About MacKay United Church
Who We Are
At MacKay United Church, we’re a colourful mix of folks: spiritual seekers and curious neighbours, wise elders and generous hosts, honest doubters, thoughtful activists, creative artists, and quiet contemplatives. Some of us are just starting out on a spiritual path; others have been walking it for decades. There’s room here for all kinds of stories.
We gather weekly—most often on Sundays—to explore the sacred and the everyday, side by side. Our time together weaves together music, prayer, conversation, silence, and art. We draw from Christian traditions while making space for new ideas, fresh voices, and the complex questions of life today.
We believe in sharing spiritual wisdom through listening, learning, and creating together. We offer space for meaningful conversations, foster imagination through art and music, and support spiritual practices that help us connect more deeply—with the Divine, with ourselves, and with one another.
Our historic building in Ottawa’s New Edinburgh neighbourhood is more than a place of worship. It’s a gathering space for neighbours—whether it’s for community events, celebrations, or simply a moment of peace. We work to be inclusive across age, race, class, and background, reflecting the rich diversity of the community we belong to.
We honour our commitment to reconciliation and acknowledge that we gather on the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation. We seek to walk with humility and respect in right relationship with the First Peoples of this land.
Wherever you’re coming from, and wherever you’re at, there’s a place for you at MacKay.
Our vision
Seeking spiritual understanding,
in a welcoming community,
together in Christ,
open to the Spirit,
acting in service,
through God's love for all.
Our mission
In Christ's name, we will live our vision by providing opportunities to explore the Christian faith.
By building and creating awareness of a welcoming community.
By studying and speaking of Jesus and reflecting the Christ of faith and hope in our lives.
By being ever open to the Spirit and sharing our Spiritual lives and our joy or sorrow.
By responsibly using our skills to sustain our church, to care for and comfort others, and to seek justice.
By being good stewards of God's creation.
Holding Space for Community:
Funerals and Celebrations of Life
In times of loss, many people—whether lifelong members or first-time visitors—find comfort in the presence of a caring spiritual community. At MacKay United Church, we are here to walk alongside you through these tender moments.
Our minister and staff are available to help you plan a meaningful and personal service of remembrance. Whether you choose to gather in our beautiful sanctuary, at a local funeral home, or at a cemetery, we’ll work with you to create a ceremony that honours your loved one with dignity and grace.
If you choose to hold the service at the church, we can also offer the musical gifts of our organist or a soloist. Following the service, our warm and welcoming reception space is available for catered gatherings—offering a chance to share stories, food, and quiet companionship.
We are here to support you.
Please be in touch with the church office for more information.
Weddings and Celebrations of Life Covenants
At MacKay United Church, we believe in celebrating love in all its beautiful forms. Whether you are planning a wedding, a life covenant ceremony, or a renewal of vows, our sanctuary offers a sacred and welcoming space for your unique celebration.
Rooted in a spirit of hospitality and inclusivity, we work with couples of all backgrounds, orientations, and beliefs to create a ceremony that reflects your story, values, and hopes for the future. Our minister is available to collaborate with you in shaping a service that is both personal and meaningful—whether held in our graceful sanctuary or at a location of your choosing.
We can also provide music through our gifted organist or soloist, and offer a lovely reception space for sharing joy with family and friends after the ceremony.
At MacKay, we are honoured to bless and celebrate the love that brings people together.
Our ministry team
Rev. Peter Woods
Minister
Peter thrives at the crossroads of spiritual and artistic engagements. As the Minister of MacKay Church, Peter brings a lifetime of theological reflection rooted in liberation movements and contemporary academic thought. His unique sax/jazz-based approach to his spiritual practices and contemplative work is one of his main gifts as he engages with the broader community.
Janice Rideout
Office Administrator
Janice has been the enthusiastic and caring Office Administrator with MacKay for over 10 years. She manages the tasks of bookkeeping, Sunday service preparation and general day-to-day office and property maintenance. Janice is MacKay’s main point of contact when it comes to liaising with the community on facility rentals and special events.
“Fostering a profound sense of the Sacred in daily life helps make a better and richer world. God is present in the truths and realities of contemporary life, and we seek to honour that divine presence here and now.”
— Peter Woods, Minister
Our story
MacKay United of New Edinburgh has a long, fascinating history closely intertwined with the development of the nation’s capital.
The MacKay name comes from one of Ottawa’s prominent citizens of the early 1800’s, Thomas McKay, a staunch Presbyterian Scotsman and stone mason. He came to Ottawa in 1826 to help Colonel John By construct the first eight locks of the Rideau Canal and when the locks were complete, bought a thousand acres of land straddling the Rideau River near its junction with the Ottawa River. Thomas McKay made many contributions to his adopted community. He built St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Ottawa in 1828 and in 1830 established the village of New Edinburgh on his property on the east side of the Rideau River.
Initially, New Edinburgh residents travelled to St. Andrew’s in the centre of Ottawa for worship and the earliest record of Church activities in New Edinburgh is Thomas McKay teaching Sunday School in a hall at the corner of Alexander and Charles Streets in 1845.
A Congregation of the United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a church with a rich, progressive, and continuing history of welcoming all in the name of Christ.
The United Church of Canada came together in 1925, through a union of Methodist, Presbyterian, Congregational, and other Christian churches – one of the first ecumenical unions in the world to bring together major Christian denominations into one body.
The United Church faith communities welcome people from all backgrounds and orientations — wherever you are in your faith journey.