ELAINE LEARD

V“, .. c...

KAY LEWIS

x 2),. w

207

attending Sunday School at St. James Methodist Church in Lot 16.

Elaine, the daughter of Ralph and Pearle Mon/eley, grew up in Lot 16. She and her husband Ron, live in St. Eleanor’s, PEI.

I have many memories and personal recollections of the United Church in Lot 16. I recall the day I was baptized at the Manse when I was just a little past three years old. Rev. Russell Woodside was the minister. Like all the other chil— dren I went to Sunday School, joined the Church, attended Y.P.U., and years later, was married there.

As a child attending church, I don’t recall hearing chil- dren’s stories from the ministers as we do in churches today, so the Sunday services were difficult to sit through when the prayers and sermons seemed long and above a child’s under- standing.

It is still nice to be able to attend services in this church from time to time and, even though a lot of familiar faces are no longer there, the memories remain the same.

Kay is the daughter of Erskine and Vera Forbes. (See Forbes History). Ms. Lewis was the senior planning 0 icer for the new Prince County Hospital, and is now its chief executive ofiicer.

As I reflect upon my time grong up in Lot 16 and over the years watching from a distance, the Lot 16 United Church has played a very integral part in the lives of many. There are numerous things one could say about its accomplish- ments but I will focus on two areas where I think it stands out from others and has offered so much to the life and cul- ture of the community and to others who have passed

through its doors. . The first area is the value this church and Indeed the

entire community has placed on the development of its young p60p16. To this end, so many volunteers have provid- ed leadership over the years. The youth were part of. every Community and church event and encouraged to partxapate actively in the programs. They were truly valued and not

CHURCH REFLECTIONS