Lydia Gruchy (Herstory 1976) graduated at the top of her class in theological college and began work as a lay minister near Kamsack, Saskatchewan. In 1926, she requested ordination as a minister in the United Church. It was a request she had to repeat every two years while the debate over ordination of women raged through the Church. In the interim, Lydia proved her competency by accepting pastoral charges shunned by men because of the difficult work involved. Lydia was finally ordained in 1936. In 1953, she was the first Canadian woman to receive an honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity.
