Dr. Lawlor, the District Superintendent for the Church of the Nazarene, for Canada West, (which, at that, time included all four Western Provinces), believed that Nanaimo would be a growing and significant city. Therefore, he wanted to see a Church of the Nazarene planted here.

Rev. and Mrs. Clarence M. Morden were asked, and agreed to plant the first Church of the Nazarene in Nanaimo in September of 1955. After three months of searching for rental facilities, the basement of the Heritage Beban House was procured. The first Nazarene Sunday school was held there the first Sunday in December 1995. Also, a Boys and Girls Club was started the same month. These were both very well attended, going from ten at first Sunday school to twenty-seven the next, and increasing as the month continued.

In January, a Morning Worship Service was started along with a youth group. Just over one year after starting, there were eighteen involved in the Youth group, thirty involved in the Club for boys and girls, now called Caravan, and an average of seventy-five in Sunday School.

In May in 1956 it became necessary to relocate. The Church temporarily met in a room at the back of the Northfield Fire Hall.

Due to the inadequacy of the room, a 9 x 12 tent was pitched on the grounds and care were even used for teaching Sunday School classes.

A house on Chelsea Street was then purchased in which to hold Sunday School and Caravan. In September of 1956, they moved from the Fire Hall to the house. Somehow they fit sixty-six children into that small house. Over the next two years, Sunday School and Caravan met at the house.

The Moyse Crescent property was purchased in the Spring of 1957 by the Church of the Nazarene for $2000.00. July 1, 1957 was the date that the construction of the church building began. The construction of the Nanaimo Church of the Nazarene building was completed and the opening service was held in September of 1958. Unfortunately, the attendance dropped noticeably when they moved into their new church building. The house on Chelsea Street was used for the parsonage. Rev. Morden continued as Pastor of the Church until 1962.

In 1983, the church began to grow in size and under the leadership of Pastor Palmer, built on an addition to the back of the building. This project was completed in early 1985.

A number of improvements to the building have been made.  After much prayer, the church decided to sell the building in the Fall of 2004 to the Jubilee Christian Fellowship.  Since then, the church has been meeting at Mount Benson Funeral Chapel at 125 Wallace Street. 

This year, 2005, marks the 50th anniversary the Church of the Nazarene has been in the city of Nanaimo.  Part of the celebrations include the assembly of 50 Crisis Care Kits, with the community's assistance.

The Nanaimo Church of the Nazarene is a warm, traditional style, family-centered church.