ACW History

The Beginnings

The Women's Auxiliary (WA), now ACW, was started in 1886 by Roberta Tilton and six of her friends. The organization’s official name became The Woman’s Auxiliary to the Board of Foreign and Domestic Missions of the Church of England in Canada. Its purpose was to raise funds for the missions of the Church. The groups were organized on a diocesan level, as the dioceses of the Church were established.

When the Board was discontinued in 1902, the organization continued on as the WA of the Missionary Society of the Church in Canada (MSCC). Membership in the WA grew quickly, and by the 1960’s the group was so strong that it was able to hire and train its own missionaries; sending them to places in need around the world.

Eventually, the decision was made to discontinue the WA on a national level, change the name to Anglican Church Women (ACW) and assist the Church as a whole with its mission work. The ACW has evolved into a 21^st Century organization, while keeping many of its early traditions.  The presidents still meet on a national level, but not on the same scale as in the past.