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The United Church of Canada
On June 10, 1925, Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational churches united to form the United Church of Canada. Those who wished to become members of the new church from the two Westville Presbyterian churches of Carmel and St. Philip’s held their first joint service on February 7, 1926, in St. Philip’s Church in Westville. Wesley Memorial Methodist Church on became part of the United Church on April 1, 1926. On that special day, the Sunday School members from Wesley marched to their new church, carrying the Union Jack. As they entered their new church home, everyone sang, “Onward Christian Soldiers”, led by Eli Harris.
The name, The United Church of Westville, was selected for the combined congregations. On June 12, 1926, the Rev. W.S. Godfrey became the first minister of the new church. He accepted a position on the staff of Mt. Allison University in 1930, and on July 18 Rev D.M. Grant became the new minister. In 1928 a pipe organ valued at approximately $15,000 was installed. The Session included the following prelude in its Annual Report in 1928.
St. Paul's United Church (Tom
Simpson photo)
By Thine unerring spirit led
We shall not in the desert stray;
Nor ever miss our providential way.
The 1928 report revealed a congregation of 300 families, with 522 resident communicants. The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper had been observed three times during the year, with an average attendance of over 300. The report also revealed an income of $19.412.23. In closing the report, the Session was called upon all members;
To consecrate themselves and to dedicate their powers to the service of the Master; and to continue loyal and steadfast in all the work of the Church. ‘Be ye faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life’.
Numerous organizations have been formed over the years within the church. The Canadian Girls in Training was organized in 1919. The first women’s organization was the Woman’s Missionary Society which was later called the Fraser Auxiliary in honor of Mrs. Roderick Fraser.
On July 6, 1932, the Hymnary was first used by the congregation. In November 1973 the congregation first used the new hymn books, “The Hymn Book of the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada”.
Fire destroyed St. Philip’s on July 13, 1945. From 1946 to 1949 they held services at the Roxy Theatre while various plans for a new church were discussed. Meanwhile the congregation attempted to raise money for the new building. On September 18, 1949, the cornerstone of the new church was laid and on June 4, 1950, with a new name, St. Paul United Church was dedicated in the presence of Rev. A.A. MacLeod, president of the Maritime Conference. The Rev. W.S. Godfrey, the congregation‘s first minister was the guest preacher. The Male Choir provided the new church with an organ worth $4,000.
Two years later, June 15, 1952, the chimes were installed and dedicated in memory of the men and women who served in the two world wars.
On November 23, 1952, the congregation was able to burn its mortgage, thus revealing the amount of effort that had been involved in raising funds to pay for the church.
On January 24, 1954, the church broadcast its first service over radio station CKEC.
Many members of the congregation have given long years of service to the church. In 1974, Miss Bertha Robertson was recognized for over 50 years service in the CGIT and the Sunday School. In 1975 Miss Muriel Goode resigned her position as organist and choir director after 47 years of devoted service.
In 1975, Alice Nowlan, a member of the congregation, wrote a booklet entitled “The Old and the New: A History of St. Paul United Church: 1925-1975”. This valuable document of the church’s history concluded with comments from Moderator Wilbur K. Howard on anniversaries:
We look back at our successes
and
failures.
We look around as the church is living in
a world of unprecedented changes.
We must look ahead and set goals for the
future.
We must look up.
Whether you are looking back, around or
ahead, we must do it in the light of the
love of God as shown to us in Jesus
Christ.
The church remains very active with many groups.
Some Early Ministers of St. Paul United Church
Rev. W.S. Godfrey
Rev/ D.M. Grant
Rev. M.A. MacMillan
Rev. Neil Rattee
Rev. J.G. Russell
On June 44, 1950, the first
choir at St. Paul's United Church sang at the first service
of the new church: l.to r., front row: Mrs. Viola
Porter Roddick, Grace (Mrs. Ian) Patton, Mrs. Isabel Munro
Pace, Mrs. Allister Porter; 2nd row: Rev. Dr. George
Russell, Mrs. Zena Harker Murray, Mrs. Verna Leadbeater,
Miss Bertha Robertson, Miss Helen MacKenzie, Mrs. A.A.
Sutherland, Annie (Mrs. Bert) Connors, Mrs. Jessie MacEwan;
3rd row: Mrs. Lucy Saunders Roy, Mrs. Margaret MacLean Roy,
Alice (Mrs. David) MacKenzie Nolan, Mrs. Joseph Leese, Miss
Muriel Goode, Mrs. Isabel Grant MacLean, Mrs. Wm. Graham,
Mrs. Herman Munro, Mrs. Fred Crockett: 4th row: Joe Braine,
F.I. Lent, Wm. Skinner, Hiram Langille, John Girdwood, Allan
Connors, Ross Payzant, Sidney Darroch, Robert Roy; 5th row:
Alvin Stewart Everett Thompson, Cecil Nevin, Harold
DesBarres, Wm. Allen, George Matheson, Waldo Munro, Wm.
MacNeil, Robert Thompson, Richard Morris.