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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1973-06-28, Page 32Note the "boardwalk" on the bottom left of the picture. Doug Robbins takes this opportunity to salute Exeter on its 100th birthday, and to say a sincere "thank you" to the many customers who have relied on his trust and integrity when choosing a quali- ty used tar. He invites you to drop in and look over his selection next time you're in the market for a good used automobile. MID-TOWN AUTO SALES • • ... , .... , Thrifty Shoppers . . have been visiting our store for their needs for the past 17 years THE FRIENDLY STORE WITH THE STOCK Greene's Variety MAIN ST. EXETER The history of Exeter United Church is really the story of several congregations who have banded together over the years. The church building itself was originally built in 1862 by the Bible Christian Church. High over the main entrance to the church is a stone in which has been carved B.C. Church, 1862. The Bible Christians were a sect that originated in Devon- shire, England a number of years before, It was in the same revival which produced Methodism and was similar to it in every way. It came to Exeter with the English settlers from Devon. The first•• Bible Christian Church built in Exeter was a modest meeting house on Main St., but in six years the congregation outgrew it. The building later became the Far- mer Brothers Liquor store and is now the Town Clerk's office. Those six years saw a handful of people grow from a small frame building to a brick church so well constructed that it is still an integral part of the church building. Today it is eloquent testimony to the zeal of those evangelical and missionary minded Christian people. Five or six brickyards in Crediton supplied the "white" brick for the building which needed many additions to ac- commodate the growing congregation. It continued to grow not because the village of Exeter was growing but because the small Bible Christian churches in Usborne, Stanley and Hay were amalgamating. The churches had originally been built so that no man would have to walk more than three miles to church. But the roads had improved con- siderably so the congregations came to Exeter. In 1883 the many Methodist sects were uniting. There were the Wesleyans, the Methodist Episcopal, Methodists New Connection, the Primitive Methodists and the Bible Christians who all joined to form the Canadian Methodist Church. There were now two Methodist churches in Exeter, James St. Methodist (as the Bible Christian church was called after the union) and the Main St. Methodist Church. Main Street Wesleyan Methodist Church was built in 1869, but before this, a small church had existed on the hill one block west from the river bridge. The date of the opening of that early church is not available. That church was replaced by a brick structure built on the north- east corner of Main and Victoria Streets. The year the building was started the people wor- shipped in the basement. During the next year, they were able to have the second storey completed and had it dedicated in 1872, A house on the west side of William Street was the first Wesleyan Par- sonage. On Sunday morning, March 24, 1895 this church building was burned to the ground. The win- dows had been opened for the Sunday Service and several gallons of coal oil that had been brought in from the shed for the lamps helped to make a fierce blaze. Undaunted by the loss, the church officials met, and after consideration decided to rebuild. At this time the suggestion was brought forward that the Main Street congregation join James Street but it was rejected and the work of rebuilding began. Immediately bees were organized and the mortar cleaned off the old bricks by young and old alike. The Board received $5,100 from the Man- chester Insurance Company. Rev. H. W. Locke, the minister at that time gathered together his flock, when it seemed as though they would split and scatter. In fact, 14 families, who were not in favour of rebuilding, withdrew. Rev. Locke with a few of the faithful, among whom were Dr. J. W. Browning, H. E. Huston, D. A. Ross, E. A. Follick, W. Howey, A. Holland, Henry Hooper, Adolphus Hooper, Richard Gidley, S. Powell, James Dignan, James Willis, T. H. McCallum and many others, accepted the task. Soon subscription lists were out and in a short time sufficient money was promised to enable them to rebuild. In 1925 another union took place when the Congregational Methodist, and part of the Presbyterian Churches merged to form the United Church of Canada. So both Main Street and James Street became United Churches. In 1969 the two congregations joined under one roof to become the Exeter United Church. Main Street Church was sold to the Pentecostal congregation and the new United Church took over the James Street building. The first minister was Rev. Glen Wright. The new church has a project orientation program in which two of their projects are helping to support the Wrinch Memorial Hospital in Hazelton, British Columbia, and Rev: Don Raffin in his work in Brazil. section 2, Page 12 THE EXETER Timg$,ApyocRTE JUNE Ip, 15,71 Handful of people Became Exeter's largest congregation