The first United Church Service held in Chemainus took place in the dark dingy community hall in the winter of 1948. Weekly worship services were held in this un-heated drafty basement for a year and, remarkably, the congregation grew. When the congregation began to show signs of development, it was evident a new church building would be necessary. Also, a resident minister was needed to carry out the work so well established by the missionary men Mr George Norris and Mr Don Campbell, from Duncan who had led the services to this point.
Mr Bernard Knipe, a student minister, was appointed during the summer of 1949. The site for the new building was donated to the United Church by the Chemainus Division of MacMillan Bloedel and the location was chosen by Rev. R.F. Burns of Duncan. It was well chosen both for view and centralisation, at the corner of Willow and Alder streets. The site was on a rise overlooking the bay, and only three blocks from the business section of town. Materials, labour and expertise were all gratefully donated to the construction project. From the sod turning ceremony to the first church service, the new building took two and a half years to complete. The building has undergone many additions and expansions from its humble beginnings but it continues to develop while adapting to the dynamics of its modern congregation.