George C. Pidgeon
Encyclopedia
The Very Reverend George Campbell Pidgeon (March 2, 1872 - June 15, 1971) was a minister
first in the Presbyterian Church in Canada
and then in The United Church of Canada
, as well as the last Moderator of the Presbyterian Church before amalgamation, and the first Moderator of the newly formed United Church of Canada. He was a strong proponent of the proposed union of churches, and later in life championed ecumenism.
Pidgeon was ordained by the Presbyterian Church in 1894 and earned his Doctor of Divinity
from Montreal
's Presbyterian College
. His first posting was at Montreal West Presbyterian Church (now Montreal West United Church). He then moved to the Toronto
area, serving first in the Streetsville
area (now Mississauga), before moving to the West Toronto Junction
area.
From 1909 to 1915, he left pastoral ministry to teach theology
at Westminster Hall in Vancouver
. He then returned to Toronto in 1916, where he served as minister of Bloor Street Presbyterian (now Bloor Street United Church
).
He became Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in 1923, and was a strong proponent of the proposed church union between the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregationalist Church
es in Canada. However, a substantial minority of Presbyterians remained opposed to church union. Their threat to the entire project was resolved by giving individual Presbyterian congregations the right to vote on whether to enter or remain outside the United Church. In the end, 302 out of 4,509 congregations of the Presbyterian Church (211 from southern Ontario) chose to reconstitute themselves as a "continuing" Presbyterian Church in Canada
.
With the pro-union support of the majority of Presbyterian congregations now guaranteed, The United Church of Canada was inaugurated at a large worship service at Toronto's Mutual Street Arena
on June 10, 1925.
The ecumenical tone of the new church was set at the first General Council in 1925. The former Methodist General Superintendent S.D. Chown was considered the leading candidate to become the first Moderator because the Methodist Church made up the largest segment of the new United Church. However, in a surprise move, Dr. Chown graciously stepped aside in favour of Pidgeon, in the hopes that this would strengthen the resolve of the Presbyterians who had chosen to join the new Church.As first Moderator of the United Church of Canada
, Pidgeon served for one year.
Pidgeon was a supporter of the temperance movement
, home missionary
service and later in life, was one of the driving forces behind the formation of ecumenical organizations such as the Canadian Council of Churches
in 1945 and the World Council of Churches
in 1946.
He served as minister of Bloor Street United Church for 32 years, retiring in 1948. He died in 1971 at the age of 99.
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
first in the Presbyterian Church in Canada
Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
and then in The United Church of Canada
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
, as well as the last Moderator of the Presbyterian Church before amalgamation, and the first Moderator of the newly formed United Church of Canada. He was a strong proponent of the proposed union of churches, and later in life championed ecumenism.
Pidgeon was ordained by the Presbyterian Church in 1894 and earned his Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
from Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
's Presbyterian College
The Presbyterian College, Montreal
The Presbyterian College/Le Collège Presbytérien, 3495 University Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, is a Theological College of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, and is affiliated with McGill University through their Faculty of Religious Studies...
. His first posting was at Montreal West Presbyterian Church (now Montreal West United Church). He then moved to the Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
area, serving first in the Streetsville
Streetsville, Ontario
Streetsville is an established community located in the northwestern corner of the city of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on the Credit River...
area (now Mississauga), before moving to the West Toronto Junction
The Junction
The Junction is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that is near the junction of four railway lines in the area known as the West Toronto Diamond. The neighbourhood was previously an independent city called West Toronto, that was also its own federal electoral district until amalgamating...
area.
From 1909 to 1915, he left pastoral ministry to teach theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Westminster Hall in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. He then returned to Toronto in 1916, where he served as minister of Bloor Street Presbyterian (now Bloor Street United Church
Bloor Street United Church
Bloor Street United Church is a United Church of Canada church located at 300 Bloor Street West in downtown Toronto, near the intersection with Huron Street. It is just north of the University of Toronto, and between the Spadina and St. George Subway Stations.As with many of the downtown Toronto...
).
He became Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in 1923, and was a strong proponent of the proposed church union between the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregationalist Church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
es in Canada. However, a substantial minority of Presbyterians remained opposed to church union. Their threat to the entire project was resolved by giving individual Presbyterian congregations the right to vote on whether to enter or remain outside the United Church. In the end, 302 out of 4,509 congregations of the Presbyterian Church (211 from southern Ontario) chose to reconstitute themselves as a "continuing" Presbyterian Church in Canada
Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
.
With the pro-union support of the majority of Presbyterian congregations now guaranteed, The United Church of Canada was inaugurated at a large worship service at Toronto's Mutual Street Arena
Mutual Street Arena
Mutual Street Arena, initially called Arena Gardens or just the Arena, was an ice hockey arena and sports and entertainment venue in Toronto, Ontario...
on June 10, 1925.
The ecumenical tone of the new church was set at the first General Council in 1925. The former Methodist General Superintendent S.D. Chown was considered the leading candidate to become the first Moderator because the Methodist Church made up the largest segment of the new United Church. However, in a surprise move, Dr. Chown graciously stepped aside in favour of Pidgeon, in the hopes that this would strengthen the resolve of the Presbyterians who had chosen to join the new Church.As first Moderator of the United Church of Canada
Moderator of the United Church of Canada
The Moderator of the United Church of Canada is the presiding leader of the United Church of Canada, Canada's largest Protestant denomination. The church is highly decentralized and non-dogmatic and the moderator has only limited power...
, Pidgeon served for one year.
Pidgeon was a supporter of the temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
, home missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
service and later in life, was one of the driving forces behind the formation of ecumenical organizations such as the Canadian Council of Churches
Canadian Council of Churches
The was founded on September 27, 1944 at Yorkminister Baptist Church in Toronto Ontario Canada. The Canadian Council of Churches provides an agency for consultation, planning and common action. It was founded to co-ordinate the growing number of Canadian co-operative ventures in social services,...
in 1945 and the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
in 1946.
He served as minister of Bloor Street United Church for 32 years, retiring in 1948. He died in 1971 at the age of 99.