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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen-Auburn, 2004-07-29, Page 34Salute toaluburn on your 150 years of proud history! Maw Eou'o, eattagantent Stake 392 Queen Street, Blyth 523-4426 John, Mary Lou Stewart & Family FOXTON FUELS LTD. WHOLESALE MARKETER Congratulations Auburn on your 150th Anniversary Gasoline — Diesel — Furnace Oil — Lubes Hot Water Heaters — Furnaces Installations Available Commercial - Farm - Home Serving Wingham Walkerton — Clinton Goderich — Kincardine — Listowel — Mount Forest and surrounding areas Phone 357-2664 PnRIXANADA ® Toll Free 1-800-265-3069 PETROCUIADA PrI "On a scale of 1 to 10" Auburn is a 150 M.G.M. TOWNSEND TIRE We sell, service and install a full line of farm, truck and passenger tires Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton, Cooper Passenger and Light Truck Dealers Serving the area since 1995 Matt, George, Dan, Wes and Carrie 1 mile east of Londesboro 523-4742 rte. AUBURN - 150 YEARS OF HISTORY. PAGE 13. Church building one of newest additions to Auburn u$,I Varied history The former Knox Presbyterian Church was purchased in the spring of 1971 by the Huron Men's Chapel, later called Huron Chapel Evangelical Missionary Church. The building was sold a few years ago and the congregation now meets in a new building at the southern edge of the village. By Elyse DeBruyn Citizen staff Visitors returning home for Auburn's 150th anniversary celebration will notice a major addition at the southern edge of the village: the large. modern Huron Chapel Evangelical Missionary Church. The thriving church began with the purchase of the former Knox Presbyterian Church in the spring of 1971 by the Huron Men's Chapel, as the new church was known at the time. It celebrated the special event by holding its first Sunday service on July 4 that year. The Huron Chapel Evangelical Missionary Church began its life through the endeavours of the Huron Christian Men's Association (HCMA.) When the church began, the men agreed to hold services on Sunday or weekday evenings. The aims and objectives of the Huron Men's Chapel were to present Christ at each service and to invite speakers from all denominatiOns as well as singers to participate in these evening meetings. During the first service. Presbyterian minister Rev. T. McKinney of Teeswater, was the honoured guest speaker. For many years the HCMA held evening services and as time progressed, more and more people began attending and the need for help was apparent. The growing development of the church called for the services of pastoral leadership and Rev. Ronald Curl was the first appointed minister in 1973, dividing his time between the Westfield Church and the Huron Chapel. Rev. Wayne Good accepted a call to the Huron Chapel in 1978 and later became the founding pastor of the Huron Chapel Missionary Church on April 20, 1980. It was on this date that Huron Chapel with it's 15 charter members. officially became part of the Missionary Church of Canada. These members included Dianne and David Baan, James and Marilyn Campbell, John and Heather McCowan, David and Deb Rodger, David and Doran Rolston, Lorne Hasty, Pauline Parsons, Valerie Dale and Wayne and Irene Good. In February 1989, the church board began discussing the consideration of .a building fund for a new church. Obtaining the land upon which the building now stands, was one of the earlier answers to many prayers as it did not appear that the land would be sold to the board. In fact it was considered highly unlikely that they would be able to purchase it. In April 1999, prayers were answered and the board was able to buy the land. Using a large meeting tent, which was on loan from the Faith Mission. church members gathered for worship for the first time on the new property on Oct. 17, 1999. During the service, the land was dedicated to the Glory of God and at the end of the service a cross was erected at the top of the hill to proclaim the land as God's. Following the Easter Sunday service in 2001, the congregation paraded over to the new land in order to celebrate the official ground- breaking. Taking part in the ceremony were Church Family rep.. Doran Rolston, church board rep.. Jim Campbell and the youth rep., Danny Cullen. After a busy year ,of fundraising which included a large auction, cook -book sales and youth projects, the church construction began in August almost completed gymnasium, which had lots of room and a wonderful sense of anticipation as members, looked forward to one more move - to the sanctuary. Finally at the 2003 Easter Sunday service, the church family joyfully gathered to worship in the the new sanctuary and seven members were added to the membership roll. Many volunteer hours of hard work had paid off and although there was still finishing touches to be done, the 2001. end was in site. Many talented and committed On Oct. 5, 2003, the official volunteers within the church family, opening and dedication of the new laboured hard and long under the Huron Chapel Evangelical direction of site supervisor Harold Missionary Church was celebrated Pepper. People from different and 12 new members were added 'to churches and communities came to the membership roll. ease the work load by helping with Over the construction period that the project. commenced in 2001, it was estimated By September 2001, the basement that over 20,000 volunteer hours walls started to take shape and by were put into the building of the Jan. 19, 2002 the roof was on. facility. After the 2002 Easter Sunday On Jan. 1, 1999, Pastor David service in the old building, the Wood began his service with the congregation gathered in the "under congregation and continues as construction" sanctuary. The group today's pastor. then joined hands to pray and began Weekly programs offered at the singing He is Lord. church include.crusaders, adult Bible The Daily Vacation Bible School study and prayer time, junior and met for the first time in the new senior youth nights, which all take building in August 2002. place on Wednesday evenings. The old church was sold the A junior church is held on Sunday following month, so services were mornings during the sermon time held in the Fellowship Hall area of where children read Bible stories, the new building. sing worship songs and make crafts. Come November the congregation Sunday school is also offered for all moved again, this time into the ages. New home Ground was broken for the new Huron Chapel Evangelical Missionary Church, Easter Sunday, 2001.