Fonds Acc3213 - Summerside Trinity United Church : [1866-1978]

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Summerside Trinity United Church : [1866-1978]

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  • Textual record

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  • Source of title proper: Title based on provenance of the fonds

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

CA PCA Acc3213

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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

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Physical description

2 reels of 35 mm microfilm

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Biographical history

Summerside Trinity United Church has its origins in three separate groups within the Summerside, Prince Edward Island, community. One of its ancestral partners, the Wesleyan Methodists, began to hold religious services in 1850 at what was then called Green's Shore, now Summerside. At that time there was no church in the community so they held their services in the district schoolhouse. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Green donated property on First Street in 1853 for the purposes of building a church. The building was completed in 1860 and was formally dedicated by Rev. John B. Strong and Rev. Ingram Sutcliffe.

In 1870, the Bible Christians, who had been worshiping with the Methodists, decided to build a hall on Spring Street for their own religious services. A new church was completed in 1874 and the former hall was used as a vestry. The Bible Christian Minister, Rev. J. A. Dafoe, remained until 1883 when the Bible Christian Church united with the Methodist Church of Canada. Worship was held in the church belonging to the Methodists while the Bible Christian's former church was sold and became part of St. Paul's Hall.

In 1893, a piece of land was purchased on Spring Street and the church which was erected there became the Methodists' new home. The cornerstone of the new church was laid by Honorable W. G. Strong. Special trains came from all over the Island, bringing crowds to Summerside to witness the ceremony. When church union was voted on in 1925, one hundred members, five of them elders, came from the Presbyterian congregation to form Trinity United.

Renovations in the chruch basement in 1947 provided a central auditorium surrounded by nineteen Sunday School classrooms. In May 1957, construction began on an extension of the building. The congregation worshiped in the Civic Auditorium and Epworth Hall until the renovations where complete. On 17 November 1957, Rev. C. R. Webber reopened and dedicated the renovated and enlarged Trinity United Church.

The congregation at Trinity United continued to grow and in 1958 a call was extended to Rev. A. S. Weir, D.D., who became the first Minister of Visitation. A call was also given to Rev. G. C. Wells to become the first Associate Pastor.

Custodial history

Scope and content

This fonds consists of vital statistics and administrative records for the Summerside Trinity United Church, 1886-1978. Materials include registers of baptisms (1866-1960), marriages (1868-1885, 1889-1893, 1916-1964) and burials (1916-1965), as well as two birth records (1928, 1932). Administrative records including official Board minutes (1925-1961), Trustees minutes (1893-1978), Session minutes (1958-1969), Board of Stewards minutes (1949-1967) and Sunday School minutes (1907-1914) complete the fonds.

Notes area

Physical condition

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Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Location of originals

Original records were returned to the donor

Availability of other formats

Restrictions on access

NO RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

PERMISSION FOR USE AND REPRODUCTION IS REQUIRED FROM THE PUBLIC ARCHIVES AND RECORDS OFFICE; QUESTIONS REGARDING COPYRIGHT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE USER

Associated materials

See also: Acc2353/54; Acc2763/44; Acc3135/1; Acc3466/HF.78.131.781.87 Items 12 -14 (photos); Acc3476/294

Related materials

Accruals

General note

Microfilm can be found in the microfilm cabinets in the Reading Room

A reel listing also available in Church Binder Index

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Language of description

  • English

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