In 1902, Methodists and Presbyterians began discussing the possibility of a united faith on a national level. In 1908, an outline for unification was presented to the two groups, but was rejected by the Presbyterians.

The movement towards unification was halted for many years until in 1921, the issue was once again revisited. Efforts were undertaken on both sides to form a union as quickly as possible, but it wasn't until 1925 that the United Church of Canada was finally achieved, albeit amidst much opposition from some Presbyterians and Methodists.

Those Presbyterians who were opposed to the union decided to form their own congregation known as The Presbyterian Church in Canada and they continued to practice their early traditions.

The union of the Presbyterian and Methodist churches was met with some difficulty in Sudbury. While Sudbury's Methodist and Presbyterian parishes were already supporting each other extensively, the prospect of a united church was not entirely welcome on either side.

Unification had been proposed to the Methodist congregation as early as 1910 and to the Presbyterians by 1911. Both groups had positive inclinations towards the idea and in 1915, the Presbyterians voted on the possibility of a union with the Methodists. The motion was passed by a minority vote.

The Methodists were much more enthusiastic about the proposed union, as was evidenced by their willingness to unite with the Presbyterians when their church burned down in 1923.

• The United Church of Canada