Burning the mortgage on the Christian Education Centre, 1975.
Rev. W. Mackenzie and Treasurer D. Rudy share a ceremony at the
new manse.
Burning the mortgage on the Christian Education Centre, 1975.
Rev. W. Mackenzie and Treasurer D. Rudy share a ceremony at the
new manse.
The ready access to Vancouver changed the habits of Squamish churchgoers. Members of the community tended to become a multitude of weekenders, and church services were changed from evening to morning. With increased weekend activities in the community, Church School attendance diminished. This difficulty was successfully overcome by holding a midweek Church School, in addition to the traditional Sunday morning classes.
Rev. Norman Penrose, his wife and their three children (the youngest, a daughter, was the first child ever born to a resident minister in Squamish) moved to Port Colborne, Ontario, in 1964. He was succeeded by the Rev. and Mrs. Harold Wingfield and their three daughters. By this time the manse, which had been the pride and joy of the ladies in the 1930's, was sadly in need of repair. A new manse seemed out of the question, as the mortgage on the Christian Education Centre had yet to be repaid. However, God DOES move in mysterious ways. Mrs. Harold Kyle (formerly Eileen Walton) offered her home on East Depot Road at an exceptionally low price The congregation endorsed the sale of the original manse, with the proceeds to be used to purchase Mrs. Kyle's former home, and in June of 1966, the Rev. and Mrs. Wingfield moved into their new home. The ladies of the U.C.W. assumed the task of renovating and furnishing the new manse. And, as in the past, this has been a continuing obligation. Through their efforts, the home of the minister and his family was well furnished and kept in good condition.
With the arrival of the Rev. and Mrs. Wayne MacKenzie and their children, the congregation began a concentrated effort to repay the outstanding mortgage. The sale of some timber on the manse property brought in a sizeable contribution towards this effort, as well as providing a larger open area around the building. At a farewell luncheon on June 22nd, 1975, the Rev. MacKenzie joyfully burned the mortgage. After twelve years, the Christian Education Centre was free of debt!
With the departure of the MacKenzies for Revelstoke, the Rev. Jack Lindquist and his wife and two small sons came from 100 Mile House to serve the congregation of Squamish United Church.
Throughout the years, the work of the church has depended on countless volunteers. Pictures show (i) Alex McBride helping with logging work at the Manse (13 loads of timber helped to pay down the church debt), (ii) the church choir- already thriving in 1969- joining with singers from St. John's to present the Christmas Cantata "The Celestial Visitor", under director Mrs. E.L. Kristianson, iii) an equally flourishing junior choir in December of 1970, (iv) a Sunday School pageant in October of 1970, with Kellie McIntosh as the Queen of Sheba, the Barr boys as the Three Wise Men, Wendy Halvorson as Miriam, and Kent Halvorson as Moses winning first prizes for their costumes, and (v) some of Grades 2-5 in the crowded Wednesday Evening Bible Class in March of 1972.
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