Eighty-Fifth Anniversary
Of
the United Church of Canada
1925-2010
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Notes on Blackhead – Western Bay Pastoral Charge History
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ecause it is the 85th Anniversary of the United Church of Canada, it is perhaps appropriate at this time to present a few historical facts, including some dates, about the development and evolvement of the Church as we’ve come to know it today in 2010.
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Five years ago when we celebrated the 80th anniversary, our pastoral charge had four churches. Since then, for economic reasons mainly, we’ve downsized to two churches. The point I want to emphasize here is that Church organizations in all faiths have had to be dynamic and fluid over the years in order to meet the changing needs of the times. That will be an ongoing process.
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I will now give you some data about the Church for the Blackhead-Western Bay region dating back to 1816. At that time a Church district was called a STATION. The current term of PASTORAL CHARGE would come much later.
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In 1816 the Blackhead and Western Bay Stations were separate entities and we can assume that the people felt that, if they combined, they could operate more efficiently. And so it was that in 1817 they joined together and became one circuit. TERMINOLOGY: (Station evolved into Circuit, which in turn evolved into Pastoral Charge)
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By 1829, only 12 years after this first union, the circuit of Blackhead-Western Bay divided again. And so it was that in 1832…just 3 yrs later they came together a second time. This union was obviously a little more stable in that it lasted until 1877, a period of 45 years.
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Then in 1877 the records show that they felt the need to go their separate ways again. This latter separation, it seems, must have occurred during a period of spiritual and economic stability because the record shows that that separation lasted for an amazing 90 years. Looking back now, we can conclude that many generations would have lived and passed on without ever having experienced a change in circuit relations.
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It was during this latter period of separation from 1877 to 1967 that saw the Uniting of Methodists (which we were), Presbyterians and Congregationalists into one body of worshippers in 1925 to form what we know today as THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA.
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Meanwhile in 1967, and if you are at least 50 yrs of age you may even recall the event, the Blackhead and Western Bay circuits (or Pastoral Charges as we can call them now) again joined to form one entity.
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We are still today continuing in, and enjoying that same relationship and are happy to report that all appears to be well.
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We’ve been looking at ongoing change in the Blackhead-Western Bay pastoral relationships over the years since the early 1800’s. No doubt the reason for those changes were deemed legitimate and necessary at the time. Within our current Blackhead-Western Bay relationship harmony and well-being seems to be the order of the day. However, in 2006 after much deliberation and debate it was felt that, for purely economic reasons, we should downsize from a four-point charge. Plans were laid out, options were presented, meetings were held and majority opinion was sought and registered. It was decided by majority vote that- a) Blackhead Church would close and join the Broad Cove congregation and that- b) Ochre Pit Cove Church would close and join the Western Bay congregation.
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The changeover went smoothly and well and, with minor adjustments, we are coexisting very well. It is our wish that when someone reads a report to similar this 100 years from now they will be able to finish with the line…”And they lived happily ever after”.
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Trivia Facts...
- 1936 - Ordination of the first WOMAN MINISTER…Rev. Lydia Grouchy
- 1939 - Outbreak of 1st World War…start of Chaplaincy
- 1962 - Women’s Assn. and Women’s Missionary Society joined to form UNITED CHURCH WOMEN
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