|
Three years ago a gracious revival came
to this community. The hearts of the people were warmed and their characters
refined by the touch of the Divine Spirit. The attendance at the various
services increased to such an extent that it was deemed necessary to build a
new church to meet the needs of a growing congregation. A year ago last
November (1905) the sills were laid. The school chapel which had been ceiled
and nicely decorated in 1894 was too small for the fast growing
congregation. Three years after the sills were laid, the church was built
and dedicated. We are fortunate to have the account of the dedication.
December 13,1909, was an auspicious time
for the Methodists of Safe Harbour and neighbourhood, the occasion of which
was the dedication of the new Church, commenced during the year 1905, under
the superintendence of the Rev. J.J. Durant, who saw the building well nigh
completed before his departure from the mission. What he did, the dear
brother must have worked hard to accomplish. The closing down of the whale
factory, followed by a succession of poor cod fisheries, causing poverty and
general financial depression, greatly hindered the work. However, with
careful economy and patient perseverance the church has been finished and
furnished. It is now 'a thing of beauty', and if not, joy forever', the
prayer is, that it may be so for a long time to come.
The interior woodwork is all done in hard
pine, including ceiling, rostrum and pews, furnished by Horwood Lumber
Company. The work is of beautiful design and tasteful proportions,
reflecting great credit upon Mr. K. Atwood and all who assisted him. The
chandeliers, lamps, carpets and matting were furnished by Ayre & Sons, and
are in keeping with the rest, giving the building an attractive and cosy
appearance.
Pulpit and communion rail are now Pound Cove United Church.
|
This church bell is now in Valleyfield United Church |
This organ is now in Greenspond United Church.
|
Pews are now in Valleyfield United Church.
|
Collection plates are now in Valleyfield
United Church.
|
Wider shot of the pews.
|
This smaller organ was in the Sunday
School, and is now owned by Sophie King, in Valleyfield. |
The hymn boards are in Valleyfield
United Church.
|
The Church is 55 feet long and 35 feet
wide; has a gallery at the front end, and at the rear end a class room 11
feet by 21 feet. Seating capacity 400. Cost $2,800. The amount of free
labour, $800, included in cost. Present indebtedness is a little over $600.
This, however, will be easily managed, as the building will require little
expense for the many years to come.
The dedicatory service took place in the
afternoon and was conducted by the pastor, the Rev. James Pincock. The Revds.
A.A. Holmes, Wesleyville, and J.J. Durrant, Grand Falls, assisted. The
latter, as was most fitting, preached the dedicatory sermon. The subject was
the parable of the Hid Treasure'. The night subject by the same, was the
parable of 'The Goodly Pearl’. The style of treatment was analytical, and
showed careful study, deep thought and evident conviction.
The day closed with an earnest and
wholesome prayer meeting. The attendance at all the services was good, but
would have been better had it not been for the high wind which prevailed at
the time, preventing many who would have been there, crossing the water. The
day was a good one, and many hearts are grateful to the God of all mercy and
goodness for this much needed and better provision for the worship of His
Name.
Less than fifty years after the
Methodists of Safe Harbour had erected a beautiful church, the settlement
was vacated. In the Fall of 1956, the Bonavista Presbytery offered the
church to the Valleyfield congregation. (Some of the members of the church
had moved to Badger's Quay and Valleyfield, and were now members of the
Valleyfield congregation.) The Trustee Board agreed to accept it, and to
sell any of the contents they did not want. The contents were disposed of as
follows: The seats and bell to Valleyfield; the Pulpit and Communion Rail to
Pound Cove; the lighting plant to Hare Bay; the stove and organ to
Greenspond; Charlie Gillingham bought the Hymn Board and Collection Plates
to be placed in another church in memory of his father.
On March 18, 1958, the Valleyfield
Trustee Board decided to sell the church for $1,000, the proceeds to be
applied to building a manse at Valleyfield. On November 3,1959, Hubert
Granter was given permission to take down the church on a 50/50 basis. The
church was taken down by Edgar and Samuel Knee and Hector and Walter Dyke;
half the material was brought to Valleyfield.
Members of Safe Harbour Church who became
ministers
Rev. Dr. Lester Burry was a missionary in
Labrador for more than twenty years, rendering a full and rich ministry to
the residents and to the hundreds of fishermen from Newfoundland who fished
there every summer. In 1937 he built a radio broadcasting station, which he
operate to broadcast to the trappers who spent three or four months each
winter 'in the country', tending their trapping lines, Evening Services from
the Church in North West River and messages from their families. He built
receiving sets for the trappers. At that time there was no other
broadcasting service in the area.
The other ministers have served not only
in the Newfoundland Conference, but also in other Conferences, and Rev.
George Davis has served in the United States of America. In Shakespeare's
play The Merchant of Venice, Portia a rich heiress, walking up the avenue to
her house one night, upon seeing a light burning in the hall window, says:
How far that little candle throws his beams... Far indeed has spread the
influence and ministry of the Safe Harbour Church.
A house was bought for a manse, and the
material was sold and the money from the sale used towards the cost.
 |
 |
 |
James Gillingham
|
George Stratton
|
Ralph Gillingham
|
 |
 |
 |
| Martin Bourne |
Gord Gillingham |
Jacob Bourne |
Sunday School Anniversary.
A Sunday School Anniversary was held on
Feb.5,1913. The programme was quite interesting, consisting of singing,
dialogues, and recitations. The scholars did remarkably well in the
rendering of their pieces, and the singing by the school, led by Mr. Ernest
Burry, went with a swing. There were one or two items that should have
special mention, viz., a duet by Mrs. Ernest Burry and Mr. John Burry, which
was beautifully rendered; also a trio by Mr. Ernest Burry and his wife and
Mrs. John Burry, which was an inspiration to all who work in the Master's
vineyard. Much credit is due to our esteemed Superintendent, Mr. Ernest
Burry, and his amiable wife for their painstaking efforts in training the
scholars and making the anniversary the success that it was.
Young People's Convention
The first week in December, 1936, a full
one week Convention was held at Safe Harbour, when the young people of South
West Arm and Safe Harbour, gathered each night at 7.30. Miss May Field, the
Young People's Worker for the Presbytery was welcomed by the president Mr.
Harry Granter. Each meeting opened with a period of Community Singing. The
devotional Service was conducted by different members of the group Miss
Field spoke on the organization of the Young people's Society On Wednesday
evening all members of the Society hiked to the next community, Port Nelson,
where a Young Peoples' Service was held, with Miss Field as the speaker. The
last gathering on Friday evening took the form of a practical Literary and
Social program, in which many members of the Society took part. At the
conclusion of the program, the president, on behalf of the Society,
presented Miss Field with a souvenir of Remembrance, who thanked them for
the kind thought and gift.
As well as enjoying the fellowship and
service of the Society, the members are sharing in the Sunday School work of
the Church, and anticipate a good year of work together.
|
