MT LEHMAN UNITED CHURCH
INTRODUCTION
Most of the settlers to the Mount Lehman area were Protestants - they had come from England, Scotland and Ireland by way of Nova Scotia, PEI and Ontario. For many years the pioneers met for church services in the one room school which had been built in 1884.
Ten years later in 1894, it was time to build a place to worship.
A church was erected with a seating capacity of 80 on the hill just south of the school on one-half acre of land donated by Mr. A McCallum with lumber and labour donated by members of the congregation. Mr. John Israel supervised the building. Four hand hewn (not milled) beams support the main church building. Burton Taylor, expert ship’s carpenter, was also on hand. No sooner was the building complete, when a tree fell on it and rebuilding was necessary!
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Rev. Dunn (Presbyterian), Rev. Hamilton (Church of England) Rev Manuel (Methodist) rotated Sundays.
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1896 After the building and dedication of the church, it remained a community church, with preaching alternating each week between Presbyterian, Methodist and Church of England ministers until, in 1903, notes were left on the pulpit for each of the Methodist and Church of England ministers, saying to each of Rev. Hamilton and Rev. Manuel “your services are no longer required”, whereupon the church became solely Presbyterian and was called Mt Lehman Union Church
1903 - 1928
1903 Mr. Burgess built and donated the pulpit that you see in the church to this day.
1906 New pews were built and church was church
1910 A “Manse” site was purchased next to the church for $100 (from McCallum).
1910 BC Electric Railway track was laid throughout the Fraser Valley
1913 A horse shed was constructed, manse was completed
1917 Veranda added to manse, and new foundation under the church, the church was lit with oil lamps.
1918 Memorial Hall (the current kitchen) was built - Rev Reid made a substantial donation in memory of his son who died in Flanders Field during WWI.
1921 Communion set donated in memory of Norton Carter, who died in WWI
1924 An amalgamation of Presbyterian, Methodists and Congregational
churches caused many of the Scottish Presbyterians of our church to depart and established Dunn Memorial Presbyterian church on the corner of Harris and Mt. Lehman (now a private home), which served the congregation for 50 years.
1925 Mt. Lehman Church became Mt. Lehman United Church and the church acquired electric lights
1926 Rev Moses built a wooden tennis court, front porch and concrete walkway
1927 A new organ is purchased with donations from Ladies Aid and Mr. A Smith
1928 Rev Reid arrange for the building of a horse shed, planted fruit trees at manse.
1960- 1998
1960 Sold Manse for $2800 and put basement under church
1962 Dug outdoor toilet- Rev Murdoch painted the picture (Jesus at Gethsemane) 1960’s George Savitsky (lived 2 lots east of church) painted picture “the Good Shepherd”
Gordon Taylor, followed by brother Grant, were paid $1 per Sunday to chop kindling in the horse shed and light the furnace in the church
1966 Rev W More
1968 Rev More UWC catered to Fraser Valley Fall Fair serving 250 turkey dinners over 3 days
1969 Rev Gordon Hyde
1970 New floor laid in kitchen (sponge painted plywood)
1974 Rev Jim Ford (wife Essie)
1976 Vietnamese Refugee Project (Kathy Sandstrom)
1981 Rev Matthew Smith. Major 2 story addition to east kitchen - purchased from National Homes. Aldergrove UC lends us $8000. Dorothy Taylor retires as pianist.
1984 Rev Tom Mercer (interim)
1985 Rev Wayne Wattman
New front entrance with foundation built by Jack Groenhof
1989 New kitchen floor - linoleum
1990 Rev Wayne Wattman retires
1991 Rev Anne Moir (interim)
1992 -2004 Rev Reg Brown, Rev Ben Taylor and Major Bill McKenzie were called to a 1/2 time ministry as Mt Lehman United Church becomes an independent charge
1994 Bob Smith builds a replica church -(playhouse size - preschool yard)
Several 100th birthday celebrations
1996 Paved the parking lot
1998 Preschool starts in basement
2002 -2015
2002 Fire alarm system upgraded
An excavator digs a trench against the foundation to lay drain rock and drain pipe by Henry Peters. New floor in preschool area, new Lino and paint in Sunday school area, Cabin renovated at UC Cultus Lake Camp by Keith Seale and Bob Smith
2004 Roof redone with cedar shakes - by REPP owned by Henry Peters’ son
2009-2010 Sanctuary renovation, new front wall - back lit cross, heritage window project (to commemorate pioneer families), small pew built, antique organ moved to narthex, contractor/builder- Barb Blaney Wilder
2010 Kitchen painted, cupboards refurbished
Altar Guild Closet built to hang Antependia and Banners- Barb Blaney Wilder
Basement flooring in Sunday School area.
Major yard work completed in preparation for Rededication Service
2010 Banner project: making of 6 banners, 8 Antependia, 5 Communion Table scarves
Large cross placed on front peak of church donated by Kay Ellingson
2011 Rev. Michael Collison 2/3 time, Rev. Tony Tremblett, Rev. Tim Fretheim
2013 Old fir tree in parking lot removed,
Kitchen porch and stairs scraped, repaired and painted, Replacement of hot water tank, Wifi and internet installed
2014 Rev Michael Collison (changes from 2/3 time to 1/2 time ministry)
2015 Rev Michael Collison (1/2 time) Rev Tim Fretheim, Rev Tony Tremblett, Kim Bolt
Weekly “Exploration” studies, Prayer Gatherings
Side by Side caregiver and family support group: led by Paddy Godbehere and initiated by Christine Collison and Mary Huntingdon
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2016 - 2020
2016- replaced back steps of the back kitchen landing fire escape
-Harvest dinner - invited the refugee family (Amer, Ibtihal and 3 children) to bring their Middle Eastern dishes as a special addition.
2017- Rev. Michael Collison, Rev. Tim Fretheim, Rev. Tony Tremblett,
Former minister, Rev. Reg Brown dies on Jan 7 - the choir sings at his funeral on Feb 18. Many of the congregation attended Paul Easton’s 100th Birthday in Seattle
Jan 29th (Christine’s Dad)
2018 Rev Michael Collison, Rev Tim Fretheim, Rev Tony Tremblett
United Church reorganizes to Pacific Mountain Region and Clusters
Aldergrove, Gladwin, Trinity Memorial, St Andrews Mission are in our Mid Fraser Cluster.
2019 Rev Michael Collison, Rev Tim Fretheim, Rev Tony Tremblett
Annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity- service and luncheon at Mt. Lehman United Church
New gutters and downspouts - Guardian Eavestrough Ltd
2020 Rev Michael Collison, Rev Tim Fretheim, Rev Tony Tremblett
Daycare opens in basement of the church
COVID19 RESTRICTIONS
CHURCH IS CLOSED ON MARCH 16, 2020
Cleaned septic lines from church to tank and pumped tank
2021- 2025
​2021 Rev Michael Collison, Rev Tim Fretheim & Rev Tony Tremblett
Worship Services continue to be email/zoom - starting to feel like a community as we see each other on zoom.
Replaced furnace, resurfaced the landing fire escape deck at back of kitchen.
New kitchen sink, cabinets, painting, new vinyl plank flooring.
Michael reveals his retirement plans at the July 2021 Board meeting. His last Sunday to preach will be Nov. 28, 2021.
2022 Rev Michael Hare, a retired minister from Chilliwack is hired until June (extended to December)
2023 Rev Tracy Fairfield - sharing with Aldergrove UC
Painted front entrance and kitchen porch
Resurfaced and relined parking lot, built new kitchen entrance stairs.
2024 Rev Connie Thompson (Pastoral Charge Supervisor)
Worship Committee secures supply ministers each Sunday.
Painted south wall and window frames
In Loving Memory
Michael Gordon Collison
May 21, 1950 - Jan 19, 2024