Reflections on our Shared History in the United Church of Canada: Pioneer Pastoral Charge (Alsask, Cereal & Oyen) & Knox United, Consort

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1925-2025: Celebrating 100 Years as a Christian Denomination - The Centennial Anniversary of the United Church of Canada

 

 

Alsask United Church in Alsask, Saskatchewan originated from the amalgamation of two pioneer churches the Alsask Methodists and the Alsask Presbyterians who were both founded by 1910 as there was a Presbyterian Church on Main Street in 1910.

On 24 February 1912 the Methodist in Alsask determined unanimously to form a Union Church. This decision though was not fully enacted upon until 11 April 1917 when reference was made of a Union meeting in the minutes of the Methodist Board and it was recorded that the Presbyterians had moved their Church to the Methodist Church.

In 1919 the decision was made by the fledgling Union Church that the new Presbyterian hymnal would be purchased instead of the new Methodist hymnal that was published almost simultaneously that year.

In 1921 the Union Church delayed in calling a new minister because there was some uncertainty whether the Presbyterians would ultimately join an official, national merger of the denominations. It was not until 8 January 1925 as moved by I. Walker and seconded by A. Cook that “we as a body go into the United Church of Canada.”

Rev. C. B. Oakley had been installed the previous year in 1924 and remained through the United Church Formation on 10 June 1925 and ministered in Alsask until 1927 when he moved to a new call.

 

 

Cereal United Church, Cereal, Alberta:

Before 1912 and the founding of the village of Cereal the Methodist Minister Rev. Fawcett travelled by horseback and preached in the region.

In 1912 Rev. Simpson, also a Methodist, became the first minister to reside in Cereal. Quickly a Church and manse were built and the Church was also used as the school for over 6 years until a school was built in 1919.

The Sunday School was started with two students in 1913 but within a year more than 50 children attended Sunday school.

During the year of Church Union in 1925 Cereal was blessed to have two ministers – Rev. Harden had served from 1922 to 1925 and soon after he left to a new call Rev. Smith became the new minister for the Cereal United Church. Cereal maintained having a resident minister until 1937 when Cereal officially joined the Oyen Pastoral Charge with Rev. Smiley serving both congregations.

 

 

Knox United Church, Consort, Alberta:

On 12 April 1926 at the Annual Meeting Knox Presbyterian Church, Consort officially joined the United Church of Canada.

Ministry in Consort had begun many years earlier in 1909 when the Methodist Church of Canada first came into the region.

It wasn’t until 1913 as Consort was rapidly growing that a Church building was proposed. Knox Presbyterian Church hired Congregationalist minister Rev. Sheldon Slater for one year.

Rev. M. J. McNutt was the first resident Presbyterian minister who stayed from 1914 to 1919. He held services in Consort, Loyalist, Monitor, Little Gap & Whitton.

In January 1917 Rev. McNutt leveled an ultimatum to the Knox Presbyterian Board of Managers that if a Church building was not constructed in Consort he would resign. By September of that year (1917) concrete was being poured for the foundation and the official inaugural service for the Knox Presbyterian Church building was Sunday 14 July 1918.

 

Oyen United Church, Oyen, Alberta:

Worship commenced with the settlers in Oyen in 1911 with Rev. Claydon a student minister of the Methodist Church of Canada.

A Methodist church was soon built in the spring of 1913 and the Church was located on the corner of 1st Avenue & 1st Street with Rev. George Steele called as minister to the congregation.

During the week the Church served as a school, and with later additions housed, not only the manse; but also an hospital.

With Church Union in 1925 the Church was renamed as Oyen United Church and as the Church building had become too small for the growing town of Oyen a new Church was built across the street next to the manse and dedicated by the spring of 1930.

 

 

Joyfully compiled from Church records, articles & directories by Reverend Johnny RHOAD 2025!