Identity area
Type of entity
Corporate body
Authorized form of name
United Women's Missionary Societies
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
Began ca. 1897
History
The United Women's Missionary Societies of Saint John, New Brunswick was composed of representatives from Protestant churches in the city. It is not known exactly when the body was founded. Meetings, held at churches throughout Saint John, included prayers led by members, hymn singing, and a business meeting. Discussion centered around missionary work. A collection was made and the proceeds sent to missions for their work. In 1897 funds collected in this way were sent to Miss A.M. Barker in Constantinople (Istanbul) for relief to widows and children of the recent massacres.
In 1897, a standing committee was formed to provide efficient arrangements for annual prayer services in the city. The members included: Mrs. Allwood, Baptist Church; Mrs. Crookshank, Church of England; Miss Upton, Presbyterian Church; Miss Palmer, Methodist Church; and there was a representative from the Congregational Church as well.
The United Women's Missionary Societies changed its name to the Protestant Christian Women's Fellowship in 1953 then changed it once again in 1955 to the Women's inter-Church Council of Saint John.