McADAM
PARISH
 |
Harvest Christian
Fellowship {Once met at the Pastor's Home, then at 153 Harvey Road,
Unit 4 / now disbanded} This was a new church, which began by holding meetings
in the Pastor's home, then in the McAdam Shoping Mall. It has since closed. |
website |
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McAdam Independent
Baptist Church {13 Oak Street, McAdam} (506) 784-3169
This
building was bought after the Pentecostal Church built their new building
on the Harvey Road in 1977. There is no listing for it in the book, which
covers up to that year. |
website |
Highland
Road
side
off
road
side
views
(Photo
from
book) |
St Clement's
Roman Catholic Church {24 Highland Road. McAdam} (506) 784-3344
The Parish of St Clements was established 27 June 1946, from its parent
church in the Parish of Debec. Prior to the erection of Debec Parish the
community was served by the St. Stephen-Milltown Parish.
When the diocesan Holy Name Union was reorganized, St Clements was originally
assigned to District 6 at Woodstock, but more recently it was found to
be more convenient to be associated with District 3, in Fredericton. The
original church was destroyed by fire in 1904, and the present one erected
the same year on the same site. (pp. 28-29)
(Note:
The original church was built in 1898, and burnt in 1904. The new one was
built that same year, when it was still a mission of Debec or St. Stephen-Milltown.) |
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St George's Anglican
Church {56 Rockland Drive. McAdam} (506) 784-2422
On 7 Aug 1899 the first recorded meeting was held in the I.O.O.F. Hall,
with Rev. J.E. Flewelling in the chair. The meeting dealt with raising
$75.00 per year for a minister's salary, securing and organist, choir director,
hymn books, prayer books, as well as a site for a church, for which a committee
was began.
It would appear that some services were being held before this date, but
this was the founding meeting for a regular structure. At a meeting held
2 Sep 1899, Rev. Flewelling mentioned he had an interview with the Bishop,
who approved their plans to date, and who said there was $128.83 on hand
for the building fund. There was also some discussion of a former minister,
Mr. Barton, coming, and that there were some arrears to the Board of Home
Missions, which both speak to there having been services in McAdam before
August 1899. (Mr. Flewelling informed them he was being inducted Rector
of the Mission of Canterbury on 21 Sep, and requested some members from
McAdam be there.)
In a proposed address, regarding the presentation of an Alms Plate, the
date of 18 May 1899 is mentioned as the day the ladies of the Church organized
themselves in a society.
Services were at present being held once in four weeks, but at the beginning
of 1900 it was proposed to be changed to once in three weeks for at least
the first six months. (Benton was one of Rev. Flewelling's other charges,
who had to approve this change, as it affected his work with them.)
On the business side, it is interesting to note that Banking was to be
done with the Bank of Montreal, in Saint John. By June the ladies had raised
$267, the Bishop had $637, and a building to cost between $1,200 to $2,000
was being discussed. They were paying 50 cents per week for the rental
of the hall. Sites at Jackson's Corner, one opposite Mr. Harris' and one
near Burpee' were being considered. By 3 Aug 1901, the Bishop sent word
that for the $600 to be available, it must be used by 31 Dec of that year.
Lots 12 and 13 were granted by the C.P.R. Agents Office to the Bishop of
Fredericton, 17 Jun 1901.
The first Communion Service on record, held in St George's Church was on
29 Dec 1901, with the first baptism being recorded on 5 Jan 1902. The building
was consecrated on 25 Jun 1905. The Memorial Hall was built in 1926. (pp.37-45) |
website |
(Photo
from
book)
(A
view
down
Saunders
Street.) |
St. Pauls United
Church {155 Saunders Road (at the corner of Lake Ave) McAdam} (506)
784-2414
This new
church building replaced the old Union Church, with the dedication taking
place on 23 Oct 1921. The Presbyterian Witness carried a notice
on 19 Jan 1922, stating "McAdam is paying $2,000, has a manse and has a
new church costing $25,000 - free of debt." (Maritime Conference Archives)
Ministers serving this new church were: Rev. Donald Maguire (1923); Rev.
W.U. Hatfield; Rev. Dr. George J. Bond (Jul 1924-Dec 1924); Rev. Harold
Tomkinson (Jan 1925-Jan 1926).
The manse that was purchased was on Depot Street. A portion of the church
divided during Mr. Hatfield's pastorate, and ultimately formed the United
Baptist Church.
Major repairs were made to the concrete blocks in 1965, with new steps
with wrought iron railings were built for the front entrance, and a fire
escape was added to the side exit.
The congregation
of this church became part of the United Church of Canada, on 10 June 1925,
when the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregationalist joined to form this
new denomination. On 9 June, this same year, the present manse was bought
from Mr. & Mrs Thomas E. & Annie Kingston. It sits next to the
church, on Lake Ave. (pp. 31-36)
There is much more data about the auxiliaries and special events of the
church in the book.
It will be noted that at some point the tower on the original St. Paul's
Church was altered to incorporate a side porch with stairways inside to
both down to the basement and up to the main floor, as well as washrooms
and coat closets. The door leads into this area from ground level. There
have been several memorial windows added over the years.
In this present day, the church basement serves as a Play School and a
PreSchool Kindergarten meeting place (once and twice a week respectively).
Here pre school aged children learn to socialize, as well as gain a feel
for what they will meet when they begin school. |
website |
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Rockland Drive
United Baptist Church {26 Rockland Dr, McAdam} (605) 784-2446
The Baptist in McAdam first met under the combined grouping of the Union
Church. (see below) Their record in the book, describes the early days
this way, and calls the Church, Interdenominational Community Church,
as opposed to just the Union Church.
"The first public religious services, held in railway pioneer days, were
conducted by ministerial students in the Carpenter's Shop with the workmen
seated on rows of lumber. One of these young preachers was the late Rev.
Dr. H.R. Grant, then a Presbyterian student, who for many years was an
ardent social reformer in Nova Scotia. Rev. F.L. Orchard, then of Fredericton,
N.B., now in Toronto, served as a Baptist student pastor during the summer
of 1909."
In 1924, when Rev. W.U. Hatfield, a Baptist Pastor, was the minister to
the Union Church, a majority of the Baptist members, with a few Presbyterians,
decided to hold separate service in the local Orange Hall. Rev. and Mrs.
L.F. Wallace, Home Mission workers, followed Mr. Hatfield, and on 26 Nov
1925, a council was held in McAdam to set the wheels in motion for the
formation of a Baptist organization in the community.
At a meeting on 11 May 1926, after much preliminary work, it was decided
to proceed with the building of a church on its present site, the opening
of which took place on 31 Oct 1926, at which time a new minister was in
place, and Rev. & Mrs. Wallace completed their Home Mission assignment
in McAdam.
The history goes on to relate many details of their progress over the years.
The building of a parsonage, various groups, memorials, etc. are among
the items listed. (pp. 47-58) |
website |
(Photo
from
book) |
Union Church
-
no longer standing / on east side of tracks {Highland Ave., McAdam Junction,
NB.} The frame of the building was 45 feet by 28 feet. The St. Croix
Courier
reported
in its 12th Dec 1889 ed. that the frame was up and being enclosed. It was
to be used by the Protestant Church in McAdam (Presbyterian, Baptist, Free
Christian Baptist, Methodist & Congregationalist.) Ministers were to
be called in turn from each of the denominations represented. The first
minister called was Rev. Mr. McLennan. Others were: Rev. Arthur Ross (who
left in 1904); Rev. Charles Stirling; Rev. Alexander Grant; Rev. Donald
Maguire (1914-1916 & 1918-1923). Land for a new church was purchased
27 Jan 1920, from the Canadian Pacific Railway for the sum of $1.00. The
old church was sold for $1,500, and was torn down.
The corner stone for the new building was laid in Aug 1920, and is now
St. Paul's United Church. The stone mason for the building was Mr. Archie
MacDonald. (pp30/31) |
website |
(Photo
from
book)
|
Voice of Pentecost
Church {82 Harvey Road, McAdam} (506) 784-3506
The Pentecostal Church held its first public meeting on 13 Oct 1931, in
the old Laundry Building (Saunders St), which had been purchased by Mr.
Rude Phillips. Mr. Phillips invited Rev. Winn Stairs to come and begin
holding services. Rev. Stairs was followed by his brother, Rev. Quincy
Stairs in about Dec of that same year, who was followed by Rev. Arthur
Copeland until 1949.
Rev. E.P. Wickens followed about 1951, when it was decided to move from
the Old Mission (in the Laundry Building) into a building of their own.
A lot was purchased on Oak Street, and the basement built and completed.
A parsonage was built next door, and services were begun in the basement.
Work to complete the church did not progress until after Rev. Harvey McNair
took over in 1955, with the building being completed in 1958.
The following ministers served in McAdam: Rev. Paul Burney 1961- 1964);
Rev. Arthur McElroy (1964-1972); Rev. Willis Arbeau (1964-1972); Rev. LeRoy
Brock (Nov 1972-Apr 1973) and Rev. William Annis (May 1973 to date book
was published.)
In April of 1977 a new building project was started on Harvey Road, and
the first service was held there on 9 Oct 1977, with the dedication being
held the next day. (p.59) (Note: See the photo of the Oak Street
building under McAdam Independent Baptist Church, for they bought
the building.) There has been a major addition to this newest building
in the year 2001. |
website |
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Word of God Revival
Centre | 10 Lake Ave, McAdam, New Brunswick (506) 784-1106 A newer
church in McAdam, for which I have no data as yet. It is held in the old
Vogue Movie Theater. |
website |
(Out
of
Print) |
History for the
McAdam Village Churches has been gleaned from a book, The History
of McAdam (1871-1977) by The McAdam Senior Citizens Historical
and Recreational Club Data Used by permission. (Page # of entries marked) |
website |
