A town is celebrating an integral part of its history that dates back 85 years this week.
The Lewis Memorial United Church turned 85 years old on Monday and the community is getting together to celebrate the occasion on Oct. 26 with a special church service, presentation of the church’s history and spiritual concert by Calgary musician Michael Hope.
“The Lewis Memorial United Church has got a proud history and certainly has served the community and area very well in its 85 years, and it’s an important milestone to celebrate,” said pastor Marilyn Evans. “They are certainly a very committed congregation with a strong sense of caring among themselves, but for the community as well.”
Turner Valley resident Ida Wegelin was born just five years after the original Lewis Memorial United Church was built and remained connected to it ever since.
“I was baptized in the church,” she said. “I’ve been attached to the church all of my life. That’s the foundation of my life, of my faith.”
Elinor Melnyk, a long-time member of the church, said the original building was dedicated on Oct. 20, 1929.
She said worship services were held in residents’ homes and led by traveling ministers until the First Methodist Church was built in the community in 1904. She added that church services were discontinued during WWI due to a lack of ministers.
Seven years after the war ended, the United Church of Canada was formed.
Rev. W.A. Lewis had been offering spiritual leadership in residents homes in Turner Valley before he spearheaded the construction of the united church in 1928. Unfortunately, the reverend became ill and died before being able to hold worship services in the new church he helped to build, Melnyk said.
Wegelin recalls the original A-frame church having a bell tower and no basement.
“It was very simple,” she said. “There was a room for the Sunday school behind the alter.”
As the congregation grew, a building was added on to for meetings, Sunday school, dinners and church activities, Wegelin recalls.
She remembers with fondness the Christmas pageants, dinners and singing in the church choir with her dad.
“That’s the part I miss very much because I sang in the choir for years,” she said. “We just don’t seem to have the individuals or the time.”
In the 1980s, discussions took place about the need to update the building and it was later decided to demolish it and construct a new church. While construction was underway, the congregation met at the Black Diamond United Church, recalls Wegelin.
Over the years the church has gone through various pastors and has had its struggles, but Wegelin said it still remained an important part of the community.
“There’s been some ups and downs as all churches undergo,” she said. “It’s a cornerstone in the community and we may not have a lot of people who come, but we do have the people who when they need a church they will come to the united church.”
Although Wegelin’s teaching career took her outside of Turner Valley for years, she returned every summer to the church community.
“I’ve always been involved,” she said, adding she has helped with the Sunday school, led the teacher’s choir and sat on the board. “It’s part of my faith.”
Now back in Turner Valley, Wegelin is on the pastoral care committee that looks after the congregation and promotes mission and service projects.
Turner Valley Mayor Kelly Tuck said the Lewis Memorial United Church is an integral part of the town.
“That’s where I raised my kids was in that church,” she said. “My kids attended all of their after school programs there.”
Kim Lucas, chairperson of the Diamond Valley Pastoral Charge board of directors, said the church has been bringing the community together for years.
“It brings the community together and makes people feel welcome,” she said.
Evans, who has been pastor at the church for two years, is moving to Vancouver Island early next month, where she plans to retire in the near future.
