Westminster United Church History

The Scottish Presbyterians who settled in the Thamesford Area first, constructed a small frame building on the hill east of Thamesford in 1847.  In later years, a magnificent stone structure was erected on the property where the St. Andrews cemetery is now located.  It had a tower and lovely stained glass windows.  Gaelic services were held there for many years as a second service.  A "precentor" led music until the congregation reluctantly voted to install an organ.  The congregation's third manse, build in 1890 is still used as a residence on Delatre Street in Thamesford.  Wesley Methodist Church was established in 1854, with a frame building located on the site of the present parking lot across from Westminster.  In the 1870's the church was enlarged and bricked in.  In 1915, the Church was entirely renovated.  A basement was put in, hydro installed and a porch built to provide an entry and a cover for the basement steps.  The church was decorated and a new organ installed.  Music in Wesley Methodist was always an important part of worship.

These two congregations united in 1927 to form the Thamesford United Church.  Summer services were held in St. Andrews Presbyterian Church and winter services in Wesley Methodist Church.  The Wesley Methodist Church was sold to the Orange Lodge.  Its manse had been sold at the time of local union and the proceeds formed the beginning of the building fund for Westminster.  After some years, Wesley Methodist Church was sold to the Baptist Church.  On Sunday, March 3, 1950 at 10:00 am, the church was destroyed by fire. 

Later, the site was purchased by Westminster United Church and made into a tennis court.  Now it is a parking lot.

In 1938, Westminster United Church was built and dedicated.  The Presbyterian Church had been torn down and materials from it, including the rafters and the stained glass windows were used in the construction of Westminster.  A new manse was built to the west of  Westminster United Church in 1949.  In 1957, Westminster Hall was built and has been used for many church and community activities.

In 1961, a Memorial Fund was used to purchase chimes for the church.  Many other gifts have been donated by faithful servants who are no longer with us, or given by families in memory of loved ones.  The present pipe organ was installed in 1988-89.  A church parlour and elevator enhance our building and were completed in 1990.

Our congregation has been truly blessed by the outstanding Christian service of it's Ministers and the faithful dedicated leaders of the many organizations within the church.

        Past & Present Ministers of Westminster United Church

Rev. Hugh G. Crozier 1927 - 1933                     Rev. John W. Hedley 1933 - 1937

Rev. R. Watson Langdon 1937-1941                  Rev. C. Elmer Taylor 1941-1947

Rev. Stanley Johnston 1947-1956                   Rev. August Meacham 1956-1962

Rev. Robert Brawn 1962-1968                         Rev. Wells Robinson 1968-1978

Rev. Wesley Ball 1979-1983                               Rev. David Mack 1983-1986

                                                              

                                                                      

Rev. Lloyd Carver (Interim) 1986-1987          Pastor Ross Hargreaves (Visitation) 1986-1993

                                                                      

Rev. Stanley Stanhope 1987-1996Dr. Douglas Ross (Interim) 1996-1997

                                                                         

Rev. Carmen Holbrough 1997-2001                     Rev. Sarah Fanning 2001-2005

            

Stories About Westminster United Church

By Lorna (Young) Ferguson  Written in 2008.

The day that the cornerstone was laid for this church, May 28, 1938, invited dignitaries were present, and my grandfather, at 88 years of age, the eldest of the congregation, was honoured.  My grandfather was Roderick Young Sr.

What was unique about the occasion was that it was deemed to be such an important event in the life of our village that school students from both the former public school an the former continuation school marched to the site enmass to witness this memorable milestone.  With so much vandalism prevalent against our churches of to-day, I cannot envision that this would happen at a cornerstone laying to-day.  But it was important then that the students be present. Some of those living to-day (2008) who would remember are:  Isabelle Varnum, Murray Rutledge, Howard Patience, Dr. Fred McLellan, Robert Manzer and Lorna (Young) Ferguson.

My grandfather spoke, but being only 9 years old, I don’t remember what he said.  He was good at speaking, so possibly he would have reminisced about some history of the two churches which joined to make one church.  These were the Wesley Methodist Church, which at that time stood on what is now our north parking lot, and which burned March, 1950, and the beautiful grey brick St. Andrews Presbyterian Church on the hill east of Thamesford.

Controversies arose on many subjects, mainly the basic beliefs to be taught with the new arrangement, the hymns to be included in the service and of course, even what the new church should be named.  It was agreed that as the new church was build, the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church would be dismantled and used to build the new church.  Consequently, the grey brick were laid underneath the red outer brick of Westminster.  The beams in the ceiling are from St. Andrews, the original pews, and the beautiful stained glass windows in the church were also from there.

Many “small” controversies were delicately handled and resolved, but many took months to resolve, with vote after vote.

For instance, the design of the floorplan took much consideration.  The present design was finally agreed upon, mostly because it created a cross.  Some on the committee were content not to have a centre aisle, but others were adamant it had to have a centre aisle.  The brides appreciate a centre aisle.  So many of our brides have been a guest at a wedding in our church, or even a bridesmaid, and like the church so well, they chose to be married here.

Another controversy was whether or not there should be large front doors on the church.  A group of the committee were sure that it was not economical to have elegant doors.  They were content to enter God’s House through ordinary doors.  When it was evident that most of the committee favoured this opinion, a wonderful parishioner spoke up and said that he felt so strongly that the new structure should have a pair of elegant doors, that he was prepared to foot the bill for their installation, which he did.  His name was Mr. J. M. MacKay.

Everyone agreed on Sunday School rooms with a platform for Christmas and other concerts.  The platform is now “the Quiet Room”, and was the choir room for many years.

I am pretty certain that the organ from the Presbyterian church served for a time at Westminster.  It likely was not very old.  It took the Presbyterians many moons of consideration to agree to have “one of those contraptions” in their sanctuary.  One of their “presenters” who led the music a cappella, was my great uncle Donald Bain, who did not die of old age at 83, but of blood poisoning, for which there was no known cure.

My late Grandmother was one of the first organists at St. Andrews.  Her name was Thurza  (Vanstone) Young.  She died the year I was born, at 79 years old, so I never knew her.

The Lawrence family donated the inspirational stained glass windows at the front of Westminster.  They lived for many years in the stone farm house just north of the railway tracks.

I amazes me that Grandfather and Grandmother Young were buried not in St.Andrews cemetery on the hill, where our Mother and Dad are buried, but in the Methodist cemetery.  Did Thurza have a preference? And, did she actually get her own way on this subject? We’ll never know.

Lorna Ferguson - 2008.

The Sunday School

Highlights 1927 to 1974:

1928Plans made for a joint picnic with the Anglican Sunday School at Springbank.

Mac Young and Gordon Griffin appointed to distribute Hymn Books

1930White Gift Service planned

1931Thanks extended to teachers of C.G.I.T. and Trail Rangers Groups:

Miss Georgia Hogg and Mr. Paul Newton.

1932Memory Course planned, also a Young Worshippers’ League under the direction of

Mrs. Conway. 

1934Junior Congregation leaders:  Mrs. Allan Hogg and Mrs. Conway. 

22 had written and passed their temperance examinations.

1935Average attendance 131  -  highest 168  -  lowest 86

1938Westminster United Church built to replace St. Andrews and Wesley. 

Rev. Watson Langdon, Pastor.

1940 - 1958 – Miss Mabel Oliver, treasurer, assisted in part and followed by Miss Jean McGee

who also served ably and willingly as pianist for over twenty years with the Cradle Roll

Department.

1941Rally Day program used.

      Name of Mrs. D. Hossack appeared in committee for Junior Congregation, continuing for

      over twenty years, with Mrs. Alex Woods associated for quite a few years of this.

1944Alan McKessock Superintendent J.F. McMurray, Associate.

Vote of thanks to Mr. James McMillan for operating lantern.

1946Mrs. McKessock given permission to use one Sunday a month for Mission Band. 

This same privilege continued in 1948 for Mrs. Nancekivell and Mrs. Merritt Hogg.

1948Mac Young, Associate Superintendent; Wesley Nairn, Secretary.

Arrangements made for a Teacher Training Course – Rev. S. R. Johnston, Pastor.

1950Robert Raikes diplomas and pins introduced.

1951Miss Helen Young, Superintendent.

1954Sunday School in charge of the Church service on September 19th.

Return of Miss Grace Patterson after thirty-seven years of Missionary service in India.

Adult Class – President:  Mrs. Wesley Nairn; Secretary: Mrs. Stanley Weir; Treasurer:

Miss Anne Baskerville; Teacher: Mrs. McLellan. 

While Miss Patterson was in India and since a special offering has been taken to help

educate a person or persons in India.

1956Building of Westminster Hall which with the basement of the church now provides ample

accommodation for three groups – Senior and Junior at 10:00 a.m. and the Pre-School

at 11:00 a.m., as well as mid-week activities, this taking place during the pastorate of

Rev. August Meacham.  Superintendents – Senior: Mac Young, Junior: Mrs. Whetstone.

1959115 children under six years enrolled in the Baby Band, with parties arranged for these

and their mothers.  Superintendents – From St. Columba:  Mrs. A. Matheson and Mrs. A.

Hossack, and from Westminster Mrs. Walter Hutchison and Miss Anne Lawrence.  Miss

Patterson associated with Mrs. Whetstone in Junior Dept.

1961Two representatives to Five Oaks:  Carol Hogg and Ken Woods and to Toc Alpha: 

Gary Valentine and Ron Wilson.

1963A banner year.  Enrolment 345.  Average attendance 232.

Under Mrs. Mac Young as secretary 140 received recognition for attendance under the

Robert Raikes plan.  Offering for the year $1,338.38 – Mrs. James Peden: treasurer.

1965Frank Dyer in charge of the Senior Department, Mac Young Junior, Mrs. Arthur Young the

Pre-Schoolers.

1969Under the leadership of Mrs. Austin Gay, the Christian Education Committee took over

the direction of the Sunday School and Mid-week activities.

1972Responsibility for Christian Education came under the Congregational Life and Work

Committee of the Unified Board.

1974Offerings dropped to $521.25 and attendance accordingly, this in spite of dedicated

leadership by Mac Young, Frank Dyer, Mrs. David Elliott and Mrs. Julia Broadfoot and

their teaching staff.  What a challenge to each of us to reverse this trend or we will fail

not only those who have laboured over the years but our Saviour Jesus Christ who

established his church nearly twenty centuries ago.

Mark Marshall

2006-present

Susan Cole 

2008 - 2011

Rev. Tracy Crick

2006-2007

Rev. Mark Marshall   2006 - present

Ordination May 28, 2011

    This cross is on the south wall as you enter Westminster United Church.  It was built out of the former baptismal font which had a plaque on it saying "In memory of Joseph Sifton".  There was a note inside it that said "Made by Eli Eastman, St. Thomas, ON, January 1939." 

The Font was fashioned into a cross by Rev. Mark Marshall's father Stan Marshall, according to Rev. Mark's design.  There were a few candle holders, a small table etc. made out of it as well.

    It is assumed that the font from either Wesley or St. Andrews  was used until this one came in.  The one we use now came to us in 1988, along with the organ, pulpit, fronts to the choir, communion table and choir pews, but the font was given to Zion at that time for their use as they only had a silver-plated bowl.  Zion allowed it back at our request in 2009 and the cross was made at that point.

Westminster Sanctuary in 2010

Sanctuary December 2011

The "upper room" 2010