Our People

Rev. Nancy Colton

Rev. Nancy Colton

Minister

Rev. Nancy brought her caring and uplifting ministry – and her sense of humour – to Duncan United in November 2023.

Nancy has been an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada for over 20 years. In solo and team ministry she has served congregations in four rural communities across the country.
Nancy served her church and her country as a chaplain in the Canadian Armed Forces living and working in Ottawa. Before she was a minister and a chaplain, Nancy was a Finance Clerk, Administration Clerk, and finally a Resource Management Support Clerk in the Naval Reserve and Regular Force working mostly at Air Force Wings.

A west coast girl born and raised in Vancouver, Nancy studied English at UBC. Transplanted to the east coast, Nancy studied for ministry at the Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She was ordained to word, sacrament, and pastoral care by Maritime Conference.
Nancy has two adult children: a daughter living and working in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and a son living and working in Ottawa.

Very happy to be back on the coast, Nancy arrived in the Cowichan Valley from the Cariboo.

Nancy can be reached at rev.nancy@duncanunited.org.

Linda Evans

Linda Evans

Administrator

Linda Evans, Office Administrator & and Outreach Coordinator, began attending Duncan United Church as a child. Linda has been in the office since 2002 and became the Outreach Coordinator in 2012. She believes if we all try to make a positive difference, in anyway that we can, the world will be a better, more “just” place for everyone and all of creation. In her spare time Linda enjoys hiking, geo caching, exploring the island beaches, spending time with her 3 children and 7 grandchildren, reading, and playing the piano. Linda can be contacted through the office 250-746-6043 or email admin@duncanunited.org.

“All shall be well, all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well”

– St. Julian of Norwich

Connie Masson

Connie Masson

Musical Director

Our Musical Director, Connie Masson, is a skilled musician, piano and voice instructor known throughout the Cowichan Valley.

She is a life-long United Church member, and grew up with 5 musical sisters in the Lower Mainland. After obtaining a Bachelor of Music from UBC in Voice Performance, she lived briefly in Tofino, and then arrived in the Cowichan Valley, where she raised 5 children. For the past 35 years she has been teaching Voice and Piano, conducting choirs, and performing as a soloist. She likes to include music from many traditions in her Music Ministry at Duncan United.

In her spare time she … wait, she has no spare time!

Amy Hamilton

Amy Hamilton

Sunday Journey Coordinator

Amy attended Duncan United Church as a child and has now returned to spend time with the children. She is a Teacher in our district and is married with two cihldren. She volunteers with the Girl Guides of Canada and the school PAC. You can contact Amy at sundayjourney@duncanunited.org

 

Unified Board Members

The Unified Board is responsible for the overall spiritual, financial and outreach functions of our church. The Board is comprised of a representative of each church committee, meeting regularly to receive information about the work of the committees and provide guidance and decisions as required. Meetings, on the last Wednesday of the month (January-June, September-November), are open to all.

  • Chair of Unified Board – David Vanderlinde
  • Past Chair of Unified Board – Irene Simkins
  • Vice-Chair – Shaun Pattenden
  • Secretary – Cathy Coulter
  • “Celebrate” Worship – Billie Vanderlinde
  • Finance and Stewardship – Joan Muller
  • Property and Building -Don Beamish
  • Treasurer – Parker MacCarthy
  • Social Justice & Outreach – Linda Evans
  • Ministry and Personnel – Murray Gordon
  • Members-at-Large – Virginia MacCarthy

Past Ministers

Rev. Greg Darjes 2022-2023
D.M. Keith Simmonds 2013-2022
Rev. Greg Darjes 2012-2013
Rev. Duncan Barwise 2003-2012
Rev. Tom Miles 2001-2002
Rev. Shelley Lavenne 1997-2002
Rev. Mark Bedford 1997-1998 2001
Rev. Jim Short 1992-2001
Rev. Bob Norris 1992-1997
Rev. Marv Fowler 1991-1992
Rev. Dale Perkins 1991-1992
Rev. Gary Goran 1987-1991
Rev. Mas Isasawa 1984-1991
Rev. G. W. Keenleyside 1974-1983
Rev. Jim Ware 1971-1987
Rev. P.K. Louie 1967-1971