Clinton News-Record, 1985-6-26, Page 55THIRTY
Churches
Brucefield United —built from the ground up
A devoted congregation is the strength of
the Brucefield United Church. From its
beginnings more than 135 years ago, the
Brucefield United Church has grown and
prospered, overcome tribulations and
triumphed.
Brucefield United Church celebrated its
100th anniversary in 1976, but much of the
history of this country church goes back
before its establishment in 1876. it was in
1849, according to the dairy off the late Rev.
William Graham of Egmondville, that
"some of the members of Egmondville liv-
ing nearest Brucefield serverd their con-
nection with Egmondville and formed a
church in Brucefield."
Rev. John Ross was the first minister of
the newly -organized congregation. He was
minister until 1875 when the Brucefield
Church joined the union of the Presbyterian
Church of Canada. Rev. Ross and some
members of the congregation declined to
enter the union, preferring to retain their
connection with the "Free Church." From
1887 to 1892 the services were continued by
laymen and elders until 1892 when the
church was sold. After this, services were
held in various homes by the faithful few.
The portion of the congregation that join-
ed the Presbyterian Church of Canada
union, was organized into the present con-
gregation and became known as the
Brucefield Union Church. Session records
date March 10, 1876 as the time of this
historic event.
The Brucefield Union Church began
without a church building, without a manse,
but by November 26, 1876 a new church was
opened.
Some thought the building of a new church
was too much, but devotion made it a reality
The devoted congregation built the pre-
sent manse the next year. This substantial
house has provided a home for the ministers
for the past 109 years.
When the congregation was organized it
neither had a minister or a session. Rev. Mr.
McCuaig with Messrs. John McAsh of Varna
and A. Matheson of Clinton formed the first
acting session. They brought together the
first roll of membership which contained the
names of 74 charter members.
In 1877 Rev. T.G. Thompson was inducted
as the first minister. Following him in order
over the next century were: Rev. J.H. Simp-
son, 1886-1893; Rev. Walter Muir, 1895-1899;
Rev. E.H. Sawers, 1899-1912; Rev. I.H.
Woods, 1912-1917; Rev. W.D. McIntosh, 1918-
1924; Rev. G.C. Armour, 1924-1926; Rev.
W.A. Bremner, 1926-1938; Rev. H.E. Wright,
1938-1941; Rev, G.F.N. Atkinson, 1941-1946;
Rev. E.R. Stanway, 1946-1951; Rev. W.J.
Maines, 1951-1954; Rev. G.C. Burton, 1954-
1955; Rev. Sidney Davison, 1955-1960; Rev.
D. McKenzie, 1960; Rev. A.H. Johnston,
1960-1963; Rev. Howard Plant, 1963-1965;
Rev: E.J. Roulston, 1965; Rev. E.D. Stuart,
1966-1971; Rev. Paul Packman, 1971-1974;
W. Murdock Morrison, 1974-1975; Rev. Ed-
win S. Stephens, 1975-1978; Rev. Robert
McMullin. Mr. Donald Moffat presently
M Purina
MPurirci
Crop Care
�ongra
antulations
d Best Wishes
Tuckersmith
on your
150th Birthday
HENSALL 262-2410
KIRKTON 229-8986
DIVISION OF GERBRO INC.
CENTRALIA 228-6661
WALTON 52-7-1540
Bean and Grain Merchants to the World
leads the charge.
Shortly after the congregation came into
being, a Sunday School was organized. A
branch of the Sunday School was conducted
for some time in Stanley Township. Later
the two schools merged to meet at the
Brucefield Church.
In November, 1877, the Women's Foreign
Missionary Auxiliary was organized and
this society was active until the amalgama-
tion of the Women's Foreign Missionary
Society and the Women's Home Missionary
Society.
Another women's group, the Kelly Circle
was organized in 1913. The group was com-
posed of younger women of the church who
were interested in Home Missions. In 1927
the Kelly Circle and Women's Missionary
Society (WMS) amalgamated.
In association with the WMS the Little
Disciples Mission Band started in 1887. In
1935 the group was expanded as the Baby
Band.
On May 24, 1929 one of the most useful
organizations of the church formed, the
Women's Association. These women worked
to raise money for church repairs and ex-
pansion. Through their work electric lights
were installed, modern equipment and cup-
boards were placed in the church kitchen,
the church was beautified and redecorated.
In 1961 the WMS and the Women's
Association joined into one organiz4on, the
United Church Women (UCW ).
The women's church groups also received
financial support over the years from the
Young People's Union. Organized in 1897 as
the Christian Endeavour Society the young
people in the group planted trees around the
church in 1902, raised money to buy the
church bell, helped with the cost of wiring
the church for electricity and constructed a
platform in the Sunday School room. At the
turn of the century the Brucefield Church
was enjoying great success. The dedicated
congregation decided it was time to erect a
new church building. Some thought the pro-
ject was too great an undertaking, but th
energy and devotion of a united people saw
the completion of the handsome brick struc-
ture in 1908. It was built at a cost of
$10,772.89 and in a very few years was en-
tirely free of debt. This church building was
regarded as one of the best rural churches
within the bounds of the London Conference.
. Eleven years -later, in 1919 the accompa-
nying church shed was built. The 50 by 230
foot structure was said to be the largest
church shed in Canada. It was built for a
total cost of $6,080.55 and provided shelter
for horses and later gave ample parking for
cars.
In later years the shed was converted into
a skating rink for winter sports. Competi-
tion with nearby arenas soon made this use
obsolete. The shed was disposed of and the
roof sold to the Seaforth Curling Club for
Turn to page 31
We're Proud to Serve
Tuckersmith and Area
with Service,
Selection, and Satisfaction
McLAUGHLIN
CHEV-T OLDS
13 Main St., N. Seaforth 527-1140