The Huron Expositor, 1972-05-04, Page 3We are pleased
'to have had a part
in the construction
of the new
Brucefield United Church
and congratulate 'the congregation on their
new facilities.
FRED McGREGOR
— Electrical and Mechanical Contracting --
tY
482,3301 BRUCEFIELD
M
•4
THE *'.HURON.. samonif4,:b4t, mke 3. 1972,4
Plan official opening
The new Brucefield Church
which will be officially opened
and dedicated on Sunday replaces
a sixty year-old structure which
btirned to the ground on Nnvember
20, 1970. Rev. Paul M.Packman,
B.A. is Minister of the Church.
He will be assisted by Rev. E.
Donald Stuart, C.D., M.A., S.D.
who was minister at the time of
the fire.
The services on Sunday will
commence at 2 o'clock. Rev.
Wilson L. Morden, B.A., presi-
dent of London Conference will
• officiate at the dedication. Special
music is being provided by the
choir with Mrs. Fred McGregor
--as_organist-andLby-the Harbor-
acres of Goderich.
The building progra m was
carried out by a committee
THE SESSION -AND CONGREGATION OF
Brumfield United Church
invite you to
The Official Opening .and Dedication of the
NEW CHURCH BUILDING
SUNDAY, MAY 7th, 1972 at 2 O'CLOCK
The Rev. Wilson L. Morden, B.A.,
President of London Conference
0 0
A former Minister, the Rev. E. Donald Stuart,
C.D.,M.A. B.D., will assist at this service.
Rev. Paul M. PaCianan, B.A., Minister.
We are pleased
to have 'been chosen
to supply the carpet
cmd vinyl floorcoverings
for the new Brucefield
United Church
BETTRIDGE FLOOR
COVERINGS
154 DoWnie St. Stratford
•
iIe and when we returned the
light was much brighter. It was
then we rafted that it was a
fire."
Fanned by high winds and fed
by highly varnished wood, the
fire completely destroyed the
Church in about forty-five min-
utes.
The alarm was answered by
the Brucefield Fire Brigade who
were assisted by units from Sea-
forth and Clinton. The fire, how-
ever, was too far advaeced when
firemen arrived to save anything.
All that remained the follow-
ing Saturday morning were the
fire weakened brick walls of the
building,
The Toss was estimated
over $150;000. It was partially
covered by insurance.
The Church was built in 19.08
at a total cost of 410,039 using
brick from the original Presby-
terian Church built in 1878. The
present congregation numbers
almost 300 members involving
110 families. Many of them at-
tended services in Kippen o.nSun-
day.
The congregation quickly ral-
lied and within weeks a decision
to rebuild had been taken.
On April 18th of the follow-
ing year the congregation approv-
ed architects' plans for a new edi-
fice.
Volunteer workers continued
clean up activities. The corner-
stone which was relaid in the;new
Church tWo weeks ago was re-
covered and on being opened was
found to contain pertinent relics
of the church and community.
Found in the..stope were an old
communion token, a 1906 fifty-
cent piece, a /907 twenty-five
cent piece, a 1907 penny, which
is the size of today's quarters, a
1905 dime and a five-cent piece
dated 1907, which is smaller
than today's dime. The corner-
stone also contained a copy of
The Huron Expositor dated June
12, 1908 and a Seaforth News
dated iiine 11, 1908. A hand-
written note explains that the two
newspapers i#respresent the Lib-
eral and Conservative viewpoints
In the. community." Several
church publications ,including the
1907 church annual reportL the
May 1908 issite of trie-Fiesby.
terian Record and .the June 1908.
issue of The Presbyterian were
undoy
also mcluded along with a hand-
written history Of the church,
The large bell, which fell from
the tower, was also found In good
condition.
All that -ins found of a. very
old„and"valuable communion pet
owned by the church were sever-
al soot Encrusted pieces deliver
7tilich had been melted by the
heat of the fire and, now resemb-
' led cinders from a 'furnace. .
than
A ntar presentation *a* made at IsopOn 00140,0104SpdAy when the M.inoPere,
f
Brucefield united clIgrgh.
Pressed their thaPke.P.r Oet
lOyieldroned .ittMlnoss shown them
(halm( the past year and a half
as they shared the 94e-plowch,
Emmerson Kyle or (ippen
accepted a clock on behalf of
the session and. congregation,
from, Elgin Thompson of Bruce-v.
APS_ Pav10. .00044! KIPPen 44-leistqd A ch$Ote.0.4.-
AOC Pcoard at iteYntrotatron%'.
art'79therlOith44:1WArUgt' chgc4,: .
.4140, AD..stre -thoi,trcoro0 :the
Brucefield church On woeumhOskta
2{1f.01% that- Oengroigatiog *as.
viorshippett thelOppenChnrch
'while a new Church was erns
Ao-rePlaeg
•
dedication of Brucefield Church
headed by Ross.Scott and Includ-
ing Bob Potheringham, sec-
retary-treasurer, John Broad-
foot, Mel Graham, Mrs" John
Henderson, Fred McGregor,John
Moffat, Arnold Taylor, Elgin
Thompson, Mrs. Stuart Wilso
and W. D. Wilson. Rev. St
Is an ex-officio member of e
' committee.
News stories at the time said
the fire was detected by Rev. Don-
ald Stuart who went to the Church
to see if someone was in it.
"The water pressure system,
which serves both the Church and
the manse seemed to be working
overtime,"said Mr. Stuart.
"When I went to investigate, I
saw what, I thought were the base-
ment lights of the Church. I re-
turned to' the manse to get my
4
•
la; ,Ji
1 440 +hit tt" et."
I
•
I IP
'This was' all "Iltat ."retnabied • of the"Untted -Church-at Brucefield- following the fire-of November . .-
20, 1970. 'Left standing were the scorched and fire weakened walls of the 62 year old church.
(Staff Photo)
been chosen
Rev. E. Donald Stuart inspected. the bell recovered from the ruins of the Brucefield United
Church which was destroyed by fire in November 1970. In the foreground is the -8ornerstone
from the church which was built in 1908., Found in the cornerstone were several old coins,
copies of both the Huron Expositor and the Seaforth News, several church publications., and a
handwritten history of -the church. The, bell and cornerstone are, incorporated into the new church
which is being dedicated on Sunday.
GENERAL CONTRACTOR
R.R. 2, Centralia Phone 228-961
on the completion of their new
• building.
We go proud to have assisted in' the
construction of this fine new facility.
Congratulations
to the
Congregation
of
BRUCEFIELD
UNITED CHURCH
Congratulations
to the
Congregation
of
Brucefield
United Church-
On the completion of their splendid new
Church' Building.
We appreciate the opportunity of haVing
a part in the construction.
FRANK KLING LIMITED
Plumbing — Heating — Electrical
— GENERAL CONTRACTOR --
SEAFORTIL -- PHONE 527-1320
and congratulate the congregation
on the fine new building
DON RIEHL
CONSTRUCTION LTD.
Box 269 New Hamburg
r
•.•