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THE HISTORY OF ST. JAMES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

By Reverend Harold M. Wiest

 

PRE-HISTORY

 

St. James Church was not the first Presbyterian congregation in the area.  When the Peace River district began opening up in the early 1900’s to adventurous settlers seeking homesteads, Mr. Robert A. Simpson of Brookline, Ontario agreed to do work in a new outpost mission planned for the Peace River area.  In 1903, the Presbytery of Edmonton established the Peace River Mission with Mr. Simpson as its first missionary.  During his first year of work, he established a congregation in Pouce Coupe consisting of 3 families.  In late 1905, Mr. Simpson withdrew from the field, and the work came to a standstill.

 

In 1909, the Rev. A. Forbes, convener of the Home Missions Committee at the Edmonton Presbytery, and his wife began a journey into the heart of the Peace River district, visiting all the settlers from Bezanson to Pouce Coupe.  He urged the Presbytery to begin its work again, but efforts to find suitable men were unsuccessful.  But Mr. Forbes had seen the need, and after a successful 15-year ministry in Fort Saskatchewan, he went as an ordained missionary in charge of the church’s work in the frontier.

 

In July 1913, the Reverend R.F. Thompson entered the district to assist Mr. Forbes in his mission work.  Mr. Thompson went to the Pouce Coupe territory but his interest turned to Peace River Crossing which he considered a strategic point because of its steamboat connections with Fort St. John and Fort Vermilion.

 

In 1920, the General Assembly, at the request of the Presbytery of Edmonton, formed the Presbytery of Peace River.  Statistical records show that Mr. J.P. Henderson served the pastoral charge consisting of Pouce Coupe, Swan Lake, Ft. St. John, and surrounding villages.

 

The work that was begun in the Peace River district happened because of the self-sacrificing service of many men and women who served under extreme conditions.  Pastoral charges were widespread and resources were limited.  Much of the work had continued only because of mutual respect for other denominations, and arrangements whereby certain areas would be reserved for only one denomination.

 

Arguments from history and tradition did not have a strong effect upon these pioneers, and when the question of Union with the Methodists and Congregationalists arose in 1925, all the Presbyterian Churches in the Peace River Presbytery voted in favour of Union.

 

The (remaining) Presbyterian Church in Canada wasted little time in beginning work again in the Peace River country.  In the summer of 1928, 2 students were deployed to hold services and to begin organizing the work of the church in this locale.  They felt frustrated in their work, as most of the time was spent traveling from place to place, and “with a student or one who has not the authority to marry people, our work is in a measure handicapped.”

 

The 1930 report of E.A. Wright missionary-at-large for the “frontier fields”, to the General Assembly stated:  As you will see by the map there is a proposed railroad extension from Hythe to Pouce Coupe and scores of settlers are taking up land in this area.  I, therefore, earnestly desire a student for the summer, followed by an ordained man, who might be stationed at Pouce Coupe.  He could reach out to the Peace River Block in British Columbia which as yet I have been unable to do, but which is most necessary.

 

The following year student minister Mr. E. Johnson made his headquarters in Pouce Coupe, and started a work there and at Riverside (about 7 miles east of Pouce Coupe).  So successful was his work that it was continued after he went back to college, and on February 8^th of that year, a new log church dedicated free of debt with the necessary money being supplied by Melville Church, Montreal, of which Mr. Johnson was a member.  Mr. Herman Meerman, longtime member of St. James, helped to build Riverside Church.  During the same year work was also begun in Dawson Creek, and a Mr. MacRae, Principal of the school at Pouce Coupe, helped with services there and at Riverside.

 

Also helping during this time was Miss Hazel McDonald, a deaconess, who provided continuity when the student ministers returned to College.  Miss McDonald was an untiring worker – holding camps for girls, preaching at Tupper, Riverside, and High Ridge, establishing Girl Guides in Pouce Coupe and Dawson Creek, and providing leadership for the Riverside Church Circle.

 

In 1935 another student, Mr. Alex F. MacSween, came to Pouce Coupe as a summer supply.  During the summer a 2-roomed log cabin was built near the Riverside Church.  The following summer Mr. MacSween returned to Riverside, not only supplying this field, but opening up a new point at Tupper Creek.

 

After Mr. MacSween, no one could be found who was willing to undergo the rigors of frontier life in the Pouce Coupe area.  With no one willing to accept the pastoral responsibilities, the Presbyterian Church in Canada ceased to exist in this area.

 

THE HISTORY OF ST. JAMES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

 

C. Paul McKinnon, having served as student minister in Chetwynd during 1956 and 1957, was ordained as missionary to the Chetwynd – Dawson Creek “territory” on September 5, 1959.  On the following day, Sunday September 6^th, 4 people – including the new minister, met in a local home to plan a Presbyterian worship service to be held the following Sunday at Burn’s Plumbing Shop located at 1037 Alaska Highway (now L&T Services Locksmith).  So services were held at Burn’s Plumbing Shop from September 13, 1959 until April 24, 1960, at which time they had to relocate.  On Sunday May 1, 1960 services commenced at the Canadian Army’s Officer’s Mess at Loran (where the Loran Apartments are now located).  Worship services continued there until September 1960, at which time services were held in the historic Kilkerran (Anglican) Church at 969 Cornwall Crescent.  (This building is now located on the grounds of Wright’s Museum.)

 

In June 1962, work began on the construction of a church building for the Presbyterian Church.  This building, located at 1500-111^th Avenue, was to be the home of the New St. James Presbyterian Church for nearly 18 years.  The church building was formally dedicated on February 12, 1963.  New St. James Church was named after the New St. James Church of London, Ontario, which who gave the Dawson Creek church much financial assistance in its early years.

 

The Rev. C. Paul McKinnon was instrumental in developing the work of the Presbyterian Church in Dawson Creek.  Under his leadership, the congregation grew to the point that on Sunday April 2, 1961, the Assessor Session – which had been appointed by Presbytery in 1960 and which was composed of Mr. D.E. Smith of Burch Church, Ft. St. John and Mr. James Graham of Munro Church, Blueberry Mountain – met to form the congregation and to establish the communion roll.  Thirteen members were received by transfer of certificate, 8 members received by profession of faith.  The following are the 21 charter members of New St. James Church:

 

Mrs. Muriel Stearns                            Mrs. Joyce Solonacki

Mr. Cecil Kitz                                       Mrs. Ardell Kitz

Mr. Chas. Freeman                             Mrs. Irene Freeman

Mrs. Dianne McKinnon                       Mrs. Iona Fisher

Mrs. Margaret Moorhouse                 Mr. Herbert Lowe

Mrs. Janet Linsey                                Mrs. Geraldine Nicholson

Mrs. Lois Gorgichuck                           Mr. Bill Duncan

Mr. Jim Duncan                                   Mr. Bill Dickson

Mr. Reginald Ash                                 Mrs. Margaret Ash

Mr. Tom Crozier                                  Mrs. Gertrude Crozier

Mr. Frank Crozier

 

On February 3, 1963, the first 3 elders were ordained at New St. James Church.  They were Wm Lockwood, Robert Grieve, and James Fisher.  Mr. Grieve was appointed Clerk, and Mr. Lockwood was appointed Representative Elder.

 

The work continued to progress under the able leadership of these men.  During the December 1963 Session meeting the first Annual General meeting of New St. James was scheduled for January 21, 1964, and plans were made for “the election of 3 new ruling elders to meet the needs dictated by a growing congregation and increased work.”  John and Tini VanSpronsen were also received as new members of New St. James at that time.

 

The summer of 1964 saw the development of plans to work with the youth of the congregation.  Progress was made in the organizing of a Junior Choir.  Mrs. Cliff Ferguson was appointed director.  The first Vacation Bible School was also scheduled to meet July 13 – 17, 1964.

 

During the January 1965 Annual General Meeting, it was reported that the church had grown to 46 households with communicant members, 52 households with adherents, and 5 households associated with the Sunday School.  Mrs. Appleby and Mrs. Norma MacTavish were appointed Sunday School teachers.

The work in the Peace River region continued to flourish during these times with the influx of major oil companies into this area.  The Presbytery and the Session discussed the impending establishment of an enlarged Dawson Creek territorial mission to reach the new people who were settling in this region.

 

During a joint meeting of the Session and the Board of Managers hold on March 23, 1965, the appointment of Bob Hill as minister was accepted, along with Mr. N. Morrison as probationary catechist.  The meeting also saw the agreement to purchase the McKinnon house located at 1301-92^nd Avenue as the church manse.

 

The summer of 1965 saw the beginning of several summers where the church hosted young people’s groups from the U.S. who were traveling to Alaska.  In 1965 the church hosted the Senior High Young People’s Group from the First Presbyterian Church of Coral Gables, Florida.  The summers of 1967 and 1968 saw the arrival of the Presbyterian Youth Group from Cedar Bluff, Nebraska for overnight stays on their trips to Alaska.

 

The minutes of the March 31, 1966 Session meeting recorded that the vote for elders was so evenly distributed that all 4 candidates be considered for acceptance, which was done.  The 4 new elders were Cecil Kitz, Edward James, C.F. Straw, and Stanley Keith.  They along with the 3 existing elders – H. Barton, J.A. Morrison, and W. McDerment, comprised the Session.

 

Because of the transient nature of the community, there was a continual need to elect new elders to replace those who had been transferred with their jobs.  In March 1968 4 new elders were elected:  Mr. Charles McRae, Mrs. E. Jordan, Mrs. Fern McKee, and Mr. John VanSpronsen.

 

The early 1970’s provided the greatest “trying time” that St. James ever experienced.  Two major oil companies decided to relocate their district offices, and the Session and Congregation found that few members and adherents were left to carry on the work.  The criticalness of the situation was well expressed in a summary of a discussion held in July 1970.  It read: “lengthy discussion arose regarding evangelism in general and the future of the New St. James Presbyterian Church in particular.  It was agreed by all present that immediate decisive action had to be taken if it was the genuine desire of Session and the Congregation that our church continue as a place of worship.”

 

But the bottom had not yet been reached.  Without a minister or student minster between July 1971 and August 1972, attendance dropped until it was reported that “our present attendance of Sunday services averages 8 consisting mainly of members of the Kirk Session and the Board of Managers.”  The Interim moderator, Mr. Janssen “notified Session that he approached Rev. Bryan (sic) Penny of Rosburn, Manitoba regarding the need of a minister for New St. James at Dawson Creek.  Mr. Penny was unable to accept the invitation.”

 

It should be noted that the church received some moral support during this time with visits from 2 moderators of the General Assembly.  On Wednesday November 4, 1970, the Rev. Dr. Dillwyn Thomas Evans visited New St. James.  Less that a year later (on September 20, 1971), a potluck supper was held in conjunction with a visit by the moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Rev. Dr. Murdo Nicholson.

 

At a Session meeting in August 1972, John Herron from Belfast, Ireland was introduced as student minister to the New St. James congregation.  But at that same meeting, W. McDerment, the congregational Treasurer, stated that “the financial receipts were such that it was becoming increasingly difficult to meet day to day expenses… and that it was felt probably the time had come to consider disposing of the properties mentioned (i.e., New St. James Church), and to allow the remaining attenders to dispense in a direction of their choice.”

 

A meeting of the Session with the Rev. K.C. Doka 5 days later caused him to remark that “it was unfortunate that such a depressed and pessimistic attitude prevailed with regard to our situation and that something must be done to dispel the unhealthy atmosphere surrounding our dilemma.”

 

One month later W. McDerment resigned as Clerk of Session pursuant to leaving the Dawson Creek area.  Stan Keith was nominated as the new Clerk.  The minutes record that the “vote carried.”

 

The turning point in this crisis came about at a congregational meeting held on October 12, 1972.  When all was said and done, the report carried the commentary that “it is felt that this meeting sparked a renewal within the members willing to carry on.”

 

April 1973 saw the arrival of the Rev. John C Rhoad to the New St. James congregation.  During his brief 2 year tenure, he helped to bring a stability back into the congregation.  One concern was to help alleviate the impression that the congregation was “cold”, and elders became available to greet people after the church services.

 

With the arrival in July 1976 of the Rev. Brian Penny, the church entered a new phase – growth!  Within a year, detailed discussions took place regarding the expansion of New St. James.  Immediate help was needed, and 3 rooms at South Peace High School were rented to alleviate the overcrowding in the Sunday School.  On March 28, 1978, the congregation voted to proceed with building plans to provide more space for the worship and various activities of the church family.  A goal of $10,000 was set by the congregation to be reached before the construction began.

 

But the New St. James congregation was not only looking at its own needs.  In July 1979 a congregational meeting was held to discuss the sponsoring of Vietnamese “Boat People”.  It was agreed that the church help financially in this great area of need.

 

At the same time, the Bethel Pentecostal Church building at 1501 – 108^th Avenue became available on the market.  After much prayer and deliberation, the congregation decided to forgo the building project and purchase the Bethel building.  At the Annual General Meeting in January 1980, it was voted to change the congregation’s name from New St. James Church to St. James Church.  On March 9, 1980, the St. James congregation held its first worship service in the new building.  Members of the Presbytery joined the congregation 2 weeks later in dedicating the new facilities.

 

During the ministry of Mr. Penny, the church saw rapid growth in the congregation.  When he arrived in Dawson Creek, the membership stood at 35.  Ten years later, at the end of his ministry at St. James, the membership stood at 91. It was also during this time (1983), that St. James became a self-supporting charge.  The faithfulness of all those people who had gone before had not gone unrewarded, and God prospered the work.

 

In 1986 a Search Committee was again formed to find a new minister for St. James.  After searching in Canada without results, they set their sights further south to the U.S., with the result of Harold and Charlene Wiest coming to Dawson Creek from Southern California.  Harold’s stay in Dawson Creek was interrupted for 4 months so that he could take a 1 year’s equivalent of schooling in Canada before he could be ordained.  On July 9, 1988, Harold was ordained into the Christian ministry of word and sacrament by the Presbytery of Peace River at St. James Church.

 

 

MINISTERS

 

C. Paul McKinnon        September 5, 1959 to July 31, 1965

(interim moderator – Larry Paul)

Robert Hill                   August 30, 1965 to May 19, 1968

(Interim moderator – Gordon Hunter)

Angus MacGillvary      October 6, 1968 to July 18, 1971

(Interim moderators – Wim Janssen and J. Cameron Bigelow)

John C. Rhoad             April 1, 1973 to July 31, 1975

(Interim moderator – Wim Janssen)

Brian Penny                 July 12, 1976 to July 31, 1986

(Interim moderator – George Malcolm)

Harold M. Wiest          August 1, 1987 to August 31, 2001

 

Student Ministers at St. James

 

Dorothy Knight            During the ministry of Bob Hill

Roy Pope                     June 9, 1968 to August 25, 1968

John Herron                August 3, 1972 to March 31, 1973

Herbert Meyers          August 26, 1975 to November 6, 2003

 

Clerks of Session

 

James Graham (Clerk Pro-tem) April 2, 1961 to February 3, 1963

Robert Grieve              February 3, 1963 to June 21, 1965

Wm McDerment         June 21, 1965 to September 24, 1972

Stanley W. Keith          September 24, 1972 to date

 

Present Elders – Ordained

 

Stanley W. Keith          March 31, 1966

John VanSpronsen      March 24, 1968

Ted Reitsma                May 20, 1973

Reg Flowers                 October 7, 1984

Sheila Welsh                July 27, 1986

Fraser MacDonald       September 18, 1988

Bert Pol                       September 18, 1988