Outreach. An active lay leadership manages the administration and programs of the congregation. In looking to the future, a Visioning Committee has carefully examined our existing congregational life with a view to growing into the next decade. A church newspaper, "First United Church News", is produced and distributed to members three times a year.
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Traditional and Contemporary worship services are held at 10:30 AM on Sundays. Regular and special Bible Study groups are held throughout the church year. There is a full Sunday School program as well as a busy midweek youth schedule. Groups for adults include United Church Women, a morning Men's Fellowship, a women's group - Crafts and Conversation.
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The musical life of First United Church remains a vital part of its ministry, with a long-standing tradition of musical variety and excellence. The church has four choirs - adult, men's, handbells, and beginner bells - under the direction of its Music Director and Organist. Contemporary services feature one of our Praise Teams. The "Music Under the Steeple" series continues the church's years of involvement in sponsoring concerts of local and visiting musicians.
The church generously contributes to the United Church of Canada Mission and Service Fund. In our own community it supports the local Food Bank, the Christmas Index program for 17 families, a monthly social for our church seniors and those from nursing homes, a cooperative dinner and lunch programs for hungry families, and the many individuals who come to our church for emergency assistance.
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We welcome newcomers in joining our church family, in being people of God in the community and the world.
Minister Emeritus
Rev. Richard F. Humby, B.A. M. Div
Rev. David MacNaughton, B.A. M. Div
Order of Ministry
Ministry of Word & Sacrament
Minister of Visitation
Music Director and Organist
Office Administrator
Sunday School Co-ordinator
Caretaker
Official Board Chair
Chair of Session
Clerk of Session
Committee of Stewards Chair
Board of Trustees Chair
UCW President
Men's Fellowship
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Judith Perry
Roger Moore
Christopher Bowman
Tracy Boutilier
Karen Parker
Steven Krizsan
Elva Simpson
Sheila Allan
Patricia Roberts
Tom Acker
Alan MacLean
Joan Stewart
Gordon Moore
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Judith Perry
Minister
Judith Marguerite Perry (B.Sc., B.Th.., M.Div. McGill University and United Theological College) has specialized in enabling congregations in periods of transition. Her dream is for strong and progressive congregational communities. She presents a number of workshops to equip congregations for future development. She has a passion for outreach ministry and for creating ecological conscious groups in the community. Her ministry has spread across four provinces, but Nova Scotia is her 'Forever Home'. When not in the congregation she is probably working renovating her home or digging around her daylily collection on the Annapolis Shore of the Bay of Fundy.
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Roger Moore
Minister of Visitation
Rev. Moore comes to us after forty years in full time Ministry. He was ordained in 1970 and retired in 2010. He has come out of retirement for awhile to help us here at First United in the Ministry of Visitation. Born and raised in Pictou County, Roger was educated at Bethany Bible College in Sussex, Nazarene College in Colorado Springs from which he hold a degree in Theology and Archaeology. He received an internship in Clinical Pastoral Education at the old Nova Scotia Hospital and the VG Hospital. His Master of Divinity is from the Atlantic School of Theology.
He is married to Moira, they each have two daughters, and many grandchildren. They have their retirement home in Hilden.
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Christopher Bowman
Music Director and Organist
Christopher Bowman (M. Mus 2005 Memorial University, B. Mus 2001 Mount Allison University) enjoys making music in many forms - as a conductor, choral and solo performer, and educator. He conducts or co-conducts seven choirs at present, four as music director and organist at First United Church in Truro, and works with the Halifax Camerata Singers, the Truro Mel-O-Dees chorus, and the new Truro boys' choir. He sings with Camerata and the Canadian Chamber Choir, and is a former Coordinator of and singer with the National Youth Choir of Canada.
Chris is active as a solo recitalist in Atlantic Canada and Ontario. His debut CD "Over Hill and Valley" with pianist David Chafe won Music NS and Music NL awards, and was nominated for an East Coast Music Award in the Classical category. He also maintains a busy voice and piano studio, is sought after as a choral and church music clinician, and has been a sessional instructor at both Memorial and Mount Allison Universities. Chris is on the board of the Nova Scotia Choral Federation, and looks forward to be a resident conductor of the Nova Scotia Youth Choir in 2010. Originally from Ontario, Chris and his wife Laura thoroughly enjoy Maritime life!
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Tracy Boutilier
Office Administrator
Tracy has been a part of First United all of her life. She participated in Sunday School, CGIT and MacLennan Camp (camper and counsellor); Youth Forum and Kairos (1987). You would often find her in the Toddler Room, then in her own Sunday school classroom and also in the gym with the Beavers. Tracy has worked in several offices before joining our staff part time in the fall of 2001 and assumed full time duties in the spring of 2004. Tracy is active in our church life as the secretary for Unit L of the UCW; the Treasurer for the UCW Executive and she also rings with our Handbell Choir. Tracy and husband Steve have two boys; Hayden and Mackenzie
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