Rev. Alexander Matheson (1885-1891)
The Rev. A. Matheson was a son of one of the original Red River settlers, and was born in Kildonan, Manitoba in 1827. In 1860, he was ordained, becoming minister to the congregation in Lunenburg.
Called to serve in Little Britain, Manitoba, he left the Lunenburg congregation only to return in 1885 to be inducted again to what had become a two-point charge – the Lunenburg-Avonmore congregations.
By 1887, Avonmore had 110 members in the Sabbath School, 14 teachers and officers, and a Blue Ribbon Society of 175 pledged members. In 1888, the Session members committed themselves to visiting members at home twice every year.
The church, which had been built in 1877, was becoming too small for the congregation, and some members lived more than a mile away from the Paul’s Hill building. In 1889, a special meeting was held to discuss whether they should renovate the current building or build somewhere else.
By 1889, Avonmore Presbyterian Church had 138 members in the Sabbath School, with an average attendance of 80. Mr. Elias N. Shaver offered land in the village for the church as long as the congregation paid legal costs. The offer was accepted; Presbytery approval was obtained, and the new church was built.
Dedication services were held in November 1890 with Principal McVicar of Presbyterian College (Montreal) as guest speaker.
In 1891, the Rev. Matheson was called once more to the congregation at Little Britain, Manitoba, and resigned from the Lunenburg-Avonmore pastoral charge.
The following year (1892), the two congregations were strong enough to be split.