HomeMy WebLinkAboutX2023-009-001Historic Sketch Of Whitevale
United Church
Historic Sketch Of Whitevale
United Church
In reviewing the history of this
•hurch we find the congregation be-
longed to the Wesleyan Branch of
Methodism. Before the erection of
the first church the cortigregation held
their meetings in private homes led
by local preachers or laymen sent out
by the Yonge Street circuit. Later
this congregation became a part of
the Markham circuit,
The first church was erected ' in
1854, T. P. White being the builder,
situated on the northeast corner of
the present cemetery. The land for
the cemetery and church was donated
by the late Henry Major (father of
A. E. and H. Major). The ministers
associated with this church were Ezra
Proctor, Carson, John Law, Ely, Gra-
ham, Dr. Fowler, John Potts (who
later was honored with the degree of
Doctor of Divinity and occupipd many
Important pulpits in the Toronto Con-
ference.) Betts, Ferguson, Thomas
Campbell. I. N. Robinson, Liddy, Wil..
son, Willa, Emsley, S. C. P.hlUp, and
W. A. V. Pettison, who were in charge
when the present church was erected.
In the year 1883 i;Fip raembep -began
to plan for a now cJ4urchl and at a
meeting of the Quarterly Board of
the Markham circuit, the following
members were appointed trustees for
a new church, narnely -William Major,
John Wilson, Peter R. Hoover, Ales.
ander Peebles, Abraham Flwnilton,
Samuel Lanicin, and Chas. Hodgson.
In the spring of 1884 the present
site was secured and the work on the
new church commenced. Mr. Reuben
Tucker and son having the contract
for the mason work; Mr. Hess of
Markham, the carpenter work and Mr
John Ireeon and son William, the dec-
orating. From early morning till
night teams could be seen drawing
material for the construction of the
church. All being done by volunary
labor. Bricks were drawn from Mr.
Snowball's brickyard situated three-
quarters of a toile west of 7th con-
cession, Markham and south of No. 7
highwity. Material for the seete was
brought by sleigh from Toronto, all
sther zmaterial-,hav4ig_beeq_.secured
locally. Besides free labor, the mem-
bers contributed .by self-denial very
generously of their means.
On the first Sunday In February
1885, friends from far and near joined
with members for the dedication ser_
vice. The building was set apart for
the worship of God where hymns of
praise were sung and prayers of
thanksgiving offered. Rev. N. FL Em-
sley preached the dedication sermon.
The Monday evening following, the
first anniversary dinner was held and
before the night was over, sufficient
funds were donated or subscribed to
meet all indebtedness. One item
which contributed largely to the build_
Ing fund was an autographed quilt
made by ladies of the church contain.
ing 486 names, for which It Is said
Mrs. Henry Major was a most en_
thuslastic canvasser. The quilt wag
sold at this meeting to her son Mr. A.
E. Major for $100. Mr. Major Is
proud to have this In his possession
today. The ladies realized by this
means all told $1000. The total cost
of building was betvOeen $6000 and
$6,000.00.
In May following the opening .of
the new church, Rev. J. W. Totten be-
came superintendent of the circuit
with Rev. W. Wilkinson associate
Kemp was made first pr*Aideat with
pastor. Mr. Wilklr "4.. became the
first resident pastor; In the year
1888 Whitevele withdrew from the
Markham circuit and becama the head
appointment of a nevi circuit known
as the Whitevale ci c with Locust
Hill and Ninth Line. XR 1804 Cherry -
wood was substituted for the Ninth
Line appolntrnent, and Aeae three ap-
pointments form the present charge.
The ministers followigg were J. R.
Real, J. W. Cannam, W. A. Bunner, G.
W. Pickett, J. H. Oke, Petet Camp-
bell, Thos. Scott, Thoa Legate, C. W.
Reynolds, A. B. Ham**, Chas. Lang.
ford, A. E. Owen, Henry S. W. Kemp,
Merritt O. Price, J, F. Hickson, Wal-
ter R. Rackham, and J. U. Bick.
Anniversary occasions were red let-
ter days in the history of the new
church when, friends from the neigh-
boring churches joined with the mem-
bers for spiritual uplift on the Sab-
bath, coming in -sleighloads and being
entertained hospitably in the homes
of the congregation.
On the ]iC[ond y eygpiugs following
tha—bast"rers�rtea-�basattlTtT�'"�ma
were served in the basement of the
church where the chief Items on the
menu were roast beef, plum pudding,
pies, cake, etc. It Is recorded that
on one occasion 200' pounda of beef
were ordered from Mr. Thornton. All
the young people of the congregation
were enlisted to wait on tables and the
event was one of great festivity in the
community.
On February 23 of the same year
a meeting was held in the basement
of the new church for the purpose of
organizing 4 Sunday School. Mr. Wm
Major waa chairman there being 23
in attendance. Officers elected were,
Superintendent, Mr. Thos. Carter; Sec.
J. F. Dale; Asst. Supt., Mr. Liddell;
Tress., W. Major; Librarian, J. F.
Dale, Bible Class, Mr. Hargrave and
Mc. Beare;- Testament Class, Mr. C.
Hodgins, Teacbera, Miss M. Dundas,
Mrs. K. Nighswander and Mrs. R.
Stevenson; hour Of
atlo tg ten S.M.
The first Sunday School session met
aa.-Msreh,-1a0-*t4oft-*Wwi y.4&-being
present, No. of verses, 0. One year
later the attendance was 90, verses
137. The superintendents following
were: Thos. Carter, Wm Hargrove,
C. Ressor, Wm. Major, John Wilson,
W. M. Flummerfeldt, David Annis,
James Todd, Wm. Michell, W. D.
Rogers, Newton Robinson, Blake
Annie.
Names prominent In the early re-
cords of the church were: Carter,
Major, Beare, Hargrave, Dale, Girton,
Reesor, Thornton, Hagerman, Todd,
Peebles, Nighswander, Hoover. Wilson
Dundee, Burton, Laughlin, Beaton,
Annie, Mitchell, Ellison. Hamilton.
Coxworth and many others, whose
names are not recorded offlclally but
who served faitbfully and bore their
share of the responsibility of the
church.
In 1901 the Ladies Aid was organ.
Ized by Mrs. Legate, Mrs. M. M. R.ob_
Inson, being the first president. The
first members were: Susan Burton,
Mrs. W. Burton, Mrs. W. Major; -Mrs.
A. E. Major, Mrs. T. Beare, Mrs. L.
Hanldne, Mrs Young, Mrs. Fuller,
Mrs. Thornton Mrs. Axford, 'Mrs. T.
Hagerman, Mrs. C. Reesor, 'Mrs.
McIntyre, Mrs, W. B. Hagerman.
In 1919 on February 6, the W.M.S.
was organl2ed by=Mrs. H. Kemp. Mrs.
a f6mbership of twenty.
In looking back over the years, we
find that many builders and support-
ers of this church have passed on but
their work[ remains. They built not
only, fouhdations in stone and brick
but were pioneers too of a faith which
found expression in terms of charac-
ter and years of service, and from
their falling hands we receive that
torch of faith with the exhortation to
carry on. In surveying the history
of the church of the last fifty years,
the church has occupied a prominent
place in the life of the community.
Not a few whose faith waa nurtured
through her services have died -bearing
testimony to a faith in God and a
great body of men and women who
recellred their early spiritual instruc .
tion in the great unbroken succession
of church and Sunday school effort
have gone to many parts of Canada
to be builders also of the Kingdom of
God.
Our task Iles In the future. Through
Inspiration of heroic services of the
past we dedicate ourselves anew to
the responsibilities of the present and
we have faith to believe that the
youth of today will step up to take
their place and give leadership in the
church of tomorrow,
This newspaper article, probably of
1935, was found by Dorothy Carter in
a family album in the summer of 1994.
If you are able to help us build the
history for the period 1935 to the
present, we would be please to receive
your contribution. Notes, jottings,
tape-recorded reminiscences, or any
other form will be acceptable.
Reprinted Aug. 1995