Presbyterianism in Summerside 1853—2003

tee system continued to work well. In 1988 there was a debt of approximately $84 000.00 carried over from the building of the new church and the purchase of the manse on Victoria Road. The church and congregation decided that an extra effort must be made to pay off that debt. A Debt Elimination Committee was formed in 1988 and the motto, “88 in 88,” was drafted. The objective was to pay off the total debt (approx. $88 000 by that time) in the year 1988. It was a year of tremendous activity. By Dec. 31, 1988 a total of $68 800.00 had been raised - a remarkable sum in such a short period. Although the primary goal had not been reached, it was enough to pay off the church mortgage in 1989. The surplus funds remaining from the 1988 fund-raising drive were added to extra revenues in the following year and the manse mortgage was eliminated. Meanwhile, Rev. Mr. Vancook’s dedicated effort and in- volvement in the Presbytery of Prince Edward Island enabled him to be elected as Moderator of the P. E. I. Presbytery in 1989.

By the 19805 the increased administrative and as— sociated duties involved in the operation of the church required the recruitment of permanent, salaried indi— viduals. John Fortier served as Church Secretary for a short time and was succeeded by Elva Shewchuk in 1980. In 1983 Earith Ramsay succeeded Elva Shewchuk. Earith had originally filled the position tem- porarily in 1980 upon the departure of Rev. John Fortier. She still occupies this position today although the name was changed to Church Administrator in 1995. The present church Treasurer is Peter Murray who replaced Kathy MacLean in 2003.

63