A LEGACY 0F FAITH

Chapter 13

Centennial, Expansion and Another War

Nineteen hundred and thirty-six would be a memorable year in the life of the Charlottetown United Baptist Church. On January 21, King George of England died and the British Empire was in mourning. On the Sunday following, the Ladies Auxiliary did a beautiful job ofdraping the pulpit in purple and black, and Pastor Bishop, in a service broadcast on CHCK radio, paid fitting respect to the former monarch. This would be followed by the arrival of a new minister in May and the church celebrating its Centennial in September.

Reverend Harvey L. Denton was called early in the new year but was unable to commit immediately, because he was completing his Bachelor of Divinity degree. After graduation he arrived in late May, 1936, to become the new Baptist pastor in Charlottetown. A native of Digby, Nova Scotia, Harvey Denton had returned to Acadia University to complete his Divinity degree, after a brief career serving in a number of pastorates. He had previously graduated from Acadia in 1930 and at that time was recognized as both a Senator and the Class President. He had also been on the Acadia international debating team and wasa record holding intercollegiate trackand field athlete. Pastor Denton lost little time in endearing himself to church members and Played a major role in organizing a special week of activity for September, when they would celebrate their Centennial - 100 years since Thomas DesBrisay led the small group of nine baptized believers, in becoming an organized Baptist Church.

When Centennial Week arrived, a number of events had been organized to make it memorable; beginning on Sunday, when Dr. F.W. Patterson, President of Acadia University, preached a stirring sermon at the morning service. In the evening, the Lord’s Supper was administered with the treasured old commemorative silver service Set that had been used at the Great George Street Baptist Church, in 1864. That was Rev. Harvey L Denton

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