About

A SHORT HISTORY OF PORT WALLIS UNITED CHURCH

• Late 1940’s presbytery was contacted regarding the large numbers attending Woodlawn United Church. The Rev. JDN MacDonald requested that a student minister conduct a survey of the area. The survey by Mr. Harold Cox of Pine Hill was completed in 1949.
• 27, 1950 Robert E. Butler, of Pine Hill, was charged to serve Port Wallis.
• First Official Board meeting held June 29, 1950 at 263 Waverley Rd (Port Wallis School)
• 26, 1952 Port Wallis recognized as mission field for UCC.
• May 15, 1952 permission to buy Port Wallis School, for $6000, was granted.
• Service of recognition held May 30, 1952 conducted by Dr. MacDonald assisted by Mr. Bruce Suitor student missionary London ON who was presently serving the field.
• During 1952 three youth groups were organized: – C.G.I.T., Explorers and Mission Band.
• Student minister Douglas Earle served the congregation from Nov. 1952 to June 1953
• Eric G. Fullerton from June 1953 to June 1955 under whose leadership the manse was built.
• Congregational Meeting on Jan. 11, 1954 elected five Elders to the session.
• Presbytery approved appointment of a lay member on Nov. 10 1952 but there was no representative until 1956.
• Douglas Earle student of Pine Hill served the congregation from Nov. 1952 to June 1953 followed by Mr. Eric G. Fullerton June 1953 to June 1955.
• Feb 8, 1955 approval as Pastoral Charge was granted. Permission to call a minister.
• The Rev. William R. Seeley, D.D., serving at Bridgetown, N. S. accepted the call and became the first minister of the Port Wallis charge, where he served until 1958.
• The Rev. S. Grant Walls succeeded Dr. Seeley and served until June 1964.
• Electric organ purchased and building committee struck for building expansion on Nov. 24, 1959. Plans approved for McCurdy Brothers Ltd on Jan 12, 1964.
• New facilities used by Nov 1964. Mr. Walls had left and the Rev. AN Holmes came out of retirement to assist. Officially dedicated at 3:00 p.m. 25 April 1965.
• In the 1960’s the community of Port Wallis changed its name to the more historically correct Port Wallace but the church retained the original spelling for legal purposes.
• Holmes served until 1968 followed by the Rev. Morley Bentley until 1970.
• A 3yr trial of sharing the Rev. Ian Lynk, a minister with Woodside-Imperoyal, took place.
• Donald J. MacDonald, a second year student minister, served as pastor with the Rev. E. Victor Moriarity as supervising minister until May 1975 when he was ordained and UCC policy forced a move.
• AST student, Mr. Jeffro Bursey, served as pastor until his ordination in May 1976.
• S.T. student Mr. Ed. Scott served as summer supply following Mr. Bursey’s departure.
• Full time minister approved in 1975. The Rev. S. Elroy McKillop, of PEI, called and served until 1987.
• The Rev. Gordon Stewart served during the six month interim.
• The Rev. Ivan Gregan, of Cape Breton, was called and serves us faithfully to this day with his wife, Thelma and son, William.
• In 2004 expansion was proposed and the first sod was turned on May 3, 1998 and completed by mid-September with a great deal of “sweat equity” from the congregation. Dedication Oct. 4, 1998.
• New steeple planned for and installed in Dec 2000 as it wasn’t included in the first phase of expansion.
• In 2003 the second and third phases of construction were again reviewed to accommodate our growing congregation and the different services held.