Religious Life
Religious Life
The immigration of Ukrainian people to Brantford began in the 1900s. Despite facing numerous isolating barriers, they found a sense of community through their religious devotion. Initially, the small Ukrainian community in Brantford did not have a designated place of worship, so they attended St. Basil's Church at 50 Palace Street.
In December of 1907, with a growing need for their own place of worship for the holiday season, a small group of Ukrainians decided to raise money by caroling. With hard work, three years later in 1910, the Ukrainian community was able to purchase a lot on High Street, where the Ukrainian Brotherhood of St. John the Baptist was established.
In 1917, the Ukrainian community acquired another property at 100 Terrace Hill Street, which became the site of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist. In spite of a fire outbreak and dozens of renovations, the church still remains today.
In the late 1940s, another Ukrainian Church sprouted in Brantford slightly to the north of St. John the Baptist. This church was named, the Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church Brantford, providing the city's Ukrainian community with another place to gather and worship.
