We are a suburban church of nearly 400 worshipping members, in the historic north of the Halifax Regional Municipality. Together with Wellington United Church (with about 60 members and adherents) we comprise the Waverley Pastoral Charge of the United Church of Canada. In the 1970s this was still Halifax County. The new Metro Halifax was a future dream (some would say nightmare) and the small country churches of the Waverley Pastoral Charge started to grow.
Overcrowding of St. John’s, Waverley, and St. John’s, Windsor Junction, became a problem and over the years numerous committees were struck to consider the options available. After two solid years of study, the Pastoral Charge Long Range Planning Committee recommended in 1988 that extensive renovations be made to both facilities. It was soon obvious that simply renovating the two churches was not financially feasible. As a result, in September 1989, after considerable research and input, the Waverley and Windsor Junction congregations initiated the temporary sharing of the Waverley facility as the first step in amalgamating the two congregations, the final aim being construction of a new facility that could house all.
The Building Committee received permission from the congregations in June 1990 to purchase an option on a 4.5 acre property in Fall River as the site for a new building and a year later that option was exercised.
In December 1990, Halifax Presbytery formally approved the amalgamation of the congregations of St. John’s, Waverley, and St. John’s, Windsor Junction, effective January 1, 1991. The new congregation was to retain the name St. John’s.
Applications for capital assistance funding were forwarded to Ventures in Mission, and the Church Extension Board of Halifax Presbytery in October 1991. Both applications were accepted in the spring of 1992 and the maximum capital assistance funding available was approved. With financial assistance in place and considerable monies and labor pledged from the congregation, clearing of the lot in Fall River began in October 1992. The official sod-turning ceremony took place in June of 1993 and the dream became reality on December 24,1994, when the first worship services were held in the new sanctuary.