The crest is the official signature of The United Church of Canada, placed on legal documents, ordination and commissioning certificates, and licences to perform the sacraments. Designed by the Rev. Dr. Victor T. Mooney (a treasurer of the United Church), it was officially adopted in 1944 by the 11th General Council.
For our church members, this insignia is a spiritual and historic reminder.
Its oval shape is derived from the outline of a fish, a symbol of identity by early Christians. The initials of the words "Jesus Christ, Son
of God, Saviour" spell the Greek word for fish.
The crest is designed in the form of a St. Andrew's Cross with an insignia
in each of the four corners. The "X" at the centre, the
first letter of the Greek word for Christ, is a traditional symbol for Christ. In the four corners of the crest are symbols,
three of which are particularly associated with the three communions—Congregational, Methodist, and Presbyterian—that
united to form The United Church of Canada in 1925.
- The open
Bible represents the Congregational Churches with their emphasis upon God's truth that makes people free. From this communion
we have a heritage of liberty in prophesying, love of spiritual freedom, awareness of the creative power of the Holy Spirit,
and clear witness for civic justice.
- The dove
is emblematic of the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:10) whose transforming power has been
a distinctive mark of Methodism. Here our heritage is one of evangelical zeal, concern for human redemption, warmth of Christian
fellowship, the testimony of spiritual experience, and the ministry of sacred song.
- The burning
bush is the symbol of Presbyterianism. It refers to the bush that burned and was not consumed (Exodus
3:2), and symbolizes the indestructibility of the church. From Presbyterianism we have received a heritage of high regard
for the dignity in worship, the education of all people, the authority of scripture, and the church as the Body of Christ.
- The symbols alpha and omega in the lower quarter are the first and last letters
of the Greek alphabet. They symbolize the eternal living God, in the fullness of creation (Revelation 1:8).
The Latin words ut omnes unum sint that surround the symbols on the
crest mean That all may be one and are taken from
John 17:21. They are a reminder that we are both a "united"
and "uniting" church.
In 1980, a French translation of The United Church of Canada—L'Église
Unie du Canada—was authorized by General Council to be added to the crest.
In August of 2012, at the 41st General Council, The United Church of Canada acknowledged the presence and spirituality of Aboriginal peoples in the United Church by revising the church’s crest. The crest changes include incorporating the four colours of the Aboriginal medicine wheel (yellow as a symbol of life and Asian people, black as a symbol of the south and dark-skinned people of the world, red as a symbol of the west and Aboriginal peoples, and white as the colour of the north and white-skinned people) and adding the Mohawk phrase “Akwe Nia’Tetewá:neren,” which means “all my relations.”