Westville Churches  /  Wesley Memorial Church  /  St. Philip's Presbyterian  /  Carmel Presbyterian Church  /  St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church  /  The United Church of Canada  / St.  Bees' Church  /  The Salvation Army  /  Church Groups 

Church Groups

             After unity of the three congregations in 1925, the Wesley Memorial Methodist Church was used as the Sunday School primary department, and the Young People’s department for recreation until the 1930’s.  Because of the Depression, the two churches could not be maintained so the Wesley was sold.

            In 1927, Sunday School enrollment was 440 with an average attendance of 320.  Bible Class, one of the largest in Eastern Canada, had 140 with an attendance of 110 the average.  The Young People’s Society was responsible for many amateur plays.

            Tuxis and Trial Rangers numbered 100 boys who were organized before 1925 and run by Rev. W.S. Godfrey.  Tuxis meant Training for Service.  Their chief game was basketball, and in 1929 they won a county championship.  Debating also was an important part of the program and for three successive years Tuxis won the County Debating Championship.

            In 1915 Canadian Girls in Training (CGIT) was formed.  Carmel was the first organized in Pictou County in 1918 and Mrs. Estelle Leadbeater was one of the first members.  Rev. D.A. Frame was the organizer and leader of about 20 members.

            CGIT was also a part of St. Philip’s Church program in 1919 with Miss Bertha Robertson at its head.  She will always be remembered for her Devotional at each meeting.  Good leadership was also found in Wesley Memorial Methodist, led by Mrs. Lillian Wallace.

            In the 1950’s the Hi-C group was organized for the young people of the congregation and town.  It was later replaced by “Risk” with some adults from the congregation acting as counselors. 

            In 1932 the Guide movement began in town when Mrs. Mabel Johnson and Mrs. Phoebe Campbell led the “Brownies”.  Mrs. L.G. Ferguson and Mrs. H.A. McQuarrie were also active in Guiding.

            In 1948, the Mission Circle formed for the younger women of the congregation including the Robb Mission Band so named in honor of Mrs. A.F. Robb, daughter of Rev. Robert Cummings, former minister of Carmel Church.  Rev. and Mrs. Robb served as missionaries in Korea.

In 1913, the Westville mission of the Wesley Memorial Methodist Church became a seperate
and semi-independent Charge and the Rev. R.C. Tait became the first Minister.  This
1915 photo captures Rev. Tait in reflective meditation outside his home in Westville.

 Members of Westville Churches who Went on To Become Ministers or Priests

             Members of “The Church of the Holy Name” who were ordained as priests: Rev. John O’Brien, OMI, Rev. Reg Duprey, Rev. Father Lloyd MacDonald, OMI.

            Two women became sisters – Sister Pansy Duprey csm and Sister Mildred Chabassol, CND.

 Members of Other Churches Ordained as Ministers

            St. Bees’ Anglican Church – Rev Louis White; Carmel Presbyterian Church – Rev. Dr. A.H. Denoon, who in 1925 became a minister of The United Church of Canada; St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church – Rev. Wendell MacNeill, Rev. Gerald Thompson; Deaconesses – Georgina Roy, Catherine MacFarlane and Joanne Vines; Salvation Army had a member, Miss Thelma Worthylake, who rose to the rank of major.

            St. Philip’s and St. Paul United Church ministers with date of graduation.

Rev. John Skinner …………………………………….. 1926
Rev. Gordon Fraser………………………………….....1932
Rev. Garfield Bruce………………………………….... 1934
Rev. Andrew MacKenzie……………………………....1936
Rev. James Leadbeater………………………………..1942
Rev. Harold Cox……………………………………...…1950
Rev. Murray Favier………………………………...……1935
Rev. William Porter……………………………..………1967
Rev. David Allen……………………………...…………1979
Rev Mrs. David (Jean Ward) Allen…………………….1979
Those who served as foreign missionaries:

Mrs. Alex Robb (the former Bessie Cummings from Carmel Church) went to Korea with her husband and his sister.

Mrs. Margaret Luscombe, RN, from St. Philip’s Church, went to Formosa as a medical missionary.

Mrs. Lillian (Johnson) Mudd, RN, from St. Paul United, worked with Dr. MacClure as a medical Missionary in India.

A 1934 photo of St. Bees Choir. Doris Sexton, Frank White, Fanny White, Emma Hale Fraser, Rev. Louis White, Margaret Wright Edwards, Hilda Wright, Crissa White Hamilton, Alice White Mattatall, Maude Sexton, Viola MacCulloch, Ella Sexton, Lillian Hale Ross, Ernie Edwards, Rev. L. Todd, and William Hale

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