In the middle of the 19th century, that church was the site of the first mixed race marriage in Canada. It was originally
Congregationalist, but joined the United Church when it was formed in 1925. The first permanent home was built in 1862 at Elgin and Albert Street. The current building in
Centretown was constructed in 1911. In February 1925, it merged with the former Westminster Presbyterian Church (a post-1900 split from Erskine Presbyterian Church), that had voted for Union to become The First United Church of Ottawa, four months before the official Union.
Social activism The church began to struggle in the 1970s and 1980s, but in 1987 Rev. Sharon Moon began a seventeen-year tenure at the church, and made it a centre of social activism, especially
gay rights, fighting poverty, and supporting people with addictions. As well, its welcome for the diversity of life has drawn many people to the church. ==New church in Westboro==