The United Church Crest

What we call the Church Crest is really the official signature of the Church, placed on legal documents, the ordination parchments and licenses to perform the sacraments. It was designed by Dr. VT. Mooney, former Treasurer of the Church.

It is a visual presentation of both the cornerstone of our faith and the church traditions that have shaped us since before union in 1925.

For our church members this insignia is a spiritual and historic reminder. The oval shape is derived from the outline of a fish, a symbol used by Christians in the early church to identify themselves to each other. This image was chosen because, in Greek, the initials of the words "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour" spell the word for fish. The "X" at the centre is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ and has become a traditional sign for Christ.

The open Bible represents the Congregational Churches with their emphasis upon God's truth which makes people free. From this heritage we have been given love of spiritual freedom, awareness of the creative power of the Holy Spirit and a clear witness for social justice.

The dove, emblematic of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit (Mark 1: 10), is the mark of Methodism in Canada and Bermuda. This heritage has blessed us with evangelical zeal, concern for human redemption, warmth of Christian fellowship, the testimony of Spiritual experience and the ministry of music.

The burning bush is the symbol of Presbyterianism. It refers to the bush that burned and was not consumed (Exodus 3:2) and symbolizes the indestructibility of the Church. From Presbyterianism we have received a heritage of high regard for the dignity in worship, for the education of all people, for the authority of scripture and for the church as the body of Christ.

The symbols Alpha and Omega in the lower quarter are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. They symbolize the eternal, living God, in the fullness of creation. (Revelation 1:8).

The latin words "ut omnes unurn sint" meaning "That all may be one" are a reminder that we are both a "united" and a "uniting" church. The Canada Conference of the Evangelical United Brethren Church became part of The United Church of Canada on January 1, 1968. This brought with it the call to vibrant, vital personal trust in Jesus Christ.

For our members, the Church Crest continues to be a spiritual and historic reminder of the traditions that form our heritage. May the Holy Spirit continue to uplift, inspire and lead us onward into the future to do the will of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. May our prayer be the prayer of Christ that we indeed might all be one.