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Methodist Beginnings

Early church life in Magog was associated with that in Georgeville where, in 1804, the families of William Bullock, Jeremiahc Lord and Richard Packard "joined hands to organize the first Methodist class meeting". Methodist groups were founded in a number of the surrounding towns but regular services were held only in Georgeville and Magog. The Rev. Edwin Peakes, the Methodist minister in Georgeville, had the Magog parish added to his pastoral charge in 1869.  In 1870, services were held in Georgeville and Magog at 11 A.M. and 6:30 P.M., alternating the morning service between the two towns. Accordingly, the relationship between the two parishes has always been close, although the work at Georgeville was well established before the Magog Methodists were organized.

In 1884, the Magog Methodists purchased a parsonage which still stands at 41, St. Patrick Street West.

 

The First Building

All Christian groups in Magog with the exception of Roman Catholics had been meeting in a Union Church which was built in 1830. Built on Merry Street South, this building appears to have served Anglicans, Methodists and Baptists. In 1886, the Methodists decided to build a new church on Merry Street North. A. I. Wallace of Waterloo was the general contractor and within four months built the new church. Given the size of the church (26 pews, each 12-1/2 feet long), it would appear that the Methodists were relatively numerous in Magog, although probably not well endowed. The "New Church", dedicated on March 19, 1887, appears to have been constantly in debt throughout the remainder of the century. A new reed organ, with pedal board and hand pump was installed in 1894, also purchased on credit.

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Early 20th Century

The New Church was wired for electricity in 1901 by parish volunteers. In 1905 the parsonage was sold to the Rev. D. Brill for $1,000 as a retirement home. The John Moore house was purchased as a parsonage, running water was installed in 1910 and the telephone in 1913. Given the need for larger Sunday school facilities and place to house a pipe organ, it was decided to add an extension to the New Church. Casavant Frères built the organ in 1918 for the sum of $2,350. Mrs. A. E. Swoger was church organist from 1918 to 1937, after which time she was replaced by Mrs. J. B. Connor, who was church organist in 1962 at the time of the 75th anniversary celebrations. The Ladies' Aid was already active in the early part of the 20th century, minutes of their meetings dating from 1914. It would appear that parish life in the early 20th century was quite active and no further mention is made of church indebtedness. In fact, it would appear that relative prosperity had replaced relative poverty.

 

The United Church of Canada

There is no mention in any of the parish records of the integration of the Methodist Church into the United Church. It would appear that the parish entered without question into the new body formed by the merger of Congregational, Presbyterian and Methodist congregations and that little impact was had on parish life. Parish activities continued to blossom. In 1928, the following organizations made reports to the annual meeting: Quarterly Official Board, Sunday School, Women's Missionary Society, Young People's Society, Choir, Ladies' Aid, 1925 Club and Men's Own.

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St. Paul's Church

In 1929 the Masonic Order offered the trustees of the United Church $7,500 for their building on Merry Street North, which is now the Café Theâtre. The offer was accepted and a new building was erected on Pine Street at the cost of $27,350, together with an $5,000 worth of furnishings, grading of the land, purchase of a furnace, etc. To finance the project, Quebec-Sherbrooke Presbytery authorized a $17,500 mortgage on the church property. The cornerstone was laid  on August 30th, 1930 and the building dedicated on November 23rd, 1930.

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The Post-War Period

After the trials of the years of the Second World War, a memorial was estasblished for the 44 sons of the parish who served in World War One, six of whom were killed, and the 87 who served in World War Two, of whom 4 were killed. The memorial chimes were installed on November 14th, 1948. In 1949, the United Church form of government was adopted, creating the first Session. A new manse was built at the corner of Abbott and Macdonald Streets in late 1949.

 

The Memorial Fund

In 1954 a memorial fund was established to provide  more adequate Sunday School rooms and hall facilities. In the summer of 1957, the earth was excavated under the Church Hall, creating a new basement. A hot air heating system was installed for both the new rooms and the Church hall, bringing the building projects originally begun by our Methodist ancestors to completion. In 1962, the parish celebrated its 75th anniversary, publishing the anniversary booklet from which the information presented on this website is drawn.

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