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Morven United Church

Between 1800-1803, the first Lutheran Church of Upper Canada, St. Ebenezen, was built on a knoll overlooking Big Creek, on land sold to the Lutherans by Philip Schmidt for a few shillings. In 1879, trustees George I. Smith and George Schryner sold the church to the Methodist Episcopals for one dollar. The minister was Rev. M. L. Pearson, grandfather of Prime Minister L. B. Pearson. This church was demolished about 1936.
In 1856 Thomas Rayborn sold the land south of York Road for $562.00 for a frame Methodist Episcopal Church and a cemetery. The trustees were B. Detlar, B. Perry, S. Ham, J. Anderson and C. Smith.
Mrs. Stephen Gibson, Napanee, organized the Women' s Missionary Society and on September 8, 1897, the first regular monthly meeting was held in the White Church.
In 1872 families who favoured the Wesleyan Methodist Church built a red brick church two miles west of the white church.
The first ordained minister to serve at Morven was Rev. R. B. Stratton in 1876.
About 1954, when both churches needed repairs, and salaries had increased, the brick church was closed, and the white church renovated and used for worship until 1959 when it was completely destroyed by fire. In 1960 the new Morven United Church was dedicated.
Until June 4, 1967, Fourth Line United Church had the proud distinction of being one of the oldest former Methodist churches in Canada holding Sunday services. This church was built in 1792, three and one-half miles east of Bath. The church was later moved five miles west of Odessa on the York Road. A number of these families now worship at Morven.
(The above history was taken from the History of Kingston Presbytery Churches, 1968)

(The above history is taken from
THE HISTORY OF KINGSTON PRESBYTERY)


To contact us (Presbytery Secretary):
kcg@post.queensu.ca

Webmaster
ruthran@kos.net
Morven United Church