Berwick- Trinity Pastoral Charge Histories

Waterville United Church

St. Andrew’s, Waterville
The original church at Waterville was organized by Presbyterian believers. It was opened in. 1849 with Rev. George Struther of Cornwallis as minister. Waterville was then known as Bowles Settlement. Some persons from Welsford, Somerset, Berwick and Woodville belonged to this church, which was located on the east side of the cemetery.
   
          The present building was erected on the west side of the cemetery in 1923 by J.K. Hicks and Sons of Bridgetown for the sum of $8,000. The cornerstone was laid on November 7. 1923 and the building dedicated on January 17, 1924, a cold night of 14 degrees below zero (F.) The old church building was kept as a church hall but was removed in 1969.
   
          On June 10. 1925 this Presbyterian Church became part of the United Church of Canada, with Rev. A.D. MacKinnon as minister. Waterville and Woodville operated as a pastoral charge with one minister and a manse located in Waterville, but with separate congregations until 1969 when Wesley-Knox (Woodville) and St. Andrew’s united to become one congregation known as Trinity United Church. Services were held in each church on alternate Sundays.  Since the sale of the Woodville church in 2006, the congregation now meets in the St. Andrew's church.
   
          St. Andrew’s has an active Sunday School and an active United Church Women’s group, known as the Catherine Phinney Unit. There is also an active cemetery committee that gives the grounds tender care. Other improvements to the church are a new electric organ. a wheelchair ramp and a washroom.

Trinity United Church Sanctuary

Westley Knox United Chruch

Waterville began as Presbyterian. Berwick as Methodist, but Woodville was from the beginning a union church. Erected in 1921 (before formation of the United Church of Canada) by a nucleus of Mathodists and Presbyterian families, it was at first known as the Woodville Union Church. In 1925 the “Union” became “United”. The name Wesley-Knox was not chosen until 1948. Before the building of the two churches in Woodville (the Baptist in 1920. the Union in 1921) all denominations had held meetings in the old Woodville school hall.
   
              Cash contributions of $8,000 enabled construction to start, but the total cost was $22,000. A burdensome mortgage was the result. For 22 years the ladies of the congregation organized under the name “Church Workers” catered to the Camp Meeting Association during the ten days of the annual camp in Berwick. This dedicated effort, along with other projects, was largely responsible fur the church being able to celebrate a “Burning of the Mortgage” ceremony in 1946. However, it was not until 1969 that the Waterville-Woodville Charge graduated from being a recipient of M & M support to being fully self-supporting. In that same year, Wesley-Knox joined with St. Andrew’s to form Trinity United Church.
   
          During the early years, under the leadership of the pastors, Rev. A.N. Gillis, Rev. John MacKay. Rev. A.D. MacKinnon, and Dr. S.R. Prince, a Young Peoples’ League (Y.P.L.) C.G.I.T. and Tuxis Boys groups were formed, as well as Mission Band. Baby Band and W.M.S.   A Junior Ladies Auxiliary was formed in the mid torties.
   
          The Y.P.L. and the Sunday School were from the beginning a joint venture with the Baptist of Woodville. The Y.P.L. always met in the Social Room of the United Church, while the Sunday School met in each church on alternate Sundays.
   
          The Woodville Sunday School today is a Community Sunday School, meeting in Wesley-Knox where the original diningroorn has been made into classrooms. The choir was for many years also United-Baptist, but with amalgamation is now the Trinity Choir.
   
          At the same time that the classrooms were constructed, the kitchen was remodelled. Labour for both was donated by the men of the congregation. Other recent improvements Include a new Thomas electric organ and new choir gowns, a new carpet, and a cabinet tor the Communion ware. The stained glass window above the chancel was donated in memory of Mr. and Mrs. K.O. Parker by their daughters.

In 2006, the Wesley-Knox church building was sold by the Trinity Congregation and all services moved to St. Andrews Church.


Harbourville United Church

 The Harbourville Church has a long history of service to this small community on the shores of the Bay of Fundy. In 1857 John Lathcrn. a ‘second man’ to the methodist pastor in the Cornwallis district, developed an interest in the Fundy Shore. Three years later the church in Harbourville was designed b Rev. George Butcher, a Methodist pastor. and built by John Clark. Construction costs were approximately $1000.00 and the church opened for use in 1860.
          Over the years. the people of the Harhourville community held many fund-raising events on behalf of the little church on the cliffs to equip it with pews, altar cloths, hymn books, and other furnishings. In 1925. the little Methodist church became the Harbourville United Church and to this day is part of the charge ministered from Berwick United.
      Improvements have been made and through a seven - generation history has been cared for by the community members, especially the women of the Ladies’ Sewing Circle. The ecumenical nature of the church is emphasised today, welcoming all members of the community. Like the community our church has a long and rich history on the shores of the Bay.
      Since 2013 Harbourville United with the vision of "North Mountain Tapestry"  has evolved to become a gathering place for the local community offering a weekly summer farmers market, craft displays, concerts and interesting speakers. We also hold 3 summer worship services.

Harbourville Church

First Waterville Chruch

Trinity United Church in Waterville

Trinity Church (view from the East)

Wesley-Knox United Church (Woodville)

Woodville Church under construction