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Westminster has had a fine history of Ministers, each with a special memory. We have had great members down through the years - trustees, session, stewards, church secretaries, organises and choir leaders, choirs, men's clubs, Women's Missionary Society, United Church Women, Canadian Girls in Training, Explorers, Messengers, Cubs, Scouts, Tyros (all with their dedicated leaders), Sunday School teachers and children, young peoples. There Continued on Page 14. The new church's cornerstone was laid on June 18th, 1952 and during the next few months great interest was shown in the progress. Finally, the big day arrived and the dedication service was held on February 22nd, 1953. It was a cold and blustery day for our Cubs and Scouts, with bare knees, to lead the parade of Sunday School children from the old building to our lovely new edifice. As this building had always been thought of as Sunday School, the plans for the "New Church" were always in the background. Eventually the site was chosen - 69 William St. A fund was started and plans were made. It was also decided we should have a manse, and it was a this time a lovely home was bought on Queen's Dr. For those who can look back to the Sunday School building on Main St., there are many memories. In the beginning there was a swimming pool under the auditorium. This was used by the Y.M.C.A. However, this proved too expensive and it was decided to cover over the pool, making a lovely Primary Department for our Sunday School. It was also used for meetings, children's events, concerts, Explorers, Cubs and Scouts and many other events. Do YOU remember? On March 27th, 1913 the Cross St. church was closed and all services were held in the Sunday School building. A new pipe organ was installed in 1923 and there began a wonderful history of music. . In 1911 it was decided the church should have a new name -- Westminster Presbyterian Church. United services in the summer months began with the Methodist congregation in 1910. In 1925 Westminster Presby- terian became a congregation of the United Church of Canada and henceforth has been known as Westminster United. A choir was formed and Sunday School was operating in 1873; a Young People's group in 1892. As the Sunday School grew, it was decided in 1910 to purchase land on the corner of Main and Mill St. (now Bellevue Ores.) and erect a Sunday School building. In 1930 Westminster and Central congregations began union services during July and August, and later Weston Presbyterian joined with us. This has been a happy relationship. Our church was first lighted by electricity in 1902 but returned to gas lighting the same year. However, we have had electricity since April of 1909. One can imagine the struggle trying to form a new congre- gation. There are several years where no records of the congre- gation can be found, but in 1865 the first church building was built on the present site of Weston Presbyterian Church on Cross St. The busy and active life of the church began. In the beginning this congre- gation held their meetings in at least two private homes previous to 1847. However, in the autumn of 1858 the congregation was organized and was named Weston Free Church. the CENTENNIAL page 4 Westminster United Church On Friday, Apr. 14, 1854, a notice was inserted in the Toronto Mirror calling a meeting for "the second Sunday after Easter the -30th instant," the results of that meeting appeared in the May 5, 1854 edition which read, "we are gratified to find the Catholic inhabitants of Weston and its vicinity have taken effective steps to secure the speedy erection of the projected Catholic Church at that place." The original structure of Westminster United Church was located at the corner of what is now Bellvue Ave. and Weston Rd. This building was used as a Sunday School. Due to many obstacles no immediate steps were taken to build the church. Consequently Mass was said only once a month in Weston, the first Mass being said in the home of Patrick Chap- man. This site was approved by Bishop de Charbonnel and on Jan. 29, 1853 Mr. D'Arcy signed the deed which transferred the ownership of the church site from his name to that of the Episcopal Corporation of the Diocese of Toronto. The said lot was "fronting on a cross street nearly parallel with the plank road and extending from John D'Porters' to James Cousins' land; it has a frontage of one chain on said cross street, by three chains fifty three links more or less, nearly back to the Guelph Railroad." In the year 1852, Patrick Chapman and Patrick D'Arcy of Weston were appointed by Bishop de Charbonnel to collect funds for a parish church. Before the close of that year, Patrick D'Arcy bought the land for the building, which was one third of an acre formerly purchased by John Lawrence from Woodberry Card. St. John the Evangelist Parish was established in 1853 by Mgr. de Charbonnel, catholic Bishop of Toronto. The Basilian Fathers, who came from France in 1852, and resided at St.Michael's Cathe- dral, accepted the responsibility of servicing the parish. People from as far away as Pinegrove, Kleinburg and Clairville as well as Weston attended St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church which was constructed in 1854. S hn h E Ii t. Jo t e vange st By Ruth Railings The old frame building served the purpose of worship\of the Weston Catholic community till 1953 (99 years) when on June 21 at that year, Cardinal James McGuigan attended the centen- nary celebration of the parish and turned the sod for a new church. The parish and school was attended by the Basilian Fathers until 1875, by priests from St. Helen's Church, Bockton until 1895; from St. Cecilia's West Toronto until 1908 and the Basilian Fathers until 1913. In that year St. John's was given its first resident pastor, Rev. Charles Richardson. 1966 saw the erection of the present day school. During the years children have been taught by the sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Faithful Companions of Jesus, the latter presently at the school. St. J ohn's separate school was organized in 1856 and the sacristy of the church served as a school house until 1892, when a single room building was erected. In 1921 an addition was built giving the school four rooms. The top two rooms served as a parish hall in the evenings and over the weekends. The congregation consisted of people from the villages of Burwick/ Pinegrove, Kleinburg, Clairtille, as well as families within a mile of the village of Weston. In an old account book used during Archbishop Lynch's administration one reads under "City Parishes' Weston" Patron: St. John the Evangelist, Church: Frame, Dimensions: 60 x 40, Estimated cost: $2,000.00. Debt: None, Separate School: One, Pastor's Name under whom the church was built: Father Soulerin. On Sunday, Sept. 17, 1854 the Solemn Benediction and Inagur- ation of St. John the Evangelist Church, the First Catholic Church in Weston, took place. Continued on Page 14. At a meeting on Sept. 26, 1907 at the home of Mrs. Dixon, North Station Street (now 153 Rose mount Ave.) it was decided to organize under the name of "Alex. ander Memorial Baptist Church" in memory of Rev. John Alexander, late pastor of Dovercourt Baptist Church. (Although the name fell Among the residents of the village first attracted to the tent meetings were Mr. & Mrs. George Pollard - whose house was next door. He was the local black. smith. When Rev. McIntosh start. ed unloading the tent and chairs on the lot next door Mr. Pollard offered to help. A couple of weeks later a storm blew the tent down and it was taken in the Pollard home for repair and that is how the Pollards became interested in Weston Baptist Church. .v "A Baptist cause, after an ex- tinction of several years, was begun here on Sunday, July 28, at 3 p.m. The service was held in the Home Mission tent. There were 45 present and the offering amounted to $2.56. Bro. Curlett kindly brought the organ from Memorial Church, Toronto. Bro. Curlett also gave us free use of his lot for the tent" (Located on the west side of Main St. South) All records of this church in Weston abruptly end in May, 1894. The year is now 1907. A young minister, Rev. John McIntosh, accounts of the first meeting. "In the spring of the present year (1893) the brethren at High- field (now known as Rexdale) having applied to the Home Mis- sion Board, for the services of a student for the summer, it was deemed advisable. . . to open services at Weston and therefore ascertain what prospects' existed for the inauguration of a perm- anent Baptist interest. . . The meeting of organization was held on Thursday evening, September 14, 1893, in the Oddfellows Hall, Church St. Weston, there being about 25 present." The first Baptist congregation in Weston met in a tent, erected on their present site, in 1907. There were 45 people in attendance and the collection amounted to $2.56. A Baptist Church was organ- ized in Weston in 1893. Unlike some early Ontario towns, founded by specific religious communities, Weston was developed as a milling town, thus inviting many religious groups who were interested in the promising industry. A small population scattered throughout a large area created a problem providing clergymen for all the various sects. Originally religious services were held in barns, houses, taverns. and various public places. Around the time of the early 1850's, original Weston Presby- Weston Baptist Church by Arlene Huff A Milling Town Attracts By Jan. 19, 1944 total member. ship was 164, active members, 122. During this time a new Minchell Electric organ was presented to the church by Mrs. George Swan on behalf of the choir. Rev. Albert Ejkenaar became pastor in 1939. Interest in mis- siorys became prevalent. .' In 1942 Weston Baptist Church began a home mission project on the outskirts of Thistletown (Elmlea). On July 13, 1947 Deacon George Pollard (the only surviving charter member) turned the first sod for the long awaited new building. Pastors from 1922-1936 were Mr. A.S. McGrath, Mr. G.A. Brown, Rev. J .C. Williamson. . In 1937 Mr. Norman Dabbs a McMaster student was called. He later married Lorna Gastrell and they went to Bolivia as missionaries. Norman Dabbs and seven others were stoned to death by natives on Aug. 8, 1949, Pastor Sloat resigned in 1911, Rev. Harriss Wallace was pastor until 1914.'Brother E.D. Renaud was pastor 1914-15. There were now 56 members. In April 1919, Mr. HE. Winte- mute became pastor at a salary of $800.00 per year. In 1922 Mr. Wintemute went to Bolivia as a missionary. t June 1909 the pastor's salary was raised to $14. per week. In August 1908 the property on which our church now stands was purchased. At the meeting in 1907, 21 character members were recorded. Bro. J.L. Sloat was called to be pastor at the remuneration of $8.00 per week. First sod was turned Aug. 1, 1908 by Mrs. Dixon, a charter member of the original church in 1898. into disuse it was the official name of our church until changed to "Weston Baptist Church" at the annual meeting Jan. 23, 1945.) The Catholics started holding mass in the hotel of the community. Since the 1830's the Anglicans in the Weston area have had a church building. They were originally part of the Etobicoke congregation of St. Philips. terians, who appear to be of the Free Church, held their first services in the home ofCaptain John Pirrite, the local teacher. Later, in 1907, the Baptist congregation first met in a tent on the property of the black. smith of the town. Continued on Page 13.