Sunday service: 11:15 am, all year.

In 1933 the Home Missions Board of the United Church received a request for a minister to serve the people of the wilderness area around Michipicoten River. The Board was unable to interest anyone in organizing the area until Rev. R.W. Beveridge of Thessalon agreed to do so, spending three weeks in putting together a field consisting of Hawk Junction, Gold Park (Parkhill) and Michipicoten Harbour. He reported that the area could raise $50.00 a month, and J.C. Pinch of the Sault agreed to give an equal amount to support a minister for Michipicoten.
Rev. Irwin, a retired minister who remained here for eight months, was first to come to the newly organized area. He was followed by Rev. McKenzie, both these men conducting their services in the mine cookeries and private homes. Difficulties of travel were experienced, as these and later ministers reached their various charges by train caboose, mine trucks, snowshoes, dog team, or on foot – often walking the bush trails and ACR tracks late at night in order to meet their many commitments.
In 1937 The Rev. Oswal Dyke (1937-39) was in charge and is remembered as being instrumental in the building of the first Protestant church, then known as the Gold Park United Church. The logs were felled and sawed into lumber in the Deep Lake area, then hauled by mine trucks to the community of Parkhill (Gold Park) which had grown up around the Parkhill gold mine approximately six miles from the present town of Wawa. There in the summer of 1937 carpenter Al Irvine, along with volunteer helpers of all faiths, erected the church with small living quarters at the rear for the minister.
In 1939, when the War forced closure of the gold mines, the Parkhill area was abandoned. Much of the housing there was moved ot Wawa, including the church which, because of its size, had to be cut in two in order to be hauled down the raod in the spring of 1940. The Wawa Creek Bridge being too narrow, the church was skidded across Wawa Lake ice to a site opposite the Lady Dunn Hospital. The ministers continued to live in the back of the church until 1942 when a manse was purchased on Government Road.
For the next several years the congregation struggled with low membership and poor finances. The local Anglicans made use of the United Church facilities until their own St. Paul’s Anglican Church was erected and dedicated in 1950. Although church membership was low, the Sunday School thrived, and in 1951 Rev. Gordon Hume (1950-53) initiated a church expansion fund. That same year, on October 8, the church was officially named First United.
In January 1953 the Session began to talk seriously of some form of expansion. In 1954 First United purchased from the Algoma Ore Properties, for $1.00 each, the two lots situated on the corner of Main Street and Mission Road. Here the new church was built in 1955 under the guidance and inspiration of Rev. August Meachman (1953-56) with financial assistance from the Board of Home Missions and manpower from all denominations in town. The original Parkhill church was sold to the Pentecostal church and served another thirty years till recently replaced by a new Calvary Pentecostal Church on the same side.
In 1956 the new manse was purchased on the corner of Third Avenue and McKinley Street, and in 1961 an addition was built to accommodate Rev. John Houston (1961-67) and his growing family. During 1966 the much-needed Christian Education wing was added to the church. Although financial difficulties followed this latter building program, a concerted effort by the UCW and church members, with aid from the Division of Mission, made it possible to regain firm financial footing by 1975.
Under Rev. Bob LePage (1978-81) First United continued to experience growth in membership and support, along with a greater sense of commitment to participation in “the church family”. Generous UCW and congregational response to fund-raising requests provided a carillon in 1979 to honour Mrs. Elsie Skinner, our organist of 25 years; a new organ in 1981; and a ramp, constructed in 1986, to provide ready access to the church narthex and sanctuary. The Sunday School continues to thrive, while both Junior and Senior choirs provide musical pleasure at the Sunday services.
Commitment and faith sustained our congregation through the eight months of 1983-84 when we were without a minister. Thanks to Algoma Presbytery plus the initiative of the Official Board, our members and adherents, we were able to maintain our regular services and provide leadership till the arrival of our present minister, Rev. Paul James, in July 1984. First United has prospered despite adverse times, and we remain confident that the same spirit and faith shown in the past will support us in the future.