Say Farewell to St. Matthew’s United Church, Baptiste
Written by Darlene Mountney
It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the closing of St Matthew’s United Church in Baptiste Village. With declining attendance, it was inevitable that the time had come to close the doors.
To say farewell to our beloved Church, we will be holding one final service on July 26th, 2026, at 10:30 am. This will mark the final anniversary service and include a celebration of the years of worship, gatherings and friendships.
History of St. Matthew’s United Church
In 1920, the original St. Matthew’s Church was built on the hill on Bowen Road, on land donated by Neil Bowen.
In 1942, the Congregation decided that the Church should be relocated in an area that was more easily accessible. The land where St. Matthew’s currently stands was donated by Hiram and Lizzy Grant. While the previous location was okay for horse and buggy, it was difficult for modern transportation to maneuver the hill.
The original plan was to reuse materials from the original church and transport it to its new location. When rebuilding the church, not all materials were salvageable, so the ladies organized fundraising events. Whitney Martin also donated the balance of lumber needed to complete the reconstruction of the church and pews. The reconstruction of the church was built by multi-denominational free labour from the Baptiste Community.
Our beloved bell was taken from the I.B.O railway engine, “The Old Mary Anne”.
In 1957, Lorne Davy built and replace the pews.
In 1961, the Church Hall was built, funded by fundraising efforts from the Ladies U.C.W, spearheaded by President Edyth Nicol. The U.C.W ladies hosted annual bazaars, selling the latest quilts, the cutest crocheted baby sweaters, blankets, hats, aprons, and so much more. Baptisms, bake sales, fundraisers, weddings, showers, family dinners, anniversaries and various community events like Game Nights were held to pull the community together.
A Personal Reflection
Growing up, Baptiste Village people rallied around to keep the attendance strong. There was always activity at the church. I remember watching the ladies quilt and enjoying conversations, tea, and sweets. I always wanted to be a part of that and so the very last quilt sold, I helped sew with my mother, my sister, and aunts at Grace Stahle’s across the road.
While I am sure I don’t know all the names of the families who were involved in the church, I do know some. I would like to acknowledge with gratitude the names of the families and their descendants who were instrumental in keeping this legacy alive for decades. They include Bailey, Benn, Black, Blakely, Bowen, Bowers, Brinklow, Cameron, Davy, Fisk, Gordon, Grant, Hinds, Holbrook, Hunter, Jennings, MacLennan, Mahaffy, Martin, McColl, Mercer, Miller, Nicoll, Peever, Redman, Reid, Renals, Robbins, Sifton, Smith, Stahle, Storey, Summers, Sutherland, Vance, Wootton, Young.
I know this is an incomplete list and I apologize for that. It takes an army to build, maintain and enjoy a little historical gem like St. Matthew’s. Unfortunately, our army has dwindled and the legacy must end. I do not know what will become of our little church but God willing, somehow it will be preserved and those who painstakingly dragged lumber down the hill and worked tirelessly for the dream, be remembered.
It is my hope that on this sad day, the families and descendants of those mentioned, will come to celebrate the legacy, the dream, and the vision of their ancestors. We want to celebrate them, and we want to close our final chapter with remembrance and gratitude.
Let’s do them proud, celebrate them and fill the church pews for the grand finale.