About Us


WORSHIP
Services at First Presbyterian Church are held at 11:00 am every Sunday morning, followed by a social in the Arthur Newcombe room. The Sacrament of Communion is celebrated six times a year. Our beautiful sanctuary is a wonderful space in which to experience the presence of God and the fellowship of our church community.

The congregation of Edmonton Presbyterian Church, NWT came into being in 1881 and changed its name to First Presbyterian Church in 1905 when Alberta became a province. Worship has taken place in the present church building (the third) since 1912. In 1987, it was declared an historic resource by the Province of Alberta and in 2000 a plaque was unveiled granting it historic designation by the City of Edmonton.
ABOUT US
First Presbyterian Church is located in the heart of downtown Edmonton, the capital city of Alberta, and is easily accessible from all parts of the city. First Church's strengths lie in mission at home and abroad, pastoral care in the Church and community, a Food Bank outlet and refugee support. Sunday services are enhanced by its fine choir with an anthem or solo being performed every Sunday (except during July and August).
Holy Communion is celebrated six times a year.
The church has a nursery, Sunday School and Youth Group, and there are active Church groups and committees in charge of various outreach programs. The church also welcomes the use of its facilities by various community organizations and groups.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
The church's strength comes from God and from the willingness of God's people to work together. We will respond to God's call for us to be a worshipping, studying, praying people who nurture and support each other so that we may come to experience the presence of God in our lives.
We do not exist for ourselves. We will actively communicate the caring presence of God in our lives and share our resources and talents with others in the larger community, thus following Christ's example of service to all.
Our mission comes from God's word in Mark 12: 29-31: '''The Lord Our God, the Lord is one: and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength' And, 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these.''
SPIRITUALITY
We would like to invite you to explore your spirituality and develop a closer relationship with God.  Read or listen to one of the Reverend Harry Currie's sermons, give your Bible reading some structure with the daily lectionary, or find a program at our activities page or from our events that sounds inspiring.
OUR MINISTER
The Reverend Harry Currie, B.Sc., B.Ed., M.Div., has been the pastor at First Presbyterian Church since 2002. Harry has been a minister in the Presbyterian Church for more than twenty years, serving congregations across the country, in P.E.I., Ontario, and British Columbia. He holds a B.Sc. and B.Ed. from Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, and an M.Div from Knox College in Toronto, and is currently working on a degree in spiritual guidance. He is also a lover of music, a pianist, and a member of the First Presbyterian Church Choir.
SERMONS
DAILY READINGS
HISTORY
OUR HISTORY
The congregation of Edmonton Presbyterian Church, NWT came into being in 1881 and changed its name to First Presbyterian Church in 1905 when Alberta became a province. The present church building (the third) has been used for worship since 1912, and is most attractive both within and without. In 1987, it was declared an historic resource by the Province of Alberta and in 2000 a plaque was unveiled granting it historic designation by the City Of Edmonton.
ANNUAL TOUR
Please join us in July for our annual historical tour in conjunction with Heritage Week.  The tour culminates in an organ recital on our 1909 Casavant Organ. Please check the  Edmonton & District Historical Society webpage for dates for the tour.
THE BUILDING
Year Built:
1912
Architect:
Wilson and Herrald Architects
Architectural Styles:
Gothic Revival
Character Defining Elements:
Brick cladding, Brick structure, Buttress, Coping, Crenellated parapet, Gothic windows, Intersecting gable roof, Irregular footprint, Porch, Rusticated stone, Stained glass, String course, Tower

125th Anniversary
The year 2006 marked a significant milestone for First Church. It was on November 6th, 1881 that Reverend Andrew Baird conducted the first Presbyterian service ever to have been held in Edmonton (or indeed in what is now the Province of Alberta). The fall of 2006 marked the 125th Anniversary of the beginnings of Presbyterian witness in our city and province.
Casavant Organ
The organ in First Church was originally built in 1909 by Casavant. In 1951 it was revised to include a new console and stop additions were also made at that time. In 2004, fundraising for a $300,000 organ renovation project began, and by the summer of 2007, the organ renovation was complete. First Presbyterian Church has since hosted multiple organ concerts, showcasing the wonderful tone of the renovated organ.
CHURCH GARDEN Picture Gallery
MUSIC
MUSIC AT FIRST
First Church has a vibrant music program, featuring the First Presbyterian Choir and the First Presbyterian Handbell Choir. Vocal or instrumental solos are also a frequent part of worship at First Presbyterian Church. We are always seeking new members! The choir meets on Wednesday nights from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm, and on Sunday mornings at 10 am. The Handbell Choir meets on Wednesday nights from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm, and on Sunday morning at 9:30 on days when we will be playing.
CHOIRS
First Presbyterian Choir
·       The First Presbyterian Choir leads the musical portion of worship services weekly in First Presbyterian Church under the direction of Drs. Giesbrecht and Segger. We offer many different types of sacred music, from canons to gospel, with organ, piano, brass, or no accompaniment at all! We work hard, but our rehearsals are lots of fun. Come join us!
Handbell Choir
·       The First Presbyterian Handbell Choir plays at least monthly in First Presbyterian Church, under the direction of Dr. Giesbrecht and with the help of Handbell Coordinator Matthew Read. We play solo or accompany the choir and organ. We are always looking for new members - all you need to be able to do is count!
Children's Voice and Chimes Choir
·       The children of First Presbyterian join worship services a few times a year, accompanying themselves on chimes and percussion. Past performances include "This Little Light of Mine" by Harry Dixon Loes and "Come On, Ring Those Bells" by Kristin Chenoweth.
MUSIC DIRECTORS
Dr. Marnie Giesbrecht is Professor of Music at the University of Alberta. Marnie Giesbrecht is a versatile keyboard artist who has performed organ recitals in major cities and universities in Canada, the United States, Europe and South Africa. She teaches Organ Performance (Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral programs), Organ Literature, Hymnody and Service Playing, Chamber Music and Graduate Keyboard Seminar at the University of Alberta, and Adjunct Professor of Music at King's College. At First Presbyterian Church, she directs the choir and the Handbell Choir and plays both the organ and piano.
Dr. Joachim Segger is a versatile musician who regularly plays piano solo, duo and chamber recitals as well as concertos. He has performed in various venues throughout North America, Europe and South Africa and is frequently heard on CBC local and national broadcasts. He was a semi-finalist in the Gina Bachauer, CBC, Robert Casadesus, Maryland and Bach International Piano Competitions and was the winner of the prestigious Canadian Women's Club Competition in New York City that resulted in a Carnegie Recital Hall debut. Segger's piano professors include Ernesto Lejano and Helmut Brauss (University of Alberta), Kurt Neumüller (Mozarteum, Salzburg), Cecile Staub Genhart (Eastman School of Music) and Menahem Pressler (University of Indiana). One of the youngest students at Eastman to receive the Performer's Certificate, he also won the concerto competition and performed the Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Eastman Philharmonia conducted by David Effron. Dr. Segger is Professor of Piano and Theory at The King's University College, Edmonton, Alberta and Adjunct Professor of Piano at the University of Alberta. At First Presbyterian Church, he plays both the organ and piano and has been known to direct the choir.
Joachim Segger and Marnie Giesbrecht collaborate as Duo Majoya. In addition to playing piano duet repertoire, they play organ duets, and organ and piano duos. Their concert programs and CDs are broad in scope, including transcriptions, improvisations (Joachim) and new music. Their performances and recordings are received with critical acclaim. Works for organ and piano by several Canadian composers have been commissioned for Duo Majoya.
 YOUTH
SUNDAY SCHOOL
First Presbyterian Church welcomes members of all ages! Sunday school meets every Sunday during worship, and all children present for the service are invited to attend. We also have seasonal parties and activities, such as a Fall Party featuring face paint, bobbing for apples, and cupcake decorating, or a trip to the water park at West Edmonton Mall.
OUR YOUTH LEADERS
Holly Parkis is a writer & web designer. She sings alto in the First Presbyterian Church Choir, loves to cook, and once threw up on a whale. She and her husband Matt moved to Edmonton in 2005. Ask her what a ctenophore is.


WEDDINGS
PLANNING A WEDDING
 Please call the church at 780.422.2937 to discuss arrangements.  Book well ahead of time (up to a year or more) to ensure a spot, as historic building First Presbyterian Church is a popular location for weddings. You will need a marriage license, obtained from a registry agent, and will be asked to have a pre-marital counselling session with the minister. Please also note that the booking is for two hours only, which includes the time for decoration, the service itself, any photography, and clean-up.  Please contact the Music Directors directly after booking the church to arrange any music. 

Contact the church office regarding further requirements to book your wedding.

Important Forms:
The Guidelines for Weddings provide all necessary information about weddings at First Presbyterian Church.  If you have any questions, please contact us.
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