Visitors from as far away as Ingersoll and London, and local residents, yesterday congregated at the Maple Grove United Church in Courtice to celebrate its 150th anniversary.
The public seating area of the church, affectionately called ‘The Sanctuary’ was packed, requiring chairs for the overflow of worshippers to be placed in the adjacent hall. The hall also served as the social zone where, after the service, tea was served and celebratory cakes were cut by senior member Ross Metcalf. He was baptized at Maple Grove United Church.
Before the service began, the congregation joined in the singing of God Save The King followed by the Canadian national anthem, O Canada, as an expression of affection for the late Queen Elisabeth II.
Maple Grove United received congratulatory messages for this momentous occasion from the wider church fraternity as well as from sister institution, Ebenezer United Church, also in Courtice.
The generations who have worshipped at the church were remembered with many of the descendants still members, with several in attendance.
During his message, researcher, past pastor and service leader, Rev. David O. Jones, contended that records show worship at the site began much earlier.
He said settlers came into this heavily wooded area and carved out huge farms and maple groves.
“They found a home. They built a church. They became a community.”
The people in the area were already an active congregation, holding Sunday worship in two nearby school buildings, (Baseline and Maple Grove Road); their Sabbath School had been meeting for several years. In this early era, before they had a church and then before the church had an organ, hymn singing started ‘on key’ with the aid of a tuning fork.
The church, however, formally records its history from Sunday, December 29, 1872, when worship was held at 11 am, 3 pm and 5:30 pm. The church was later described as ‘literally filled’ for each service. The next day a tea was hosted at the public school across the road, where 250 persons were recorded as being welcomed. It was followed by a public meeting in the new church.
The main speaker at opening service was Bishop James Richardson of the then Methodist Episcopal Church.
How it began
Historical records show that the land site for the church was provided by Jonathon Porter. Construction had cost $1,600; towards that expense, $900 had already been ‘subscribed’. On December 30, a special appeal inspired donations which paid off the remaining debt.
The next construction project, adjacent to the church, was a large shed. It offered shelter for horses and buggies, while also being a large space for more informal festivities such as the Sunday School and anniversaries. A two-storey Sons of Temperance Hall had been built in the 1890s, north of the shed. It served temperance meetings, and was available for large community and church uses. Both have gone by now.
Major changes to the building in 1938 included extending the outer wall westward, to provide more sanctuary seating, creating a northwest entrance vestibule, and enlarging the choir loft. The problem of having only one Sunday School room was solved by raising the sanctuary floor by three feet and enlarging the dimensions of the basement, greatly increasing the area for Sunday School classes while also enabling a kitchen downstairs.
Reminiscent of the 1872 fund-raising, the 1938 ladies of the congregation served a supper, enjoyed by 800 people, with proceeds going towards the cost of the renovations. Similarly too, with the supper, a concert, and final donations, one day after the church’s re-opening, the full $4,000 renovation cost had been paid.
The last renovation, in 1964, saw the Christian Education Hall built onto the north of the church, replacing the old shed but continuing its tradition as a spiritual and social gathering space.
Like many other ‘milestones’, the 125th anniversary was the occasion for improvements, with the purchase of a new organ, replacing the former one after 45 years.
Maple Grove United Church has seen a 100, 125 and 150 years go by. Yesterday, the church was filled with Canada’s aging population. There was a Children’s Time scheduled, though sadly there were no little ones. But hope for the 175th and then the 200th springs from the sprinkling of the younger people seen in the congregation.
Maple Grove United Church in pictures
