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The Citizen, 2015-09-24, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2015. Continued from page 1 decided that Bethel Church was too close to other appointments in the charge which included Henfryn, Whitfields, Roes, Ethel and Cranbrook. The Presbyterians who had helped to build the new church, however, refused to close it and bought it from the conference. In 1902, the congregation linked up with Knox Presbyterian Church in Cranbrook with the Rev. D.B. McCrae serving as pastor until 1910. He would be at Bethel every other Sunday. In 1910, the Moncrieff congregation wanted a service in their own community every Sunday so they requested such from the Presbytery. The request was met with resistance from nearby congregations, but the request was granted. Soon, a new building was necessary and, in 1911, a new church started to take shape that would be open in February of 1912. In 1925, the vote on Church Union was held and passed and Knox United Church, Moncrieff, became part of a charge with Duff’s United Church in Walton until 1976 when the Moncrieff church closed. The three congregations listed above came together, as part of the church union or afterwards to form the current congregation of Duff’s United Church (previously Duff’s Presbyterian Church that was built in 1912). Duff’s United Church held its first service in May 24, 1926. The church’s manse was built in the decade and its exchange was paid off in 1937. Clergy for the church, up until 1990, included Rev. E. F. Chandler from 1921-1926, Rev. W. J. Maines until 1931, Rev. Charles Cumming until 1939, Rev. F.A. Gilbert until 1941, Rev. R. Gordon Hazlewood until 1951, Rev. W. M. Thomas until 1961, Rev. Arthur Higginbotham until 1967, Rev. Derwyn Docken until 1975, Rev. Ed Baker until 1980, Rev. Charles Swan until 1985 and Rev. Bonnie Cole Arnal. The church was named after Rev. Dr. Alexander Duff, a pioneer missionary from the Free Church of Scotland who spread the word of the Gospel throughout Canada that inspired people to bring the word of the Lord to their neighbours throughout the country. While church services have been offered in the area since 1865, the existing building is 103 years old, having been opened in February of 1912 and then identified as Duff’s Presbyterian church. THE SERVICE The special final ceremony will be held on Sunday and start at 2 p.m. with a social time and meal to follow. The service is to be presided over by Pastor Sandra Cable, but she said she won’t be saying much as many people have come forward to help make the service memorable. “There are several former ministers coming to share their experiences and history with the church,” Cable said. “They are all more than happy to share a few minutes in the service.” Former leaders of worship that will be sharing messages include Rev. Derwyn Docken, Rev. Charles A. Sawn, Rev. Bonnie Cole-Arnal, Rev. Randy Banks (who will be running the children’s time), and Rev. Ed Baker. Over the past several weeks, the organizers of the event have also been receiving notices from members of the community, both past and present, who want to share their own Duff’s historical moments and the uptake on that has been great, according to Cable. “We have over a dozen people so far who want to share their memories [including former clergy],” she said. “It’s all scheduled already and in the order of service.” Some of the people sharing their memories, either in person or through letters, include Minister Joan Tuchlinsky, Keith Wilbee, Patty Banks, Neil McGavin and Dr. Rev. Peter Kugba-Nyande. Community member Jo-Ann McDonald, the correspondent for the Walton area for The Citizen, will also be sharing a special message/sermon that explains all about Duff’s United Church, according to Cable. The service was presented earlier this year at the church, however the organizers are expecting a bigger crowd now. The end of the service will be marked by a special version of Leonard Cohen’s 1984 song “Hallelujah”, which has found lasting success through covers, re- written for Duff’s church and the occasion by Gloria Wilbee who will perform the song accompanied by Glenda Morrison on piano and Sean Mitchell on violin. Playing the congregation out will be Jamie Mitchell on the bagpipes with “Amazing Grace”. Just prior to Wilbee’s performance of “Hallelujah”, Chair of Presbytery and local minister, Rev. Gary Clark will perform the final ceremony of the church, marking it as closed. After the ceremony, refreshments will be served in the church to give visitors a chance to meet, talk and remember their time at Duff’s. “It won’t be a meal, there will be snacks and treats, those kinds of things,” Cable said. The Duff’s Church Band will also be featured at the event playing before and during the service. Cable explained that the group is made up of members of the church. “The band includes people from the Duff’s community and they have a nice band and a nice sound that they are very proud of,” Cable said. “It should be fantastic.” The Duff’s United Church Women will be holding their final business meeting on Oct. 7. The group, which held its inaugural meeting in January of 1962, held a final dinner earlier this month featuring special guests including Pauline Bennett, who was at the initial meeting. The details of that first meeting were re-enacted by members of the UCW and followed by members sharing memories of their time with the UCW. The final meeting of the group will be held to finish out any pending or ongoing business the organization is involved in. The closure of the meeting marks the end of a group of women connected to the church that goes as far back as 1885 when the Ladies Aid group was formed (but weren’t called as such until 1900). Other organizations include the Women’s Foreign Missionary Society, which was formed in 1908 and the Women’s Missionary Society that followed it. Former pastors to give remembrance at final service Help shape Huron East’s Economic Plan for Prosperity..... We want to hear from you! Members of the community are encouraged to participate in the Huron East Economic Development Strategic Planning Process. It is part of a Huron-wide plan designed to help our entire region thrive and grow. If you would like to hear more and/or have ideas about how we can strengthen and grow the local economy, you are invited to a meeting to provide your input. Everyone is welcome! Refreshments available When: Thursday, October 1st, 2015 Time: Doors Open at 8:15 am Meeting from 8:30 - 10:30 pm Where: BRUSSELS LIBRARY Turnberry Street, Downtown Brussels For further information contact: Economic Development Officer Jan Hawley at 519.527.0160 or jhawley@huroneast.com We also welcome you to share feedback and follow our progress on our Facebook Page “Municipality of Huron East” “Building the future one piece at a time” shape Huron EHelp shape Huron E ast’s shape Huron E conomic PE shape Huron EHelp lan for Pconomic P shape Huron E We want to hear from y rosperitylan for P ast’s shape Huron E We want to hear from y ..... ou!We want to hear from y W help our entire region thrive and grow. ofpartis elopmenDev participateto Members We want to hear fr help our entire region thrive and grow. planwideHuron-aof PlancegiatrtStelopmen Hurontheinparticipate communitytheof ou!rom y help our entire region thrive and grow. to designedplan tIocess.Prgnin conomic EastEHuron encouraged are meeting to provide y theowgr aboutideas wouldouyIf our input.meeting to provide y youomy,econlocal canwehowabout moreheartolikewould our input. a totedivniear and strengthen have and/ormore andfeedback elcomewalsoWe progress ourfollowand sharotyouelcome progress Re Thursday:nWhee shar elcome!s we iyonerEv vaantsemhsfreRe , October 1st, 2015 Thursday elcome! eblailva , October 1st, 2015 ast”of Huron E Facebookouron ast” “MunicipalityagePFacebook progress Turnberry “Municipality B:erWhe Meeti Doorme:Ti progress Street, Downtown Brussels Turnberry YRARB LIELSSUSR B - 100:3om 8rg fn Meeti am 5:1 8 atpens ODoor Street, Downtown Brussels Y pm0:3 - 10 am “Building the future one piece at a time” “Building the future one piece at a time” 519.527.0160 or “Building the future one piece at a time” conomic Development Officer Jan HawleyE For further information contact: @huroneast.comjhawley519.527.0160 or conomic Development Officer Jan Hawley For further information contact: @huroneast.com at conomic Development Officer Jan Hawley For further information contact: