Planning was well underway late in 1985 forthe biggest celebration to date, in the life of the Charlottetown Baptist Church. Members of the 1986 Anniversary Committee included Pastor Frank Locke, Rev. Ross Howard, Ethan Garrett, Windsor Brehaut, Eric MacNeill, Etta Connolly, Hillard MacKinnon and Dr. Athol Roberts. Nineteen eighty—six would mark 150 years since Thomas DesBrisay and eight other baptized friends asked Rev. George MacDonald to officially organize a Baptist church in Charlottetown. Plans were already finalized for a financial campaign, to raise $75,000 for a number of special anniversary projects. There was also a special event being planned for every month of the anniversary year. It would be a gala celebration, and interestingly, the $75,000 being raised for anniversary projects was more than the entire budget for the first 100 years of the church, including the construction of three church buildings. The 150th anniversary celebration was important in the life of the congregation, as very few members would remember the 100th anniversary in 1936, and only a few would still be around to celebrate the bicentennial in 2036.

Chester MacPhail had been a part of the Christian youth movement on the Island since a teenager at Camp Segunakadeck. While earning an education, he and Debbie Myers devoted many hours to youth groups throughout the early 19805, and now licensed, he was hired as a full time director of Christian Education. Chester, better known as ”Chet", and his wife Debbie, a granddaughter of Baptist Training College founder Dr. Myron Brinton, were excited to be back. Chet began his employment at First Baptist on January 19, just in time to become involved in the 1986 anniversary celebrations. Perley MacNeill and Debbie Myers had been working tirelessly with the youth, and were delighted to have Chet on staff. Dedicated efforts had paid off at First Baptist since the late 19505, and many former members of the youth program had gone into full time Christian service: Lloyd Oakes, Henry Sharam, Richard Coffin, Clayton Cook, Blair Holden, Gordon Poley, Lawrence MacLaren, Joan MacSwain, Carol Poley and Sharon Walker, to mention a

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150‘” Anniversary Planning Committee

Back.- Eric MacNeil, Ethan Garrett, Windsor Brehaut, Hillard Mac/(innon Front: Dr. Athol Roberts, Etta Connolly, Rev. Frank locke

Hilda Lewis Collection

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