Salmo United Church and St. Paul's shares the same church. This is not an Ecumenical Shared Congregation, with a single congregation of Anglican and United Church members ministered by a single clergyperson. Instead, the two congregations worship at separate times, the Anglicans at 9 AM and the United Church at 11 AM.
The church building has seen several denominations over the years. It was built in the 1950s. It is small town church serving the needs of the community. Both churches are active with local charities.
Salmo United Church originated in the mid-thirties, eventually becoming the centre of a charge that included the nearby mining settlements. Worship services were held irregularly depending on the availability of a minister from Trail, Fruitvale, or Nelson.
By 1958 Salmo was booming with logging, sawmills, and three mines working in the area. Church membership had reached a point where they ventured to call a minister but by the late 1960’s all three mines had closed down in quick succession.
In 1972 Salmo again aligned with Fruitvale as the Beaver Valley/Salmo Pastoral Charge, an ecumenical pastorate served alternately by United Church ministers and Anglican priests. When unification talks broke down between the two denominations each called its own priest/minister.
The Salmo Community Church is shared between the Anglican Church and United Church and the United Church congregation is now part of the Communities in Faith Pastoral Charge.
From Salmo United Church
