INNISFAIL – It was 75 years ago that local Presbyterians were called to build a new church for the congregation after a fire destroyed their previous place of worship.
The site for St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church at 4716 - 50th Ave. became the third home for the town’s Presbyterian community.
The build in 1947 may have been a trial at first for local Presbyterians but their mission to serve their Christian faith and community was always paramount.
Any inconvenience was quickly dismissed, especially when acknowledging that the rigours of life and service were far more demanding when Rev. James Fleming came to serve the newly-born pioneer community in 1890.
Innisfail was known as Poplar Grove then, and Presbyterians had no church. The first Presbyterian home for worship was built the following year along with a manse, a house occupied by a Presbyterian minister.
For 132 years the local Presbyterian community has proudly marched on; an admirable victory of faith over any adversity to serve the community.
On Aug. 28, Presbyterians gathered for a special celebration to mark the 130th anniversary of Innisfail’s congregation, and the 132th year of the actual start of Presbyterian ministry in central Alberta.
“It was very uplifting. The congregation had been without a minister during the whole time of COVID,” said Rev. John Rhoad, who was the church’s minister from 1968 to 1973. “They (congregation) needed something uplifting and we needed to be reminded as a congregation that we have a long history, and there's been great years and there's been years of struggle.”
For its day of celebration, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and its congregation received greetings from Town of Innisfail Mayor Jean Barclay, neighbouring ministers Steven Webb from Sylvan Lake and Eckville’s Sandra Franklin-Law, and the church’s national moderator Rev. Dr. Bob Faris.
At 10 a.m. the 30-member congregation and guests worshipped for about the next hour and 15 minutes.
When it was completed, everyone gathered for lunch; a feast of roast beef on the bun, beans, salad and cake.
Best of all was the fellowship, with plenty of heartfelt laughter and reminiscing over the scrumptious lunch.
Although Rhoad left the town almost a half-century ago, he went on to serve his faith with utmost devotion; ministering in B.C., Ontario and then Edmonton. He then retired and moved back to central Alberta. He lives in Red Deer but comes regularly to Sunday service in Innisfail.
Rhoad played an important part to ensure the celebration’s success.
“I've maintained an album with pictures and records because we started the celebration five months ago,” he said, adding the COVID-19 pandemic blunted larger celebrations at the time. “We've had special ministers that have come to preach, and we've had special events and we've been taking pictures and recording.
“We have a member, who is now in a seniors’ home in Olds, who came to this church in the 1930s,” he added. “We went down to his seniors’ home and presented him with a special plaque of recognition for all his years of service.”
Rev. Charles McNeil has been the current minister at Innisfail’s St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church for just under a year. He too lives in Red Deer, and his local ministry is shared with the city’s Knox Presbyterian Church and West Park Presbyterian Church.
He noted the Aug. 28 celebration was special for his church as it not only saluted both faith and community it also acknowledged the remarkable history and indomitable spirit of the congregation that braved any challenge during its humble beginnings and after.
“The first missionaries that came out here, the Anglicans and the Presbyterians, came around the same (time), and established two congregations, and worked together. And you know? Talk about intrepid and faithful. Yes, amazing people,” said McNeil, who called the celebration “wonderful” and “appropriate.”
“Something like a milestone of 130 years, which is incredibly significant, you've got to celebrate. We celebrated, gained energy and encouragement, and we’ll go forward.”
And his ministerial predecessor could not agree more. In fact, Rev. Rhoad was inspired to believe the best is yet to come for the faithful congregation at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.
“They (congregation) needed something uplifting and we needed to be reminded as a congregation that we have a long history, and there's been great years and there's been years of struggle,” said Rhoad. “This was a nice way to end the five months.”
