Our mission

Faith in Action

St. Andrew's Today

We are a neighbourhood church that cares deeply about issues which affect our North Shore community. We work with other churches and faith-based groups as well as non-profit community organizations in North Vancouver to mitigate homelessness, poverty, social isolation, and environmental issues.

When Jesus was asked which was the greatest commandment he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment.” And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matthew 22: 37 – 39)

The Great Commandment informs who we are and what we do as a community of faith. While deeply rooted in the Christian tradition, we listen and respond to God’s Spirit that calls us to love with compassion and to live our faith in today’s world.

Please join us—all are welcome in this place!

Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live,
a place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace;
here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

from the hymn All Are Welcome by Marty Haugen

Scroll to the bottom of the page for a short video of St. Andrew’s after our 2021 refurbishment. We’re looking good for our age!

Our History


St. Andrew’s United Church at 1044 St. George’s Avenue in the City of North Vancouver was built in 1912. The architects were Alexander and Brown. However, the first St. Andrew’s, which at that time was a Presbyterian Church, was located on East 6th Street facing Victoria Park and built in 1904. The “new” church built in 1912 is the one we see today, a shingle-clad adaptation in the Gothic Revival style.

In 1925 the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregational Churches in Canada joined together to form the United Church of Canada. The following year, 1926, two churches in North Vancouver, Sixth Street Methodist at the south west corner of St. Georges Avenue which had opened in 1910, and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian joined to form St. Andrew’s United Church. At the time of the union, St. Andrew’s had a membership of 340 and the value of its property was $19,000. Sixth Street Methodist had a membership of 140 and the value of its property was $7,050.

Directly behind the church and across the lane to the north is the St. Andrew’s Christian Education Building. Here over the years many programs have been provided for the community. In the 1970s there was the Margaret Fulton Centre, an adult day care to give a daytime break to adult children caring for senior parents that benefited from supervision. To the east of the Church Hall is St. Andrew’s Park, a children’s park where in recent years an annual Teddy Bear Picnic has been held. From the front steps of the church you can look down St. George’s Avenue right to the blue waters of Burrard Inlet.

Today the inspiring church spire of St. Andrew’s continues to act as a witness to the Christian community in North Vancouver.

Excerpt from the book Heritage Inventory, City of North Vancouver, 1994. Reference: St. Andrew’s United Church, North Vancouver, 1925-1975 a history by J.S. Terry.

Mission

Faith in Action

Vision

We are a community of faith that practices radical hospitality.
We welcome everyone to participate in all aspects of the life and work of our faith community, including people of all ages, abilities, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, and socio-economic circumstance.
We provide a safe, inclusive space for meditation, prayer, and sharing the gospel.
We provide a variety of worship and study options that encourage spiritual formation.
We partner with others to mitigate the effects of homelessness, poverty, social isolation, and environmental
issues in our community, and are known for our outreach and food ministries.
We seek and support ways to contribute to peace and justice initiatives on a global scale.

Values

We act with courage and commitment, safeguarding the principles of diversity, authenticity, inclusiveness, and the power of Christian teachings.
We do so with humility, integrity, gratitude, and joy.

FAQS

General

We have street parking around the church. Many people enjoy walking to church and buses are frequent on Lonsdale (1 block east) or 15th (4 blocks north). HandyDART will also take people directly to our door.

Come early and listen to our band rehearse. Start your morning with a cup of coffee ready when you arrive. After our worship time, stay and enjoy a treat. Take the opportunity to meet others. Ask questions. Make new friends. Connect with someone you already know who happens to be part of our community.

Wear whatever you are most comfortable in. Jeans are fine. Some people prefer to dress up. We just appreciate your presence.

All worship services are user-friendly; lots of direction is given. Don’t worry! Everything is clearly outlined in our order of service, which is handed to you by one of our greeters.

You name it. She likes to take the ancient stories of our faith and see whether they have anything to say to our lives today. Generally, she finds that they do! We take the bible seriously, but not literally.

We welcome all who want to explore spirituality and the big questions of life. We believe in a God of love who dreams of peace and justice for all creation. We are a Protestant Church, part of the United Church of Canada.

Childcare

Our main and lower floor, including our worship space, are stroller accessible. A ramp at the north-east of the building leads into the worship space.

Yes, we love their energy and enthusiasm.

Faith

Yes. Check the website for updates on events and activities.

Yes. Talk to our minister. She loves to discuss spiritual questions and encourages people to dig deeper into the faith questions that arise for them. We are an inquiring church. New programs begin as the interest arises.

Yes. Come and try us out. We welcome people who are looking for a faith experience that makes sense to them.

Yes. No one here knows everything. Beginners are welcome on Sundays and at all our programs.

Accessibility

Our main and lower floors, including our worship space, are wheelchair accessible. A ramp at the northeast of the building enters into the worship space.