Bay Fortune United Church Bay Fortune PE

Kings United Pastoral Charge was formed in 2005 with the union of Souris /Bay Fortune and Central Kings. The pastoral charge lives and worships as one congregation alternating services and activities between Dundas United and Bay Fortune United.

OUR MISSION

"We are a faith community committed to serving God and the people of the world. We endeavour to encourage and support all people on their spiritual journey to grow in acceptance, responsibility, love and grace."

 

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HISTORY OF BAY FORTUNE AND SOURIS CONGREGATIONS

The first protestant families to the Bay Fortune area came in the late 1700's and early 1800's. The first year of recorded services of public worship and the first Presbyterian minister inducted was in 1806. The exact date of the first church building to be erected is unknown but it was between 1811-1815. It was built on the same site as the present Bay Fortune United Church. Around 1834 a second Fortune church was built to replace the first. 1853 marks the first record of a congregation existing in Souris apart from the Bay Fortune congregation.

The year 1858 saw the beginnings of Methodism in the area with an appointed minister. In 1862 there was no church building in Souris and Methodist services were conducted either in Knight's school room or William McGowan's carpenter shop. The Presbyterian's used Knight's school room as well. A church was built in Souris West where the Union Protestant Cemetery is today. It was decided that the church building would be a union church for the use of all protestants . Presbyterians and Methodists were the major partners although Anglicans, Baptists and Quakers lent a hand. In the 1870's the Methodist's felt the Union church was situated too far from where the majority of people lived and the Methodists were playing too small a role in the Union Church.

In June 1873 they laid the cornerstone of the Wesleyan Church at Souris East. In 1875 the Souris Presbyterians completed repairs to the Souris West Union Church . The Fortune Presbyterian's decided to tear down the old church and build a new one. It was opened on November 28, 1875 and completed and officially dedicated on December 2,1877. It still serves as Bay Fortune United Church. In 1876 the Souris Presbyterian's decided it was time to move to a new building. In July the foundation stone for a new Presbyterian church was laid in Souris. A violent windstorm early in 1879 blew down the partially completed new church. The decision was made to change the site of the church to a less exposed place. The church was completed and opened on December 20, 1879.

In 1889 a bell was placed in it's tower. In 1908 the church was given St James as the official name. On November 20, 1909 a fire damaged the Methodist Church in Souris. For the winter months they worshipped in the Baptist church that was vacant. On July 31, 1910 their church sanctuary was officially reopened. St James Church was remodelled and repaired in 1925. The gallery was removed and an addition was put on the front of the church to make a choir area behind the pulpit. In 1925 the Methodist, Congregationalist and Presbyterian Churches in Canada united to form the United Church of Canada. In Souris the congregation decided to use the Presbyterian Church as their new sanctuary and the Methodist Church as their church hall.

In Bay Fortune there was only one church therefore they just had to change the name to Bay Fortune United Church. In 1973 renovations took place at St James including an addition of a full basement. The following year the church hall was sold. A basement was added to Bay Fortune United in 1984 giving it washrooms and a kitchen. In January 2005 Souris Bay Fortune Pastoral Charge amalgamated with Dundas and Annandale United to form Kings United Pastoral Charge. In 2010 it was decided to sell two of the four church buildings, Annandale United and St James United Churches. The congregation now lives and worships as one congregation, alternating services and activities between two remaining buildings-Dundas United and Bay Fortune United.

References : Spencer, Jack. Our Corner of the Vineyard, A history of the Bay Fortune and Souris congregations of the United Church of Canada. 1806-1978.