HISTORY MONTAGUE CHURCH PRE 1971

MONTAGUE CONGREGATION
HISTORY PRE 1971

Early in Montague's history there were both Presbyterian and Methodist Churches.
Land was offered free to any protestant denomination who would build a church. It was obviously an offer that people of Scots descent could not ignore. In 1874 Alexander MacFarlane agreed to build a church according to plans, including a spire, submitted for a cost of $1,400. Opening services held on September 24, 1876. This church served forty five families in Montague and twenty five from Cardigan. In 1876 a large shed was built at the rear of the church to accommodate the horses and wagons as well as store coal and coal oil for lights and heat.
            The Rev. John MacKinnon, who was minister from 1877-1884, lived in the manse in Georgetown. Considering travelling conditions at the time, his Sunday schedule was rigorous. Sunday morning he preached in either Georgetown or Montague. Then he went to Cardigan for two services in the afternoon (one in Gaelic). Sunday evening he preached in either Georgetown or Montague (the opposite of his morning location). Occasionally he preached in Lower Montague instead of Cardigan in the afternoon.
            In 1881 Georgetown and Montague united into one charge and Cardigan joined with Dundas.
            In 1886 evangelical worship was held in Montague in a tent. For over two weeks this tent was filled twice a day during the week and three times on Sunday. The report declares that those in attendance were all protestants.
About 1890 the Presbyterian Church in Montague, in reponse to congregational growth, added an East wing, formed a choir, and purchased an organ.    Instrumental music was a very contentious issue at the time, but Montague was the first among churches in the area to install a “Kist o'Whistles”. This did not meet with much     opposition. The congregation also adopted the Hymnal, as only the Psalms had ever been sung previously.
            With the formation of the United Church of Canada nationwide, the debate in Montague about the wisdom of such a union was fierce and led to a major split. Those not wishing to join moved to the former Methodist Church, St. Andrew's, and remained part of the Presbyterian Church of Canada. The United Church congregation took over the former Presbyterian Church and became known as Trinity United Church. The congregation continued there until 1971 and the forming of Hillcrest. The building was then leased to the Golden Age Senior Citizen's Club who sub-leased it to various groups from time to time, including the Boys and Girls Club and the Senior Hospital Auxilary for a Used Clothing Depot. When the Senior's Club decided to stop leasing, the building, in need of extensive repairs, was demolished in 1995 and the lot sold.

In 1949 a Men's Association was formed through the efforts of the Rev. A.D MacKenzie. Its main purpose was to foster and sustain good will and fellowship among the men of the church. Supper meetings were held monthly from September until May.
            The first big project was the planning and building of a church hall in 1952-53. Funds were raised by concerts and cake sales. Lumber and labor was donated by the men of the church with Danny MacDonald being the head carpenter. This group won awards for being the most active men's club on the Island. Activities included: public speaking contests, pot luck suppers, ice cream and cake socials, chowder night, baked beans and brown bread supper, variety night, cake and pie auctions and minstrel shows. It was perhaps rare to have a group of men so adept at preparing such a great variety of food as reflected in the above list; unless of course they were just brokers for the occasions.
  The women of the congregation served nobly and well through two groups, the Women's Missionary Society and the Ladies Aid. In 1962 they amalgamated to become the United Church Women.
The WMS was responsible for providing spiritual guidance to the Mission Band (little tots) and the Canadian Girls in Training. They held Mission Service twice a year in the church. Most of their meetings were held in homes. During the Second World War one of their projects was knitting for the soldiers.
The Ladies Aid was the money making group. They had bazaars and suppers too, and things were not too convenient back then. Many of their suppers were at the old Yeo Theatre (later Tudor Hall) in the schoolroom section of the building. They brought all of the dishes and silverware and food, then took the dishes home to wash. When the A.D. MacKenzie Hall was built, a kitchen was included as well as bathroom facilities. This did double duty as both Sunday School and space for other events such as suppers.
            In 1962 the Pastoral Charge (Montague and Lower Montague) purchased land from Vera MacDonald for the nominal cost of $5. This land on Hillcrest Avenue in Montague was used as the site of the new manse to replace the old one on Main Street South.