The Methodist Church

The Methodist Church was the only church in Stony Plain in 1907. The church was built by israel Umbach with help from most of the men from the village.

In 1925 when the methodist congregational and Presbyterisn churches amalgamated, the united church of Canada, became the one church for the town. The original church was burned down in 1951, but it took some time to replace it. In 1954 the present church was built and finished. To house the resident minister, reverend Kettyls the present house next to the church was also built, and he was the first resident minister, and many have served throughout the years.

The church was run by Messrs Michael, Oatway, Hardwick, Maloch and Yeats. In 1943 Mr. Magee arrived and stayed as a student minister until he arrived and stayed as a student minister until he was ordained as a minister. Mr. Hadley and Albert Jones in 1945 and in 1946 Murray Byers was added. In 1949 Mr. Freebury and Mr. Earl Reynolds were added to the board, composed of Oatway, Michael, Byers, Jones and Hadley.

Then Reverend McArthur came in 1954 and acted as minister and reverend Eskdale came next followed in, 1961, by Dr. K. C. Mcleod.

In August 1966 reverend Harry Steele came and left in 1977. In 1978 he was followed by reverend Wayne Shortt.

John E. Meisner, was the first secretary treasurer. Until 1852 he was followed by Dr. R. M Oatway. Mrs. Oatway played an important role as organist for forty years.

Mrs. Catherine Gates was another important person. in the United States church, and, she was a sister of T.J. Hardwick who, in 1914 came out from England to visit the brother and stayed until June 1945 when she died.

the first Sunday School in town was started by Mrs. Gates and many people have many memories of her faithful efforts and valuable guidance in that Sunday School. The "Catherine Gates Sunday School Room" is what the addition that was built to the original church was called.

In 1951 the original church burned down.