Cooke's-Portsmouth United Church
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About Us
Our Mission Statement - (The Official Board, 1992 - reviewed 1999).
God has called us as a congregation to provide a place for worship and spiritual growth based on Christian precepts as illustrated by the Bible. A place where individuals are accepted and encouraged to grow in spirit every day. We foster a sense of care and sharing of God’s grace and love within our community. We believe that by enacting and living out our beliefs in the community-at-large we may influence it to God’s glory and welcome others into the community of faith.
History - by Lyndon Jones
The roots of Cooke's-Portsmouth United Church stretch back to their Presbyterian and Methodist beginnings in Kingston during the middle of the 19th century. The Presbyterian branch began modestly as Bagot Street Presbyterian Church around 1884, becoming Cooke's United Church at the time of church union in 1925.
The Methodist branch took root in the Village of Portsmouth when a stone building costing $600 was dedicated in 1853, known as Portsmouth Methodist Church.
Around 1853, Presbyterians formed a mission station in Portsmouth Village and both congregations thrived separately until 1917 when they amalgamated into a 'Union Church' and then became Portsmouth United Church in 1925.
In 1964, Cooke's United Church and Portsmouth United Church amalgamated, establishing the present day Cooke's-Portsmouth United Church which was dedicated April 9, 1967.
Cooke's Presbyterian Church began in 1845 as a beautiful limestone structure on Brock Street, just west of Montreal Street. It was a landmark in downtown Kingtson for nearly 40 years. In the early 1950's the congregation realized it had no room for expansion and experienced the same population shifts as did Portsmouth. The building was torn down and its former site is now the Chown Memorial Parking Garage, opposite Hôtel Dieu Hospital.
The Portsmouth Methodist Church was sold in 1965 to the congregation of the Independent Holiness Movement and still stands on King Street today.
Candles ready for confirmation
The Bride and Groom leaving after a summer wedding