B8—The RECORD—Thursday, January 24 1991

Community rallied together to help build church

Here is another in our series of ar­
ticles on churches in the Brome
County region written by local
authors.
By Joyce Fortin Blakeslee
and Phyllis Hamilton
There is no record of when the
first Methodist Chapel was built in
Stanbridge East but C.M. Day in
her book, “History of the Eastern
Townships” published in 1869 page
309, states that the Weslyn Society
had built a Meeting House in Stan­
bridge East in 1861.
Examination of the will of Mat­
thew Saxe mentions his gift of land
for the brick academy across the
road from the church and also says
that he donates to the Methodist
Church any amount due to him
from a former transaction — based
on this information it is assumed
that the chapel site was given to
him.
By 1806 the elders of the Weslyn
Methodist were keeping records of
baptisms and burials and we note
that on Dec. 28, 1806, Brother John
Draper baptized 15 adults and chil­
dren at one service. The names in
these records are familiar ones of
today such as Corey, Sager, Boom-
hower. Phelps, Gage and many
more.
From an early minute book now
preserved in the Missisquoi Mu­
seum at Stanbridge East, we note
that Brother Richard Gageof Stan­
bridge Centre applied for a license
to preach and was accepted in 1806.
Nathaniel Gage was another
early travelling preacher in 1807.
There is a record of the baptism
on Oct. 1, 1813, of Albro Gage, son
of Richard and Sarah Gage. It is
also written that Richard Gage had
his license to preach renewed in
1812 The minutes also state that
Eliza Sager was baptized by sprin­
kling in 1812.
In 1825 each member was asked
to donate a penny per week to the
Church. The first minister was lis­
ted in 1839 as J.B. Brownell.
Before 1819 Methodist Societies
were controlled by the American
Conference but after that, the Ca­
nada District Meeting W'as held in
Kingston. Ontario.
In the minutes of the Quarterly-
Meetings of the travelling Ste­
wards. it is written that a meeting
was held on May 8, 1865, in the
Methodist Chapel at Stanbridge
East.
By 1881 the chapel could no lon­
ger accommodate the growing
congregation so with the encoura­
gement and zeal of the incumbent,
the Rev. Samuel Jackson, plans
were made for the building of the
present church. It was built on the
same site and the first chapel was
incorporated into the larger struc­
ture.
CROWDS GATHERED
According to the Cowansville
Observer newspaper of July 1884,
crowds of over two thousand
people gathered on Dominion Day,
July 1,1884, to witness the laying of
two cornerstones for the new
Methodist Church. One was laid by
the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of
the Province of Quebec and the
other by Mrs. E.E. Spencer of Fre-
lighsburg, wife of the members of
Parliament for this district.
The beautiful engraved silver
trowel which she used on this occa­
sion was presented to the church
by her son and daughter-in-law,
Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Spencer on
Nov. 29, 1964, at the celebration of
the 125th Anniversary of Stan­
bridge East Lrnited Church.
The actual building began in
May 1884, and was completed on
Jan. 8, 1885.
Rev. Samuel Jackson worked ti­
relessly and without pay and gave
generously toward the building of
this church. When it was done, his
wife, Lucinda Pierce Jackson,
gave the money for the bell, which
after more than a hundred years
still calls our people to worship. A
plaque in the front of the church
was placed by their daughter, Jen­
nie, in memory of her parents.
MONEY SCARCE
The subscription book of the
Building Committee shows that as
"hard money” was scarce many
pledged days of work, a man and
team, a load of lumber, or so many
loads of stone.
As is usual in Stanbridge East,
the community rallied around to
help in the building, regardless of
their church rallied around to help
in the building, regardless of their
church affiliation. The list of subs­
cribers included the names of Bap­
tists, Adventists, Roman Catho­
lics, and Anglicans, and all rejoi­
ced to see the results of their labor
and generosity.
According to The St. John News
(Jan. 23. 1885. the new church was
45 x 36 feet with the ceiling of 16-
feet-6-inches. Fifteen feet of the old
church was torn down in order to
make room for the new structure,
the remainder forming a room 25
by 30 feet, which serves as a Sun­
day School Room and church hall,
and is separated from the main au­
ditorium by folding doors.
An interesting feature of the inte­
rior is the gradually sloping floor
which descends from the rear of
the church to the sanctuary plat­
form at about Vi inch per foot.
The foundation is of split granite.
Irwin Unwin was the master ma­
son. The brick walls were laid by
Schoolcraft and Vaughan assisted
by other local workmen. The car­
penter work was done by H.N.
Tucker and W.E. Wright of Stan­
bridge East.
800-POUND BELL
A graceful tower, built in the Vic­
torian Italianate Style, rises at the
South West Corner and provides a
commodious vestibule. The fine to­
ned, 800-pound bell hands in the
belfry.
Elijah E. Spencer. MP for the
county, presented the church with
the elegant pulpit suite which
stands on the platform of the sanc­
tuary. It consists of a black walnut
pulpit and communion table and
three large high backed carved
chairs upholstered in crimson
plush — all of which cost $107.
Messrs. Crather and Caverhill of
Montreal presented the 5-piece sil­
ver communion service and W.H.
Rosevear of St. Lambert gave the
collection plates. The windows,
doors, pews, communion table and
rail were made by Lambkin
Brothers of Riceburg.
Other memorials are the pulpit
table dedicated to the memory of
Barry Gage, who was killed in 1965
in a tragic automobile accident
when only 18-years-old, and a glea­
ming mahogany baptismal font gi­
ven in memory of Angela Gage Be-
lisle by her family and friends.
Wesley and Louie Gage are the pa­
rents and long time loyal workers
in this church.
A beautiful stained glass window
in the south wall of the church
commemorates May and Edmund
Hodge who served this their
church for over 60 years.
STAINED GLASS
The two lovely stained glass win­
dows in the front of the church
chancel are in memory of the Rev.
John Carlton and Mrs. Carlton.

VILLE DE LAC BROME

122 Lakeside - C.P. 60
(Knowlton) JOE 1V0 Lac Brome, Que.
Tel: (514) 243-6111 — Fax: (514) 243-5300 v
Province of Quebec
Town of Brome Lake
PUBLIC NOTICE
Sale of Immovables for Non-Payment of Taxes
Public notice is hereby given that by virtue of resolutions No. 90-3 23 and
91-12 of the municipal council, dated respectively December 10th, 1990
and January 14th, 1991, the immovable properties hereinafter described
will be sold by public auction at the Fire Station, 27 Mont-Echo Rd., on
Wednesday, February 20th, 1991 at 1:30 p.m. for payment of municipal
and school taxes, interest and costs, unless these taxes, interest and costs
are paid before the date of the sale.
All immovables sold will be subject to the one year right of redemption.
They shall be sold with building(s) erected thereon, circumstance(s) and
dependency(ies) if any, subject to any servitude(s), both active and pas­
sive, apparent or unapparent which may affect them.
The purchase price of each immovable must be paid in cash or by
certified cheque.
All lot numbers are of the Cadastre of the Township of Brome.
# Centroide Owner & Address # lots Area
of property sq.
feet
8209-22-2090 HEATH, John & 1182 21,780 W.Æ&
Heather V
68 Victoria
Knowlton sector
8012-37-4505 BRACK DAY, Grace A. 928-36 30,164
Walter, James Ellis 928-28
John A., Jane A. &
Linda v **«' -*■
68 Robinson Bay
Foster sector
Given at Lac Brome this 18th day of January 1991.
Lisa Merovitz, •• • - *
Town Clerk
Stanbridge East’s United Church was built in 1HH4.
 The RECORD—Thursday, January 2J l»>M—B9

i housands gathered for laying of cornerstones

The congregation gave the left one
“to the Glory of God and in memory
of the Rev. John Carlton who was
their beloved pastor for 15 years”,
and the right one was installed by
the Carlton family in memory of
their Mother. The cross hanging on
the wall between these lovely win­
dows is in memory of James Witts,
placed there by his wife. Hazel
Stone Witts.
Music has always been an impor­
tant aspect of the Worship Service
in this church. The first organist
was Charlotte Briggs, who became
the first bride to be married here to
Charles Blinn. her minister, and
the Rev. Samuel Jackson offi­
ciated.
Her granddaughter. Mildred
Blinn Bracey of Richmond Wales
Home, has a bible presented to her
grandmother on this occasion by
the Rev. Jackson. Other organists
have been Mrs. Robert Kidd. Mrs.
Edmund Hodge, Mrs. Neil Baker,
and Irene Boomhour.
During the early 1930s, a small
group of young ladies who were
known as the “Unity Club” purcha­
sed a Casavant pipe organ from the
Congregational Church in Granby.
A plaque attached to the organ is
inscribed “in memory of the
workers of this church who have
passed to their reward.”
DEPRESSION DAYS
Raising the necessary funds to
oav for the organ
pay orean was quite
nuit*» an un
un-
dertaking during depression days
but they succeeded by presenting
dramas and holding food sales and
twenty-five cent suppers on Satur­
day night
The new organ was first played
by Kate Wescott Blinn. Later orga­
nists were Harold Hodge, Mrs.
Raymond Westcott and today Es­
ther Black Wescott, who is over 80
years old, provides the beautiful
music from this old organ every
Sunday morning.
The Wescott, Lackey and Fortin
families have played an active
part in the choir of this church and
their descendants continue to offer
their talents.
As in all early churches, the La­
dies Aid provided the backbone for
maintaining the building and
manse and bringing relief to the
less fortunate of the community. A
small group of dedicated women
served suppers and raised money
to pay for repairs and renovations
through the years.
It is interesting to note that in
1921 a vote was taken by the Quar­
terly Board of the Church — “Of
allowing women equal rights and
privileges with men to become pro­
bationers and ministers of the
Church.” The result was 10 against
— 1 for.
BRAVE MAN
It would be interesting to know
___ _____
who that brave man____ -
was.
There is no record of a vote to
allow women to pay half of the mi­
nister's salary which they usually
did
The Young People's Association
and Sunday School were also very
active during these years with a
membership of between 20 and 30.
On Christmas Night there was
the Christmas entertainment, or
“Christmas Tree” as it was called
locally. A huge tree loaded with red
cheese cloth candy bags, oranges,
nuts and presents stood just inside
the church door and the old wood
stoves gave off a lovely warmth
and glow.
The children gave their recita­
tions. sang their songs and recei­
ved their present. Occasional mis­
takes were often more entertai­
ning than the productions them­
selves. The church was always fil­
led to capacity and it wasn’t Chris­
tmas unless one attended the
«. ..
Methodist “Christmas Tree.
Now the “Christmas Tree” has
been replaced by a pre-Christmas
Carol service, the Unity Club and
the wood stoves are gone, as well
as many of the descendants of the
original dedicated folk But some
faithful descendants, as well as the
Sunday School, are still here and
taking an active part in the work
and life of their church — raising
their families within the sound of
the old bell.
BEDOFRD CIRCUIT
In 1922 Stanbridge East was un­
der the Dunham charge along with
Frelighsburg, Stanbridge Ridge.
Farnham's Corner and Stanbury..
However, in 1925 the Methodist
church became part of the United
Church of Canada and since 1950
Stanbridge East has been attached
to the Bedford Circuit.
For the first time, since 1839,
Dunham w'as no longer the head of
a circuit as it came under Cowans­
ville. With a history of many dedi­
cated church men who have served
this parish in the past, in 1990 it is
the Rev. Vicki Cowan who serves
as minister.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stanbridge East Church Centen­
nial — 1984
Stanbridge — 1890-1990
Stanbridge East Church Re­
cords
Settlers coming into a new and
challenging land developed their
communities around the church
and most schools were started by
the religious educators of the day.
With this in mind the Sir John
Johnston Branch of the l !ni ted Em -
pire Loyalists are researching the
history of many of the old churches
of the Eastern Townships. Anyone
wishing to submit a history of their
local church can send it to: Phyllis
Hamilton. 555 Church St.. Granby.
Quebec. J2G 4S2.

VILLE DE LAC BROME

122 Lakeside C.P. 60
Knowlton, Qc JOE 1V0
Tel: 243-6111 IS PRESENTLY LOOKING FOR A SALESPERSON TO
PUBLIC NOTICE
CONSULTATION: CR-1 CS-1 AND CB-1 ZONES SELL ADVERTISING IN THE BROME COUNTY AREA.
To persons interested in a zoning by-law for the CR-1, CS-1 and CB-1
zones, public notice is hereby given that:
1. During a regular meeting held on the 14th of January 1991, the
municipal council adopted a by-law project, now given number 177 THE CANDIDATE SHOULD:
and entitled "Prohibition against operating ponds for used water
purification". The nature and effect of the projected by-law is to
prohibit the operation of septic ponds for the purification of used
water. A) BE FLUENTLY BILINGUAL
2. A public consultation meeting for these purposes will be held on
Monday, February Uth, 1991 at the Oddfellows Hall, 476 Knowlton
Rd. at 7:30 p.m., at which time the council will explain the by-law B) HAVE EXPERIENCE IN SELLING
project and the consequences of its adoption and receive input from
the parties concerned.
3. The by-law project may be consulted at the Town Hall during regular C) BE A SELF MOTIVATOR
working hours.
Given at Brome Lake on this 24th day of January 1991.
D) OWN A CAR
Lisa Merovitz,
Town Clerk
E) KNOW THE AREA RELATIVELY WELL
WEST-BROME POSTER
F) ENJOY BEING REMUNERATED ON A COMMISSION BASIS
route 243

1 route 104
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, WHY NOT CONTACT ME?
KNOWLTON
I WOULD APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU!
LLOYD G. SCHEIB
route 104 819 569-9525
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