expansion plans, and in a close vote it was agreed that it be sold.

Church activities were still expanding. The Explorers group alone had 43 young girls, and Gloria Atkinson’s first Vacation Bible School attracted a record of over 200 registered children. The church camp committee entered into a one year agreement with the Prince Edward Island Baptist Association, to share the use of Camp Segunakadeck. It was a trial effort, that if successful, could expand camp operations well into the shoulder seasons. John Churchill was ordained on October 6, 1971, becoming the first fully qualified assistant pastor in the 135 year history of the Baptist Church, in Charlottetown.

Nineteen hundred and seventy-two was a year of resignations. It began with Pastor Malcolm Harlow, who felt the time had come to move on and accepted a call to the First Baptist Church in London, Ontario. He and his family left in February, and newly ordained Rev. John Churchill took over the pulpit in March on an interim basis, until a new senior pastor could be found. In September, long time Scoutmaster Emerson Smallman retired, after 23 years of service to the 4th Charlottetown Baptist Troop. Over the winter, Pearl Dingwell, who had been organist and choir director since 1959, made the decision to retire and played her final service in June, 1972. On the recommendation of the Music Committee, the church hired Miss Claudia Watkins, ARCM. She was a . young musician from Windsor, Nova Scotia and began

Pear/Dingwell duties as organist and choir director in September. The church extended a call to Reverend Gordon Patch from

the Baptist Church in West Vancouver, British Columbia. The call was accepted and Gordon Patch, with his wife Vera and son Mark, arrived in Charlottetown in February It must have been a difficult transition, leaving friends and family in the west to move all the way to the Atlantic coast. He was » >~ " inducted on February 7, 1973, and worked with Pastor Churchill for only a few months, as John Churchill tendered his resignation and left in August of 1973 to pursue a new calling.

Despite the staff changes, it was a unique summer for the congregation at First Baptist. For the first time some of the scheduled Sunday evening services were held outdoors, at Camp Segunakadeck. This was a different venture for the church, and each service attracted an increasingly good turnout of members, who looked at it as an extended Sunday outing. Many would spend the afternoon at the camp with their children, have a picnic lunch and enjoy the evening service in the fresh air. The main lodge provided a great alternative in case of inclement weather.

Two members who passed away in 1973 would be sadly missed. Sunday

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Rev. Gordon Patch