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HomeMy WebLinkAbout171"Binder, 24 x 29 cm. collection of photographs, newspaper article and programs relating to the organization and history of the Rouge Hill United Church. " "On Wednesday May 12, 1948, Mr. & Mrs., N, Arthur, Mrs., & Mrs. F, Hoare, Mr. & Mrs. Wm. McLean, Mrs. Trinnell, Mr. S. Paget, Mr. Marshall Cock, Mrs., Reel, Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Cowan, Mrs. G. Fralick, Mr. & Schwalm, Mrs. F. Martin and Rev. J.K. Braham met at the home of Mr. & Mrs. L. Phin to discuss the advisability of having a church in the Rouge Hill areas. A suitable location was discussed. Mrs. E. Schwalm informed the group that there was some property on Kingston Road. Mr. Schwalm headed the Committee to try and obtain an option on this property. At the following meeting on May 25th, the group learned that the Kingston Road property was not available but Mrs. Schwalm owned the land on Rougemount Drive, south of the store and she was willing to sell. Arrangements were made and this property was purchased for $1200.00. In November of 1948 Mr. G. Cowan, Mrs. E. Morley and Mr. Wm. McLean were elected as Trustees of the Rouge Hill Church. When Mrs. Morley moved out of the district Mrs. Phin became a Trustee. On Wednesday June 9th, a general meeting was held in the Rouge Hill School with the purpose of discussing and formulating plans to build a Church and Community Centre for this area. This to be under the Auspices of the United Church of Canada. In January 1949, the Inauguration Meeting of the Rouge Hill United Church Women's Association was held at the home of Mrs. N. Arthur and Mrs. G. Cowan was elected President. This group of women by sponsoring plays, bazaars, teas and cake sales, made a very substantial contribution in the work of the Church and when funds became low, it was the W.A. who gave money to Mr. N. Arthur, Mr. Hap Day or Mr. Raymond Lee, our respective Treasurers, to pay the bills. The efforts of these women have been continuous since that first meeting as the members, under the chairmanship of Mrs. James Smyth, are placing some of the pews and the carpet in our New Church. Before the building of the church began, the Home Mission Council was approached and the representatives from here were well received but advised to take a survey of the area and have a clear picture of the assets both real and promised, When these findings were completed another meeting was held with the Home Mission Council, whose advice was that there were not enough potential members or interested adherents to build and support the type of Church that had been planned. This plan was that the Church would be in the form of a cross. The top of the Cross to be this room 21’ x 40. The arm was to be 40' x 70', this was to be the recreation hall and Sunday School room. The base of the Cross was to be 40- x 60’, which would be the Church itself. This was to be built in three stages. The advice of the Home Mission Council was not accepted and a local contractor, Mr. Cowardine was hired to erect this first part of the buildings. Prior to this building the Sunday School met at the home of Mr. & Mrs. G. Cowan. Mr. Cowan was our first Sunday School Superintendant. Through his untiring efforts the numbers in thisvery important part of our Chruch grew so great that it was felt necessary to enlarge this building. The room which is now the kitchen was built in the winter of 1952-53. The third room was added in 1957. Our present Sunday School Superintendent Mrs. W. Vanderlip and his staff of teachers will welcom the added room in the new spacious basement. " "History of the Rouge Hill United Church Continued: Rev. J. K. Braham organized the first Young Peoples Association which met at Centennial Church. The interval between his Ministry and that of Rev. G.D. Empey was filled by two Student Ministers, Mr. Ken Allen and Mr. Ron McCullough, who were very active leaders in the work of the Young People. The name has changed now to Hi-C, but the Young People are still active under the chairmanship of David Smith, with Mr. Fairburn and Mrs. Phin as Counsellors. Between the appointment of Ministers and during holidays Rev. J. Robinson has been our pastoral guide. The choir has always enriched the service with music. Mrs. F. Hoare encouraged and led our first choirsters. Mr. Schultze was choirmaster for many months. Now Mrs. M. Parr very ably leads our Senior choir with Mrs. G. Dobbin at the organ. The organ being placed here by the undying efforts of Mrs. V. Morgan. Mrs. M. Howard, with her Junior Choir brings delight to some of our services. The Session, whose Clerk is Mr. James Smyth, and the Committee of Stewards, whose chairman is Mr. Wm. Clarke who are responsible for the spiritual and temporal affairs of the Church felt that it was time for expansion. Mrs. Thompson of the Home Mission Board was director of our Building Fund campaign. A number of meetings were held with the Home Mission Council whose experience, advice and financial support were so valuable in putting the tentative plans into action. Mr. W. Saccoccio was hired as Architect and the contract was let to Mr. E. Cuneo, and on December 10, 1961, Dr. J.C. Terrence placed the corner-stone in our nearly completed building. Quiet, efficient, effective and continued leadership since the time of his first service has been given to this Congregation by Rev. T.H. Bagnall. The beautiful furniture which will adorn the Chancel of the New Church was designed and built by him during his summer holidays. It can rightly be said of Rev. Bagnall, that he is a true Apostle of the Carpenter and Leader of almost 2000 years ago. " "MINISTER: Rev. Thos. H. Bagnall, B. A. Phone AT: 2-2024 TRUSTEES: Chairman -Mrs. L. Phin Mrs. McLean Mr. R. Lee Mr. W. Clarke ELDERS: Clerk of Session -Mr. J. Smyth Mr. R. Wright Mr. W. Vanderlip Mr. C. Brown Mr. B. Scott Mr. N. Arthur Mr. W. McLean Mr. R. Lee BOARD OF STEWARDS: Chairman - Mr. W. Clarke (63) — Term of office shown Vice Chairman - Mr. L. MacFarlane (63) — in brackets. Treasurer - Mr. R. Lee (63) Secretary - Mr.M.Copeland (64) Mr. T. Clark (64) Mr. G. Copeland (64) Mr. J. Scott (63) Mr. C. Adamache (62) Mr. L. Phin (64) Mr. B. Scott (64) Mr. R. Wright (62) Mr. C. Brown (62) Mr. H. Watson (64) Mr. H. Harcourt (64) Mr. K. Price— To be Nominated Mr. N. Bell — To be Nominated SUNDAY SCHOOL CHOIR LEADER: — Mrs. M. Parr Jr. Choir Leader— Mrs. M. Howard Superintendent - Mr. W.Vanderlip Ass't. Superintend—Mrs. M.Copeland Treasurer— Mrs. M. Harris Secretary — Miss H. Smyth W.A. 1961 President—Mrs. J. Smyth UNITED CHURCH WOMEN: CHURCH ORGANIST: — Mrs. N. Dobbin Ass't. Organist —Mrs. M. Howard President — Mrs. G. Knott 1st. Vice President — Mrs. H. Arthur 2nd. Vice President — Mrs. W. McLean Recording Sec'ty — Mrs. G. Taylor Corresponding Sec'ty— Mrs. L. Perry Treasurer—Mrs. H. Carey " "REPORT OF SESSION Membership, December 31, 1960———————152 New Members Received in 1961————————11 Removed by Certificate of Transfer————4 Removed by Death————————————————0 Membership, December 31, 1961—————161 (Active Members——108) (Non Active——24) Non Resident——29) Communions—————————————————————4 Baptisms————————————————————————7 Marriages————————————————————————3 Funerals—————————————————————————0 Members of Session James Smyth, Clerk of Session Bruce Scott Raymond Lee Claude Brown William McLean Norman Arthur Wallace Vanderlip Robert Wright " "CHAIRMAN’S REPORT – COMMITTEE OF STEWARDS The story of the Committee’s work during 1961 is the story of a new Church… from half-glimpsed dream to splendid, soaring reality. In January, a brief note in the minutes calls attention to “a thorough discussion of finances, past and present, and the forthcoming meeting with representatives of the Home Missions Council.” That was the beginning. By February, the campaign was well begun and the minutes mention pledges already subscribed. In March the result of the campaign for funds was known. Twenty thousand dollars had been subscribed by members and church adherents. It was time to talk to architects. Accordingly, on April 10th, in a special meeting, the board approved the selection of Wm. Saccoccio as architect for the new building. During the next few months the work went well.. Plans were completed and approved by the congregation. The job went out for tenders. Preliminary cost estimates had indicated that the Church could be built handily for the approximated $32, 000.00 budgeted. Then came the snag. The lowest bid was for over $38,000.00 – and this figure did not include architect’s fee or lighting. Specifications were pared and the cost came down, a little. Finances were reorganized and the bank load increased. The money was found, and the Church has been built. But this Church has not been built without the need for thanks to all those who worked so steadily and so quietly behind the scenes. To all those who helped in a remarkably successful canvass for funds…to all those women of the church who spent countless hours phoning…to the many church members who have subscribed for memorials… to the W.A., for their donation of carpet and pews…as well as to the people of this community who, recognizing an urgent need, cheerfully dug deep to provide the funds that have made the Church a reality…to all of these the Committee of Stewards offers thanks. And a pledge that the effort will not have been made in vain. Wm. Clarke, Chairman, Committee of Stewards. " "BUILDING FUND COMMITTEE REPORT While the funds for our new Church have not been particularly fast in accumulating they have at the same time adopted a fairly stable trend. This trend centers approximately 18% below objective, which calculated on the basis of our Church costs would result in a reduction of $7,200.00. Our first reaction to these statistics might be one of satisfaction and acceptance were it not for one vital point: The Board had gone to some pains to make an accurate assessment of the Church’s resources. The results were based on the opinion of a large group of members and adherents, who’s decision corresponded exactly with the total value of the forthcoming commitments. The unbelievable accuracy of this effort was the yardstick used to mathematically calculate the restricted or extravagant cost of materials available to produce the present sanctuary. With this type of accuracy already having been proved, why then are we nearly one-fifth below our objective? Obviously the onus is on a small group of people who have commited a portion of their money to the effort but for some reason or other have failed either to start contributing or have failed to maintain their estimated weekly givings. This puts the rest of the Church in an unfortunate spot. It is impractical and undesirable to remove one-fifth of the Church building at this stage, just as it is impractical and undesirable for everyone else to increase their already strained commitment by 18%. The solution then is obvious. The members and adherents who have failed to hold up their end of the bargain should in all fairness make a special effort. They should either catch up for past deferences or make new arrangements with the Committee to make their givings more convenient and practical. The Committee, early this year, shall be in touch with those falling in this category and it is hoped that these men shall be received warmly and sympathetically. Please keep in mind that the majority has maintained their end of the agreement just as in all sincerity you have commited yourselves to yours. We hope that within a few months we shall have reached 100% of our current objective. In all faith, can we accept less? R.S. Wright, Funds Administrator. " "January 1962. A WORD FROM THE MINISTER Dear Friends: What is an Annual Report, if not, a brief sketch of our faith in action. A modern translation of St. James Epistle has this to say concerning the relation between faith and action, “Now what use is it, my brothers, for a man to say he ‘has faith’ if his actions do not correspond with it? Could that sort of faith save anyone’s soul? – Yes, faith without action is as dead as a body without a soul”. To survey the work of our church for 1961 is to see that ours is not a dead, but a living faith. It is a pleasant experience to realize this, and yet it is a humbling one, for we cannot help but see as well from this Report that God has multiplied our results far beyond the measure of our faith or efforts. But then, God always does that. He will do so again if we are prepared to put our faith, small as it is, into action again in this new year. And my prayer is, that our church efforts in 1962 may show an ever increasing measure of faith. " "The Telegram, Toronto, Sat., Mar 24, 1962. A HANDYMAN PASTOR A “do-it-yourself” minister is Rev. Thomas Bagnall of Rouge Hill United Church on Rougemount dr. Besides leading his congregation in building their new $35,000 church, Mr. Bagnall made the furniture for the chancel, including he communion table and the pulpit. It has been a long road for this congregation but their perseverance has paid off a beautiful church. " "Left to Right Ken Boyce, Tom Bagnall Ray Lee, L. Phin, Bruce Scott, Bob Wright " "FROM THE MINISTER Dear Friends: What is an Annual Report, if not, a brief sketch of our faith in action. J.B. Phillips in a modern translation of St. James’ Espistle has this to say concerning the relation between faith and actions, “Now what use is it, my brothers, for a man to say he ‘has faith’ if his actions do not correspond with it? Could that sort of faith save anyone’s soul? – Yes, faith without action is as dead as a body without a soul.” To read this Annual Report for 1959 is to see that ours is not a dad but a living faith. It is a pleasant experience to realize this, and yet it is a humbling one, for we cannot help but see as well from this Report that God has multiplied our results far beyond the measure of our faith or efforts. But them, God always does that. He will do so again if we are prepared to put our faith, small as it is, into action again in this new year. And my prayer is, that our church efforts in 1906 may show an ever increasing measure of faith. Your servant in Christ T. H. Bagnall "