The Story of the Evangelical Free Church of Canada

With the recent announcement of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School’s (TEDS) new relationship with Trinity Western University (TWU) in Canada, questions have risen about the roots and history of TWU and the Evangelical Free Church of Canada (EFCC). Here’s a quick snapshot. 

In 1917, in the little town of Enchant, Alberta, Rev. LR Lunde from North Dakota held meetings in March, followed three months later by Dr. L.J. Pedersen, president of the Free Church school in Minneapolis. Within days, 22 charter members decided to organize a church, and by fall, they erected a church building. Known as the EFC of Enchant, most of the members were of Norwegian background and, over the years, several Norwegian pastors led the church.   

Meanwhile, other churches started, primarily in the prairie provinces and British Columbia. Although these churches were in Canada, they organized under the Free Churches in America (what would later become the EFCA). The 1950s merger included the Canadian districts and churches as well.  

In 1967, the government of Canada granted a legal charter to the Evangelical Free Church of Canada (EFCC). In practice, the Canadian districts and churches continued their close relationship with the EFCA, but by 1984 there were 90 Free Churches in Canada and the EFCC became a self-governing sister denomination in a unique partnership model. Over the years, the EFCC continued to grow domestically—currently with 140 churches—and overseas as well. 

In 1962, God opened the way for the founding of Trinity Junior College in British Columbia, just north of the U.S. border. Dr. Calvin Hanson was the first president and the college was linked with the EFCA during those early years. Eventually, however, the college developed a deeper relationship with the EFCC and the partnership changed.  

Trinity Junior College became Trinity Western University, offering a wide variety of training programs and degrees to over 6,000 students from North America and around the world. It remains committed to its theological Free Church roots. Rejoice with us as we see God moving again to strengthen His church in both Canada and the U.S.