About Us

New to EHP? Let us answer some of your questions.

Who's in charge?

When are the services?

How do I find out what's going on?

Can I do more than just attend church?

How do I learn more about Christianity at the Church?

How old is the church?

Who's in charge?

We have two levels of leaders in the church – our ministry personnel and the Church Council.

Our Minister: Reverend Philip Cable.

Rev. Cable joined EHP in September of 2007. He has spent the last ten years as a minister in Vancouver at First United Church, in the Downtown Eastside neighborhood. His experience there has given him great experience in dealing with the poor and those struggling with addiction. Rev. Cable is no stranger to EHP and our neighborhood. He preached here for a few months ten years ago when EHP was in a state of transition.

For more about Reverend Cable, please click here.

Church Council
EHP is formally run by the congregation's church council. The council is the governing body, and is in charge of hiring ministers and keeping the church on the tracks financially. The council’s chair person this year is Allan Mills.

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When are the services?

There is a traditional Sunday service at 10:30 a.m. Everyone, and we mean everyone – is welcome! We don't care who you love, what you've done or how long you've been away. Christ welcomes everyone, believer or not. We do too! If you would like to get to know some people, a good way to start is to join us for coffee right after the service in the Fellowship Room.

Sunday evening service and community supper: our church's evening service at 5:15 pm is much looser than the morning service, and is frequently attended by the homeless and the poor. A free community supper is offered right after the service, which feeds thousands each year.

Doors open at 2:00 pm
Please enter through north car park door
Lunch: 2:00 to 3:30 pm
Snack: 3:45 to 4:30 pm
Service: 4:45 to 5:30 pm
Dinner: 5:30 to 6:00 pm

Tuesday Night Service and Bible Study: Scripture 101 – 6:45 to 8:00 pm (Fellowship Room) September 13th

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How do I find out what's going on?

This website includes a "This Week" page which lists all the events and meetings coming up. You can also sign up for the weekly email bulletins. Just click here to tell the church you want to sign up:
hwrdprk@bellnet.ca

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Can I do more than just attend church?

EHP has many small groups that are always looking for new members. To see a list of the groups and what they do, click here. If you’re still uncertain or you would like to form a new one, try contacting the office by clicking here. Our Office Administrator will get you in touch with the right person.

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How do I learn more about Christianity at the Church

There are a number of groups who meet specifically to discuss spiritual issues and to practice different forms of prayer. They are:

Scripture 101 - Tuesday nights 7 p.m.

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How old is the church?

Not many churches have as interesting or intriguing history as Emmanuel-Howard Park United Church nor as many cornerstones.

It all started back in 1884 when a group of people got together to worship. By February, 1890 a congregation would be formally organized and comprised of 34 people in a building called the Ruth Street Mission (in 1894 changed to Fern Avenue Presbyterian Church) on Ruth Street (now known as Fern Avenue).

After outgrowing it's first building, a property was secured at the corner of Wright and Roncesvalles Avenues. The name was changed to High Park
Presbyterian Church and dedicated in 1910. They entered the Union in 1925, but because there was already a High Park United Church, the name was changed to Erskine United Church.

In 1927 the church was destroyed by fire
and rebuilt in 1928. Meanwhile, in 1889 a small group of Methodists began planning a church and in 1890, began Methodists Mission Services in a house on Garden Avenue. After using a couple of temporary locations and naming themselves St. Alban's Methodist Church, a new church was dedicated at the corner of Sorauren and Galley Avenues in 1909 and was named North Parkdale Methodist Church. After Union in 1925 it became known as North Parkdale United Church.

Further to the North, another group of Methodists in 1908 began planning a new congregation under the name of Boustead Methodist Church and after using a former schoolhouse, their new church at the corner of Marmaduke and Sunnyside Avenues was dedicated as Howard Park Methodist Church in 1911. After Union in 1925, it became known as Howard Park United Church.

The first merger of the above three mentioned congregations took place on January 15, 1961, when North Parkdale and Erskine joined together as Emmanuel United Church. North Parkdale was sold to St. Georges Greek-Orthodox parish.

The last merger was finalized in 1969 with the amalgamation of Howard Park United with Emmanuel United to form Emmanuel-Howard Park United Church. Howard Park United was sold to the Italian Pentecostals.

This information is taken from "Our Cloud of Witnesses" by Hugh D. McKellar, a 100 year history of the three churches that make Emmanuel-Howard Park United Church. Mr. McKellar is occasionally our guest organist.

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