Churches and Cemeteries

Unto the Hills

A Church History by Norma and Stuart Geggie

Union

In 1896 the Rev. J.L. Gourlay made an observation on the problems of rural communities supporting several denominations:

‘It would require a close union among the denominations to make it possible to sustain religion... The arguments for union appeal with great force to that part of human nature, the more sensitive of all the nervous system, the pocket.’

Both the Methodist and Presbyterian conyregations had at an early stage, voted wholeneartedly for Union within their own divided churches. There is also evidence of great cooperation between the two congregations in sharing buildings when necessary, and supporting social functions.

Ballot papers for a vote on Church Union were distributed within the Presbyterian Church in 1911 with a request that they be returned before the Annual Meeting in January 1912.

In 1919 a Methodist Committee of R.J. O’Hara, A.B. Hamilton and Robert Earle, met with a similar committee formed by the Presbyterian Church of Wakefield, to discuss ways and means of forming union of the two churches. There appeared to be a minimum of obstacles, although the following motion same out of a Methodist meeting in 1921:

“In view of revival services being concluded, it was resolved that it would be better to postpone any union arrangements with the Presbyterian Church for the time being.”

On February 4, 1925, it was moved by A.J. Earle, and seconded by R. O'Hara that:

“we as the Official Board of the North Wakefield Circuit of the Methodist Church, do heartily approve of the action of our church in uniting with the Presbyterian and Congregational churches to form the United Church of Canada, and also heartily express ourselves ready to proceed to Union in our focal territory when the time comes or when suitable arrangements can be made by the Congregations concerned —

Carried unanimously”

It had been left to local self-supporting churches to decide for themselves, but they were encouraged to enter Union. Home Mission-supported churches were obliged to join, or grants would be cut off.

With this preparation for combining the churches, all went smoothly with no major obstacles.

Within the Presbyterian Church across Canada there was dissension which resulted in thirty per-cent opting out of Union. A mass meeting of the anti-Union forces, under Dr. Wylie of Ottawa, was planned in Wakefield, but Mr. Arthur Earle, who owned the only community hall in Wakefield, refused to rent it to them, and so any controversy was avoided.

There is no indication from Presbyterian records of dissension within this congregation.

In 1925 the Methodist Circuit Register indicated that there were two hundred and ten members, made up as: Cascades, fourteen; Masham, ninety-seven; North Wakefield, thirty-four; and Wakefield, seventy-five. Only eleven members had withdrawn their names during 1925 as a result of Church Union.

The Rupert, North Wakefield and Upper Wakefield (Farrelton) Methodist charges joined with the Masham Presbyterian Church to become the North Wakefield and Masham charge of the United Church of Canada in the Ottawa Presbytery and the Montreal and Ottawa Conference. The name of this charge was officially changed in 1928 to the Alcove and Rupert charge of the United Church of Canada.

The Wakefield and Cascades appointments of the Methodist Church became part of the Wakefield, Farm Point and Cascades charge of the United Church of Canada, the entire congregations transferring.

At the time of Union, the Rev. Rolph Morden was in the Presbyterian Manse in Wakefield, while the Rev. A.F. Shorten was in the Methodist Parsonage at North Wakefield.

Members of Session were:
Wakefield, Cascades, and Farm Point charges:
Mr. James Stevenson (Hon. member)
R.S. Chamberlin (clerk)
A. Austin
Robert Earle
Dr. D.J. Campbell
Charles Stevenson
I.B. York
Thomas Bates
(Messrs. Horace Cross, Reg. Clark and
John Shouldice were added in 1928.)

The approximate membership of the Wakefield, Cascades, and Farm Point charges was 267 in 1925.

North Wakefield and Masham charge:
Elders —
Charles Reilly
Thomas S. Reilly (Clerk of Session)
George E. Pritchard (secretary)
Robert Moncrieff
W.J. Moore
Adam Prentiss
Stewards —
S.S. Gibson, Richmond Craig
Alan Irwin, Miller Gibson
Ken Moncrieff, Robert J. Pritchard
(Mr. H.F. Craft was General Treasurer in 1926.)

The Pastoral Message in the First Annual Report of the United Church of Canada, Wakefield, Farm Point and Cascades, for the year 1926 read in part:

‘The year that has just closed marks an epoch in our community history. It successfully terminates the first year of our fellowship in the United Church. A study of the report available for your perusal speaks for itself of the progress realized in every phase of the church’s work.

If any of us were dubious of the result of union — surely we are not of that pessimistic turn of mind now. Let me remind you that the achievement of one year is not a stopping place, but only another milestone in the congregation’s forward march. Only consistent and courageous effort will sustain our service to Christ’s Church..... J.R. Morden’

Mr. Morden’s recollections of his years in Wakefield are of special interest:

‘There is always an air of romance associated with a minister's “first church”, especially if those memories go back to the long past of fifty years ago. The most vivid is that of taking my bride to Wakefield after our marriage in Hamilton on June 11, 1925. On June 10, 1925, the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational churches were united, and so on June 10th there was church union, and on June 11th, matrimonial union.’

The newly-weds spent their honeymoon on Moncrieff Lake in the cottage belonging to Dr. Harold Geggie.

‘We remember the big fire at the Orme bakery. Being new in the community we did not know that one long sustained ring on the phone meant “Fire”. We were aroused of course by the long ring but calmly went off to sleep again. However, the ringing persisted and to my horror I looked out the window and saw the lurid glare of the fire and showers of sparks drifting lazily on the wind toward the Manse. We hastily dressed, Isabel grabbing her brand new seal coat and Spring hat, and sallied forth to join the bucket brigade. We were the last to appear at the fire, much to our chagrin.’

Mr. Morden recalled the amiable relationship of Mr. Shorten and himself and those closely associated in the changeover. It was agreed that the Rev. Morden would have the responsibility of the Wakefield and Cascades charge, (Farm Point was added later), and the Rev. Shorten, the North Wakefield and Masham charge. Their salaries remained as previously: $1,800.00 annually, plus Manse, which was not furnished at the time.

In 1927 it was recommended in the North Wakefield and Masham charge that in each congregation the Board of Stewards and Trustees be combined and their work carried on by a joint Board to be elected annually. However, in 1928 the Elders of Alcove and vicinity were to be organised into a Board of Session distinct from that of Rupert, and the congregation at Farrelton was asked to elect an Elder at an early date. A vote was taken for a change of the time of service in the Alcove/Rupert charge; thirty favouring morning, and twenty, afternoon. At that time there were 292 persons under pastoral oversight in the Alcove, Rupert charge; in Alcove, forty families; and in Rupert, fifty-eight families.

In 1932 a meeting was called to consider union of this charge with that of Wakefield, and again in 1937, but the vote was against amalgamation.

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Music in the church

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