OUR WOMEN MOVE AHEAD
Members of the Ladies Alpha Unit were honoured at a luncheon in the
garden of the N. Halvorson home in Brackendale. Seated, front row
(left to right), are Mrs. D.D. Morrison, Mrs. G.S. Clarke and Mrs N. Hutchinson.
Back row (left to right) are Mrs. A.L.A. Hankey, Mrs. E. Robertson, Mrs.
T. Halvorson, Mrs. H. Buffrey, Mrs. E. Lamb, Mrs. E. Klontz, Mrs. A.R.
Barr, Mrs. J. Knight, and Mrs. H.M. Wingfield.
The explosive changes of the post-war years had their effect on
the membership of the Ladies Aid. In January of 1955, the name Ladies Aid
was dropped, and the groups were renamed as members of the United Church
Women's Association. Numbers had grown so rapidly that a new group
of younger members was organized in November of 1955 in the shops area.
It took the name of Jean Neil, one of the founding members in 1913.
During the latter part of 1956 and early 1957, the ladies raised
money to complete the upstairs of the manse, providing the resident minister
with a study and more bedroom space. In June of 1957, the Harmony Circle
was formed in the downtown area, under the patronage of Mrs. A. O. McNeil,
with Mrs. Ellen Harley as its first president. The original group of older
ladies became the Alpha Circle. A Neighbourly Circle was formed on Hospital
Hill, but loss of members led to its dissolution.
In March of 1961, the various groups joined the Vancouver-Burrard
Presbytery. In December of that year, the United Church Women's Association
became the "United Church Women", with each group designated as a "Unit".
Mrs. Ellen Harley was the first president of the coordinating executive.
This was the year in which Mrs. D. D. Morrison was presented with life
membership, in recognition of twenty-five years of dedicated service to
the work of the church.
When the Christian Education Centre had been constructed, the ladies
offered to plan and equip the kitchen. This attractive room has become
a centre of fellowship for the women of the church.
In September of 1975 a group of young mothers formed a new unit,
named after Barbara Mackenzie, a tribute to the minister's wife.
United Church Women Life Memberships
1961 - Kay Morrison
1977 - Alison Barr- Lisabeth Halvorson
1978 - Mae Stack- Elsie Robertson
1979 - Freda Clarke- Ellen Harley
1983 - Mildred Campbell- Shirley Pudney
1986 - Vera Moule- Evelyn Smith
1988 - Shirley Saugstad
"To unite all women of the congregation for the total mission of
the Church, and to provide a medium through which they may express their
loyalty and devotion to Jesus Christ in Christian Witness, Study, Fellowship
and Service."
Throughout their history, the UCW and women of the church have combined
a strong sense of fun with outreach and Christian service. The pictures
show
(i) members of the Harmony Unit (Anne Boscariol and Maureen Gilmour)
preparing a gourmet invitational luncheon in aid of Brasilian refugees
(March 1969),
(ii) Lynette Halvorson and others packing hampers for Community Christmas
Care in 1983, and (iii) colourful costumes from the world community during
an "Amateur Night" in April of 1968 (featuring Shirley Halvorson, June
Halvorson, Maureen Gilmour, Mary McCullough, Norma Wingfiled, Ellen Harley,
Diane Rosebrough, Margaret Gibson, Evelyn Dawson and Anne Boscariol).
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