HISTORY OF FR EETOWN

UNITED CHURCH

As far as available records show there was no church building in or near Freetown in 1860. Cottage prayer meetings were conducted by lay preachers and devoted laymen. By 1862 Edmund Crosby donated the piece of land on which the present church building stands. It is believed that for the next three years work progressed on the structure and in l8()5 the Freetown Methodist Church was opened for services. Records show that two babies were baptized at the opening service (George Hedley Crosby and Thomas Picton Rogers). As there were no pews. people sat on planks. The pulpit was a plain desk.

In the year 1875 a tea meeting was held to raise funds for the church in order to complete the interior. The large sum of $350. was received for the installation of pews by Major Schurman and also a new pulpit. Ten year later an organ was secured. It wasn’t until 1891 that extensive repairs wer made to the roof and the foundation. Modern kerosene lamps gave ne light to the interior. At the re-opening of the church three services wer held when the singing was led by Mrs. S.R. Cairns. In 1903 a choir loft was necessary addition to the interior.

Additions and renovations in 1938 included a new Sunday Schoo room as well as painting and papering the church interior. It was about this time that electric lights replaced the old kerosene lamps. Major renovations in 1942 were covering the wainscotting with B.C. fir and alterations to the, pews. During this year a furnace replaced the worn out stoves To pay offai note at the bank donations of potatoes were made by the farmers of the congregation.’

The year l953 saw the interior of Freetown United Church renovated Ceilings and walls were resurfaced, linoleum laid on the floors, new pew installed and additional lights as well. Five years later a new Hallman organ replaced the old reed organ. The purchase of choir gowns in l960 was mad giving a note of dedication and dignity to the choir. To contribute to th comfort of the congregation pew seats were covered a year after. 1962 will be remembered in the annals of the church as the year when the ol horseshed was transformed into a modern church hall with kitchen facilitie and necessary furnishings. It was on Nov. 5th of that year that this necessar annex of the Church was dedicated.

Freetown Methodist Church was at first attached to the Bedeque Circuit when the following ministers cared for the flock: Reverends John Prince, S.W. Sprague, Richard Smith, Richard Wedall, T.J. Deinstadt, Paul Prestwood, R.A. Daniel, John Ellis, John Phinney, Joseph Seller, W.W. Percival, George Harrison, Joseph Pascoe, E.C. Turner, William Harrison, W.J. Kirby, G.C.P. Palmer, F.A. Wightman.