CALGARY, Alberta – The Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) dedicated a newly renovated house of worship, situated in the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, on Sunday, September 27, 2026. The edifice was formerly owned by the Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Calgary before it was sold to the Church on June 20, 2023 for CAD 2.2 million.

The 175-seater worship building, located at 1705 Westmount Road NW, Calgary, Alberta, underwent interior renovations, including new architectural mouldings and millwork, as well as exterior alterations, including a newly installed front entrance, concrete landing, and fabricated canopy with new towers and spires. The total cost of the renovation was CAD 894,349.93, all of which came from the voluntary contributions of its Church members.

The dedication of the new house of worship was officiated by Brother Voltaire A. Tamisin, district supervising minister of the INC’s Ecclesiastical District of Calgary, Canada. A highlight of the special worship service was the reading of a pastoral letter from the Executive Minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo.

The new house of worship is the permanent edifice of the Local Congregation of Westmount, which is a merger of two INC local congregations—Capitol Hill and Royal Oak. Before this event, the Church had one permanent edifice for worship services in the city of Calgary.

Nikko Casem, a member of the Local Congregation of Westmount, said the dedication of another house of worship in Calgary was a very special and meaningful occasion. 

“For the longest time, there’s only just been one house of worship [here in Calgary], so knowing that we have another place that we can come to and worship our Lord God, it really means a lot, not just to me, but most especially for those who are renting out halls,” he said.

Brother Richard Deauna, a head deacon of the Local Congregation of Westmount, explained how they felt the love and care of the INC Executive Minister through how the Church Administration “remembers brethren all around the world, from the start of approving the purchase of this house of worship, approving the renovation, and now, the dedication (of the house of worship).” He expressed his deep gratitude to the Church Administration and to all the brethren who helped in the renovation.

The current resident minister of the Local Congregation of Westmount, Brother Herminio Bunag, explained the need for more houses of worship because of the Church’s expansive growth: “Because many have been baptized, we need a place to gather. We need a place of worship, so the construction and dedication of a house of worship is a significant indication of the growth of the Church.”

Brother Eugene Agustin, minister of the gospel and district auditor, said all are welcome to this new house of worship. “Thanks be to God, we have this chapel, a new house of worship that will serve as a beacon of hope, a beacon of light, not only for this neighbourhood, but also for the city of Calgary; not only to Filipinos, but also to people of all nationalities.”

The Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) is a Christian religion in more than 169 countries and territories. It is composed of members from more than 150 different ethnicities and nationalities.