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Corporate body · 1876-1995

Lewisporte Mission, formerly known as Marshallville, was visited by a minister from Exploits as early as 1842 and he conducted services in people's homes. The first church was a log cabin which was constructed in 1876, the same year of settlement and served the Methodist community as Church, Sunday school, and Day school. Lewisporte Mission had the following appointments: Lewisporte, South Side, Stanhope (Scissors Cove), Salt Pond, and Little Burnt Bay. In 1889, Big Burnt Bay (Lewisporte) became associated with the Laurenceton Charge and became a regular preaching point and the first minister was an Englishman by the name of Samuel J. Russell. In 1891, the name of the community was changed from Burnt Bay to Marshallville.

In 1901-02, Lewisporte became a separate charge with its own resident minister, having received the name of Lewisporte the year before. The preaching points on the Lewisporte Charge in 1901 were Lewisporte (north side and south side), Scissors Cove (now Stanhope), Salt Pond (now Embree) and Little Burnt Bay. Glenwood and Millertown were included in the Lewisporte Mission in 1903 and another church building was constructed to replace the first church. A forest fire in 1905 destroyed almost all the buildings in Lewisporte, including the parsonage which had only been built in 1904. Rev. Edwin Moore saved some of his books by burying them but all the church records were lost. Because of the boggy conditions where the second church was built, it was unsuitable for the congregation and they decided to dismantle the church in 1913. A new church was built and opened in the spring of 1916. At this time, the Methodist population of Lewisporte was recorded as 488.

In 1925, the Methodist church of Newfoundland entered into a Church Union and became a part of the United Church of Canada. A church was built in Porterville, a preaching place of Lewisporte, in the 1940's. At that time there were six families living at Porterville.

In 1957, the church at Lewisporte was officially given the name "St. Matthew's United Church." This building was located on what is now the parking lot of the present church. Due to a rapidly growing congregation, it was decided in 1960 that a new church building was needed. The last service in the old church was held on September 8, 1963. The corner stone for the new church was laid by Dr. Hardie in a special ceremony after the morning service. The old church was taken down in the fall of 1963 and the site used for a parking lot for the church. On April 19th, work started on the new church and the building was finished in about ten months. On March 15, 1964, the official opening and dedication of the present St. Matthew's United Church took place.

Only five ministers have served the church throughout its history. Worthy of note is the Reverend Arthur Elliott, whose tenure extended from 1968 to 1988. Rev. Elliott's name is revered not only by the congregation of St. Matthew's but by the whole town of Lewisporte.

The United Church has played a very important role in the life of the town of Lewisporte. Its history can be traced back to the first settlers, Mr. And Mrs. Robert Woolfrey. Its past has been one of continual spiritual and physical growth. The church has grown and prospered with the development of the town and is presently an active, vibrant force in the community. The congregation has steadily increased and presently consists of 500 families.

Corporate body · 1911-

The first Methodist Minister recorded as being in the King's Point area was Rev. George Bond, who visited Three Arms in 1877-78, a short distance from King's Point. From 1883 until 1894, Harry's Harbour was part of the Little Bay Methodist Mission.

In 1894 it became part of the Nipper's Harbour -Tilt Cove Mission which included: Tilt Cove, Nipper's Harbour, Rogues Harbour, North West Arm (Burlington), South West Arm (King's Point), Jackson's Cove, La Scie, Shoe Cove Bight, Shoe Cove Brook, Caplin Cove, Indian Burying Place, Button Hole Cove, Harry's Harbour and Three Arms.

The boundaries changed again in 1897 and Harry's Harbour went back to the Little Bay Mission. In 1901 they were transferred to the Little Bay Islands Mission and were still a part of Little Bay Islands Mission in 1906. King's Point church was built in 1910 while it was part of the Little Bay Islands Mission.

In 1911 the King's Point Charge consisting of King's Point, Rattling Brook, Mansfield Point, Jackson's Cove, Harry's Harbour, and Three Arms was constituted and was ministered by Rev. R. H. Ball. Church Union took place in 1925 and the Methodist Church in Newfoundland became The United Church of Canada. At the time of Church Union in 1925, the mission included King's Point, Rattling Brook, Jackson's Cove and Harry's Harbour. Harry's Harbour church was dedicated for worship on May 22, 1927. The church stands where formerly stood a schoolhouse which was used also for divine worship.

In 1934 the pastoral charge was again divided, with King's Point and Rattling Brook being served by the Minister of Springdale, and Harry's Harbour, Jackson's Cove served by the Nipper's Harbour Minister. By 1951 King's Point again became a Pastoral Charge with its own Minister.

Construction of a new church commenced in King's Point in 1959 and, and when opened, served a membership of 154. Construction was started on a Manse there in 1963 and it was completed in 1964. Construction was started on a new church at Rattling Brook in 1976 and completed in 1977. This was their third church building over a period of seventy years.

Today, King's Point is a pastoral charge with preaching places at Harry's Harbour, Jackson's Cove and Rattling Brook.

Corporate body · 1896-

During the years 1875-1876, the Methodist Church sent Rev. James Pincock to the Pilley's Island Circuit to minister to the people of Pilley's Island, Robert's Arm, Port Anson, Head's Harbour, Miles Cove and Wellman's Cove. Pilley's Island first appeared on the station sheet in 1892 in connection with Little Bay Islands. This station was served by two ministers with one stationed at Pilley's Island. The first church at Pilley's Island was built in about 1896. Roberts Arm's first church was built during 1875-1876.

By 1911, the circuit name was Little Bay Islands, Long Island and Pilley's Island being served by three ministers. In 1913, Long Island and Pilley's Island were separated from Little Bay Islands and there was a minister in each of these communities. The communities were together again for a time in 1914, and by 1916, all three were separated and Pilley's Island appeared as head of a mission until 1930 ministered by J.A. Spencer. By 1931, Pilley's Island had preaching places in the following nearby communities: Head's Harbour, Mile's Cove, Roberts Arm, Wellman's Cove, and Port Anson.

Pilley's Island became affiliated with the United Church on June 10, 1925, having been a Methodist Congregation prior to that time. The pastoral charge at the time of the union included Triton, Robert's Arm, Card's Harbour, Brighton and Sunday Cove Island with a total membership of 148 families. The organizational structure of the pastoral charge is based on the Session, Stewards, Official Board model.

Pilley's Island was a thriving copper mining and fishing community but when the mine closed, and shifts of the population occurred with people moving around for employment, the spirit went out of the community and the church was almost destroyed.

From 1972-1979, Pilley's Island pastoral charge had a stationed minister, Rev. R. Kraglund, who was instrumental in fostering interest in the church. During 1978, stewardship of the pastoral charge increased by 34% over 1977 and considerable donations were made to the building fund in Pilley's Island and South Brook. The old church at Pilley's Island was renovated and a new church at South Brook was nearing completion in 1979. By 1989, Pilley's Island pastoral charge was responsible for Beaumont, Lushes Bight, Pilley's Island, Roberts Arm and South Brook.

Today the pastoral charge is made up of congregations in Beaumont, Roberts Arm and South Brook and the name has changed from Pilley's Island Pastoral Charge to the Green Bay South Pastoral Charge.

Corporate body · 1908-1990

The Grand Falls and Millertown Mission was formed in the Twillingate District of the Newfoundland Conference of the Methodist Church of Canada in 1908. The boundaries of the mission extended from Millertown to Glenwood and included all places on the railway line, including logging camps in the vicinity.

The first Methodist service was held in a school in Grand Falls in 1906. Records indicate that there were 13 church members, and the congregation was ministered from Glenwood and Norris Arm. Probationary ministers were stationed at Glenwood and visited Grand Falls, Scissors Cove, Little Burnt Bay, and Norris Arm. By 1915, Bishop Falls, Glenwood, and Norris Arm were part of the Bishop Falls Mission.

In 1910, a new parsonage was constructed on Carmelite Road in Grand Falls, and Rev. William Muir became the first resident minister. A church was completed in 1911 on High Street and had a capacity of 300.

In 1914, the Grand Falls Circuit had missions in Grand Falls, Bishop Falls, and Millertown. In 1919, Grand Falls became an independent circuit and has remained so ever since.

The population of the town was steadily increasing; by 1922, the local congregation had outgrown the capacity of the old church so a new church was started. The church basement was finished in 1924 and was opened as the Bennett Hall. The church was finished in 1928 and dedicated as the Memorial United Church on 11 November. Rev B. Bugden was its first pastor. In 1923, a new manse was purchased. A third manse on Hill Road was purchased in 1963. The first Methodist cemetery in Grand Falls was opened on Valley Road. In the late 1920s, a new cemetery was opened on Lincoln Road.

The church in Grand Falls was organized from the beginning under the Session/Official Board structure. A Quarterly Official Board, Trustee Board, and a building committee were organized. Other committees dealing with Sunday school and temperance and moral reform soon followed. The Ladies' Aid Society was formed in 1910 and later became the Women's Association. Other women's groups followed, including the Women's Patriotic Association, the Currie Mission Circle in 1920, and the Young Women's Friendship Circle in 1950. The Explorer Group was organized in 1950, and by 1975 there were three groups of Canadian Girls in Training, one senior and two intermediate.

In 1922, a resolution was passed at the Quarterly Official Board meeting to ask the Presbyterian congregation of the town to amalgamate with the Methodist Church. However, the Presbyterians at St. Matthew's resisted the offer and remained opposed to Church Union.

In 1988, a new church building committee was appointed by the Official Board, and on 11 November 1990, the New Memorial United Church and Christian Education Centre was dedicated.

Corporate body · 1816-

Grand Bank became the headquarters for the Fortune Bay Methodist Mission in the Newfoundland District of the British Wesleyan Conference in 1816. The mission embraced all points from Lamaline to Port aux Basques. Rev. Richard Knight was appointed the first missionary there, and in his two-year term, he "formed classses in both Grand Bank and Fortune."

Evidence of the places ministered by the early Fortune Bay missionaries is anecdotal and sporadic. In a report to the missionary committee in 1819, for example, Rev. John Haigh, Knight's successor noted that he had visited Harbor Briton, Jersey Harbour, and Little Bay. In 1827, another minister reported visiting Gaultos and Bay D'Espoir, and from 1827 to 1830, ministers wrote of ministering to Frenchman's Cove, Harbour Breton, Jersey Harbour, Grand Beach, Lamaline, St. Jacques, and Round Harbour.

The first chapel in Grand Bank was built in 1817. It was replaced with a new structure in 1846 that could seat about 400 people. The old chapel was converted for use as a day school, Sunday school, and hall for social service. In 1876, a new church with a capacity of 1200 replaced the smaller chapel. By 1964, construction had begun on the present day-building, which was opened in 1965.

Various communities were dropped from the visiting roster of Grand Bank missionaries as other missions were established in the area: the Burin Circuit in 1817; Garnish in 1866; Fortune in 1878. Furthermore, Grand Bank was replaced by Hermitage as headquarters for the Fortune Bay Mission in 1840. By 1900, the only community listed in the Grand Bank register outside the main community was Molliers. In 1925, the mission became a Pastoral Charge in the Newfoundland Conference of the United Church of Canada. In 1928, Grand Bank was listed as the only "preaching place" in the charge.

Corporate body · 1894-

Epworth (Spoon Cove) became a mission of the Methodist Church of Canada, Newfoundland Conference, in 1894. Its first pastor was Rev. C. Howse. The Epworth Mission was geographically small, covering an area of less than 20 miles, with congregations in Epworth, Burin Bay Arm, Lanse'eau, Lewin's Cove, and Creston. It had a population of 1200, of which one-half were Methodist.

Originally, Epworth had been part of the Burin Mission. By 1840, Epworth had a chapel and school house. In 1890, a new church was dedicated there. By 1899, the exterior of a new church at Lewin's Cove had been completed and a new school house was under construction to serve the congregations in Lewin's Cove, Mud Cove, and Epworth.

Today the pastoral charge is comprised of congregations in Epworth, Lewin's Cove, and Winterland (which became part of the charge in 1981).

Corporate body · 1906-1987

The Englee Mission was established in 1906. Englee had originally been connected with the White Bay Mission. When the White Bay Mission was divided, the Northern section of the White Bay Mission became the Englee Mission. The first minister, Rev. L. Halfyard, was appointed to Englee in 1908.

Although the area covered in the Englee Mission wasn't specified when it was separated from the White Bay Mission, records show that in 1935 the Englee Mission served the needs of the people in the following communities: Roddickton, Hooping Harbour, Williamsport and Little Harbour Deep.

In 1968 Englee was designated by the Fisheries of Canada as a place of centralization, a place for fishery growth, development and social improvement. During the past three years, its population had increased as more than 50 families had resettled from such places as Roddickton, Main Brook, Canada Harbour, Hooping Harbour, and Williamsport.

Each of the communities under the Englee Mission had its own little place of worship, often in the form of a school chapel was the case at Pigeon Cove. The church at Pigeon Cove was at first a school building, owned by the church. In 1971, the school was turned into a church for the use of the families there. At Hooping Harbour, a new church was constructed in 1955 on the site of the old church which was destroyed by fire a few years earlier. The church at Flower's Cove was constructed a little earlier than the others, in 1956. At Roddickton, a new church was started in 1974, and the Opening and Dedication Service was held on November 24, 1974. The church was named the John Wesley United Church. The earlier church was accidentally destroyed by fire when a building near the church burned and ignited the church.

The Englee Mission boundary was changed in 1976 and several preaching points were dropped and Englee now had five peaching points at Englee, Flower's Cove, Main Brook, Pigeon Cove and Roddickton. Englee, Roddickton and Main Brook are situated on one side of the Northern Peninsula while Pigeon Cove and Flowers Cove are located across the Straits. For the next ten years, the Englee Mission took in the same preaching points.

By 1987, the boundaries of the pastoral charge had diminished and now covered Roddickton to Main Brook on the Eastern side and Pigeon Cove to Flowers Cove on the Western side.

Corporate body · 1925-

Deer Lake Pastoral Charge was formed in 1925 in the Humber Presbytery, Newfoundland and Labrador Conference of the United Church of Canada. The first minister was Rev. Stanley Tiller, and his appointments were Deer Lake and Howley. The Deer Lake congregation had been part of the Bay of Islands Mission since 1915.

Deer Lake is central between the Bay of Islands Mission and the White Bay Mission; congregations from both areas were, therefore, brought into the Deer Lake Pastoral Charge at its formation. The Howley congregation was part of that original charge. The first church was dedicated in Howley in 1929. Before that, church functions and services were held in the school house. With the exception of 1962-1977, when it was part of the Hampden Pastoral Charge, Howley remained in the pastoral charge until 1982 when it became part of the Pasadena-Howley Pastoral Charge.

In 1935, the congregation of South Brook was added to the Deer Lake Pastoral Charge. Midland was listed as part of the charge in the United Church yearbook of 1937, and Humber Valley was listed in 1948. Hampden also became a congregation of the charge in 1948. It separated and became the Hampden Pastoral Charge in 1962, but was re-united with the Deer Lake charge from 1977 to 1980. In 1980, it formed part of the Pasadena-Hampden Pastoral Charge, and then was incorporated into the Hampden-Sop's Arm Pastoral Charge. Meanwhile, Cormack was transferred from the Hampden Pastoral Charge to the Deer Lake Pastoral charge in 1973.

In 1955, a second church, St. Paul's United Church, was opened in Deer Lake. The congregation of that church grew over the next three decades to such an extent that by 1984, it comprised the only congregation in the Deer Lake Pastoral Charge.

Corporate body · 1975

Creston-Red Harbour became a pastoral charge in the Avalon Presbytery, Newfoundland Conference of the United Church of Canada in 1975. It was a successor body to the Creston-Marystown Pastoral Charge, with congregations at Boat Harbour, Creston North, Creston South, Little Bay East, and Red Harbour. Rev. R. Neil Newbury was appointed its first minister.

Historically, Creston had been part of the Burin Mission. In 1894, it became part of the Epworth Mission. Red Harbour and Little Bay East had also formerly been associated with other missions in Placentia Bay and Fortune Bay. The Little Bay East congregation had been part of the Congregationalist Fortune Bay Mission until 1941. In that year, the mission was received into the United Church of Canada, and Little Bay East became a congregation in the Pool's Cove Pastoral Charge. The boundaries of that pastoral charge remained the same until 1970, when Little Bay East came under the newly formed Creston-Marystown Pastoral Charge. Meanwhile, Red Harbour had originally been a congregation in the Port Elizabeth Pastoral Charge. In 1972, after the resettlement of Port Elizabeth, the Red Harbour Pastoral Charge was formed and included both Red Harbour and Little Bay East.

Corporate body · 1925-

The First United Church congregation at Corner Brook was formed 15 March 1925 under the ministry of the Bay of Islands Methodist Mission. The congregation was composed of Presbyterian and Methodist families. This date not only constituted the forming of the congregation but the opening of the new Church Hall for church services and functions.

The roots of Corner Brook's Presbyterian congregation can be traced to Bay of Islands in 1877, when Rev. David Creelman and others organized a congregation in Petries. This group received church membership from the Sheet Harbour Presbyterain congregation in Nova Scotia through the connections of Christopher Fischer, who had come to Corner Brook from Sheet Harbour in 1871 to run a sawmill at Humber Arm. The congregation established the first Presbyterian Sunday school in Petries (located in the west end of Curling) in the early 1870s. In the early 1890s, Presbyterian families held services in a school house until a church was built on the corner of Park Street in 1898. This was the first church erected in the original settlement of Corner Brook. Catechists to the church were supplied from Halifax and supervised by the minister of the Grand Falls Presbyterian Church. Appointments included Nicholsville, Corner Brook, Petries, and Mount Moriah.

By 1907, Methodist families had begun to attend services at the Presbyterian church, and by 1914, Methodists were being asked for co-operation in arranging services. In 1919, Rev. William J. Morris, pastor of the Methodist church at Curling, started holding services there; The increased demands on the church facilities in the Corner Brook area eventually led to the formation of new congregations and pastoral charges in Humbermouth and Corner Brook. The construction of the Corner Brook Paper Mill began in 1923 and resulted in an influx of hundreds of people into the area. The increased demands on the church facilities necessitated the construction of the Church Hall, which opened in 1925.

The next year, the congregation became a self-supporting entity as the First United Pastoral Charge of the United Church of Canada, Newfoundland Conference, Grand Fall's Presbytery. However, the Church Union was not totally successful in the Corner Brook area. A separate Presbyterian congregation continued there; by 1955, it was known as the St. Paul's Presbyterian Congregation.

The United Church congregation built a new manse in Corner Brook in 1927. The ever-increasing population placed greater strains on the Church Hall, and in 1936, under the tenure of Rev. G. L. Mercer, the idea for a new church was conceived. Fund-raising began, and in 1946, the First United Church was dedicated.

Rev. George L. Mercer was appointed to the charge in 1929 and quickly brought its organization into line with the Session/Stewards/Official Board structure outlined in the United Church Manual.

The congregation continued to grow in Corner Brook West, and by 1956, a church expansion programme was initiated. The First United Hall on Park Street was opened in 1958, and the Oakland House Sunday School-Church Hall was opened in the Country Road area in 1958. (Oakland later became a separate pastoral charge.) By 1959, a second manse on Park Street had also been purchased and was in operation.