The church by the side of the road
A history of Melville, Riverside, B.C.
by Josie A. Phillips
In the spring of 1928, Tom and Mary Hutton moved to Riverside, which is east of Pouce Coupe, British Columbia, where they filed on a homestead. They soon realized the difficulties of a pioneer country. There was no church or hall where people could gather, and what made matters worse, there was no bridge to cross the Pouce Coupe River. There was a ford, but one could only cross in times of low water. A cable was erected, which was stretched from shore to shore and a basket was attached to the cable in which you could propel yourself across the river in times of high water. The need for a bridge was presented to a member of Parliament. There was a quick response and before long a bridge was built.
Hazel McDonald served at Riverside as deaconess, holding services under a tree, in the summer, out on Brookbank’s the lawn.
It was necessary to have a hall, but there was no money for materials to build one. Fortunately Spencer Tuck provided an acre of land and loaned the money to build a hall. Men in the community went to work cutting logs and trimming them. Others with wagons hauled shingles and lumber from the mill. In a short time church services and school were held in the hall.
About this time a Presbyterian student, Ted Johnson, had been sent out as a summer supply from Montréal. Services were organized, and to the delight of the community, services were started in the hall. Very soon there was talk about building a church in the Riverside area. The people were told if they would build a church, Melville, Montréal would pay for the material to finish the interior. Nine hundred dollars was contributed. With the Huttons donating an acre of property upon which the church was built.
The walls of the interior were finished with white beaver board and varnished pews were installed. A cocoa mat runner was laid down the center aisle. A table in front of the pulpit was used for communion. A large Bible was always left open on the pulpit. A pump organ was installed; Mrs. Burbee was the organist.
The little church was a wonderful place to worship and the door was never locked.
On a beautiful balmy Sunday in February, 1931, the dedication of Melville Presbyterian Church in the Peace River block took place.
We were privileged to have the following men of God to minister to our small congregation.
Rev. Edward Hewlett Johnson a graduate from McGill University; and was awarded the Gold medal in Mathematics and Physics. He studied theology at Princeton and also took post-graduate studies at New College, Edinburgh and the University of Berlin. He later went on to Manchuria as a missionary. His deep love and concern for China and her people continued until his death. This man was responsible for the birth of our church in Riverside.
Dr. Ernest A. Wright – In 1929 he volunteered to pioneer the work in the Peace River country, which included both sides of the Peace River. He frequently conducted public worship at Riverside.
Rev. Dr. Edgar Burch – After he was ordained he served in the Peace River block at Fort St. John, B.C. The church there was named in his honor. He was in Riverside briefly in the winter of 1932. He traveled around the country on horseback or by walking.
Rev. Samuel Brooks – Arrived as a student in and rode horseback visiting people in the area. It was under his direction that we learned the “Catechism.” He was a gentle, quiet man, encouraging the young people to hide God’s Word in their hearts.
Rev. Gordon Peddy – Preached at the Riverside Church occasionally during 1935-1937.
Rev. F. Simpson – Was a veteran of the American Army during the first World War and suffered from a form of shell-shock. A diligent and generous man, he too preached at the Riverside Church.
Lawrence P. Macrea – Although his foremost profession was that a of a civil engineer, he was a dedicated Christian first. He held services in the Riverside Presbyterian Church whenever a pastor was not available. He also taught Sunday School whenever necessary.
Rev. Alex MacSween – He arrived in Riverside as a student minister, a man of great faith, always ready to tackle a difficult job, he had a great deal of determination, always respected by the community. He married Marie Campbell from Riverside.
Robert Armstrong – Served as a student minister during the summer of 1937. He married Margaret Campbell, a resident of Riverside.
Rev. Robert Currie – As a student missionary he preached in the summer of 1938. He said it was his first mission field and had enjoyed it immensely.
The church doors closed after the summer of 1938 due to the fact that several families had moved away. The church was finally moved near the Pouce Coupe River and eventually destroyed, a sad ending to our place of worship.
