Established in 1979 Milliken Gospel Church stands as a testament to faith and community. Initially known as Scarborough Chinese Gospel Church it was a branch of Toronto Chinese Gospel Church. The church relocated in 1992 to its current location in Markham. This move marked a significant shift for the congregation. The name changed to Milliken Gospel Church reflecting its new neighbourhood.
The Milliken neighbourhood itself boasts a rich history. It started as Milliken’s Corners a hamlet founded in 1807 by United Empire Loyalist Norman Milliken. He and his family endured hardships fleeing the American Revolution. They settled near Steeles and Kennedy Roads establishing a lumber business that supplied the British Navy.
The Milliken family left a lasting legacy. Norman’s son Benjamin served in the War of 1812. He later donated land for one of the area’s first schools. Benjamin’s son William became a prominent farmer and politician. His contributions to the community are well documented. He improved his farm planting hedgerows and raising award-winning livestock. He also served on the municipal and county councils.
The original church building Ebenezer started on the Scarborough side of Steeles Avenue. It later moved across the road into Markham in 1878. It remains a prominent landmark today. The early families of Milliken Thomson Rennie Harding Hood Hagerman and L’Amoreaux lived on both sides of the town line. They formed a close-knit community transcending municipal boundaries. Their history is preserved in the archives of both Scarborough and Markham.
Milliken Gospel Church today is a vibrant multicultural congregation. It comprises Cantonese Mandarin English and Children’s ministries. The church hosts an average of 370 people for Sunday services. It’s affiliated with the Associated Gospel Churches of Canada. The church actively seeks to reach out to the community. It focuses on discipleship and equipping believers for mission work. Their vision is to be a healthy church. They want to raise committed disciples of Christ reaching out from Milliken Gospel Church to all corners of the world.