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St. Mary's Anglican ChurchEarly 1900's
Bentley, Alberta
Credits:Bentley Museum Society
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High School in log church15 January 1917
Bentley, Alberta
Credits:Bentley Museum Society
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Old Methodist Church - Original pioneer log church on the leftCirca 1917
Bentley, Alberta
Credits:Bentley Museum Society
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United Church with steeple1900's
Bentley, Alberta
Credits:Bentley Museum Society
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East view of Bentley United Church2005
Bentley, Alberta
Credits:Bentley Museum Society
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Bentley United Church2005
Bentley, Alberta
Credits:Bentley Museum Society
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Old Penticostal Church, now a residence2010
Bentley, Alberta
Credits:Bentley Museum Society
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Bentley Community Church -20052005
Bentley, Alberta
Credits:Bentley Museum Society
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Bentley Seventh Day Adventist Church2005
Bentley, Alberta
Credits:Bentley Museum Society
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Catholic Church in Bentley -Our Lady of Perpetual Help - 20052005
Bentley, Alberta
Credits:Bentley Museum Society
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Inside Catholic Church in Bentley2005
Bentley, Alberta
Credits:Bentley Museum Society
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St Mary’s Anglican ChurchSt. Mary’s Church was located at the southeast corner of what is now 47th street and 50th Avenue in the Village of Bentley. It was a neat little church surrounded by trees. The church was founded in 1910. The first Rector was Rev. James Watt-Thompson. He was here from 1911- 1913 and he was under the supervision of Rev. A. J. Patstone of Lacombe.
Mrs. Dawson was president of the Women’s Auxiliary. Reverend A. J. Patstone and his family left England on September 21, 1907, arriving at Calgary on October 2nd. Reverend Patstone ministered at Rimbey, Bluffton, Bentley, Gull Lake, Leslieville, Eckville and Rocky Mountain House: all in Alberta, from 1907 - 1910, after which he moved to Lacombe, Alberta.
Mrs Harry Brownlow (nee Eusebia Damant) was an accomplished musician and played the organ in St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Bentley, Alberta. She passed away during the depression of the 1930’s.
The church was eventually torn down.
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BENTLEY UNITED CHURCH-.
In the year 1899 when Major William B. McPherson, his family and others arrived in the Blindman Valley from the United States, the land was part of the Northwest Territories.
Services in the Methodist tradition were first held in the log home of Guy Holmes, the first to build in Bentley. They were led by Rev. William Haggith.
In the fall of 1900, Rev. William C. Cooper was assigned to the BlindmanValley Mission Field. He was sponsored by both the Methodist and Presbyterian Communions. Services were held in the log houses of settlers.
Rev. Cooper wrote of his arrival:
"After spending the night at the Lacombe Parsonage, the minister thereRev. H.G. Cairns, hitched up a team of young ponies to a light democratand, after eight hours over muskeg and forest trail we arrived at the Bentley
Log Store. This was the only building where Bentley now stands.
Without much ado, my trunk was put off at the store. 'This is your mission,' Mr. Cairns said, pointing to the valley of wild grass, muskeg, and some distant log houses. He then drove off. I stood alone with the storekeeper, Major McPherson - a little old man who had played a drum at the battle of Gettysburg. During the following days Mr. McPherson and I spent much time together and became good friends."
The idea of building a log church, planted by Rev. Haggith, grew and Rev Cooper asked each settler to bring one or two logs to the site which had been donated by Major McPherson. By early spring, 1901, enough logs had been brought and construction began. In November the building was opened and dedicated.
Of the grand opening, Rev. Cooper wrote:
"The farmer settlers came from all directions on stone boats, fearing to tackle the muskeg with wagons. Men, women and some children filled the little log temple and all sat crowded on the floor. The homemade seats were not ready by this time. I played the organ, led the singing, prayed, and tried to speak. In the midst of the service, while I was earnestly speaking of the little church back home of which this new Church of Bentley was to be in the Apostolic Succession, I stopped - and soon we were all shedding tears. Crying, yes, for the joy of worshipping together in this little log church in the Blindman Valley so very far away from our former homes."
The Log Church served until 1910 when it was replaced by a brick building which was dedicated that year. The Log Church continued to serve as a club room. Here, in 1912, Mr. Alfred Damant taught night school to young adults, and in 1915 the building served as a high school until a new two room brick school was built in 1920.
The Brick Church, later known affectionately as the Old Brick Church,was built during the ministry of Rev. Oliver E. Mann, under the fine leadership of Mr. Archie Putland.
Behind the buildings were stables or barns which were closed on three sides and open on the fourth. They sheltered the horses driven to church or school. Every once in a while people would haul in hay for the horses to eat.
During this time services were conducted by:
Rev. Ernest J. Tate - 1904 - 1905
Rev H.J. Johnson - 1905 - 1907
Rev. P.H. Neville - 1907 - 1909
Rev. Oliver E. Mann - 1909 - 1911
Rev. Henry Haddon - 1911 - 1913
Rev. Windfield - 1913 - 1914
Rev. Chauncey was minister in 1914 -1915; followed by Rev. A.D. Miller.Rev. J. M. Fawcett arrived in 1918 and ministered until 1921.He was followed by Rev. J.H. Nightingale (1921 - 1925).
On June10, 1925, the Methodists, three quarters of the Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and about 3000 Local Union Congregations scattered across the Western Prairies joined, to form the United Church of Canada.
Rev. Ernest J. Tate, having served briefly (1904 - 1905) returned to minister at both Bentley and Rainy Creek. Since 1925, after the ministry of Rev. Robert C. Scott, Rainy Creek and Bentley shared the same Ministers. After Union, by agreement with the continuing Presbyterians, no further United Churches were to be built west of Highway 20.
Rev. Tate was succeeded by Rev. D. Howarth (1928 - 1929) and Rev. W.J. Moores, who ministered during the first years of the Great Depression (1929 - 1932). He was followed (1932 - 1936) by Rev. J.C. MacLennan and Rev. C.A. Warren (1936 - 1940). In 1940 Rev. Harold B. Ricker became minister until 1945.
With the end of the War a frame Club House was built and joined to the Brick Church. The old log building was demolished. Rev. C. C. Armstrong served until 1950, when a house south of the church was purchased for a manse. A dedication service was held in June. The old Church house, built in 1906, on the west side of the Church, was sold and moved.The new manse was sold in 1984, when a house for the minister of the Pastoral charge (Bentley - Blackfalds) was purchased in Blackfalds.
During the 1950's, a three-point charge, Blackfalds, Rainy Creek and Bentley, was served by Rev. Brick Thackeray (1950 - 1957). This was a time of new construction and expansion. Rev. Oliver C. Seward (1957 - 1962) was followed by Rev. Ken M. Wood (1962 - 1967).On May 30, 1965, sod was turned to begin construction of the present building. The foundation stone was laid on October I7 and by December 5 the first service was held in the new Sanctuary.
On January 23, 1966, the Rainy Creek Congregation joined with Bentley, sharing Communion. A service of dedication for the new building and the joined congregations was held on February 10. Earlier, in 1962, the Women's groups W.M.S. (Women's Missionary Society) and W.A. (Women's Association) joined to form the U.C.W. (United Church Women). A new sunday school curriculum was also introduced with a new study book and guide, "The Word and The Way".
In 1943, the Anglican Communion proposed a Union. During the 1960's, vigorous conversations were held, culminating in a Plan of Union. Although a new Red Hymn Book to be shared was introduced in 1971, the House of Bishops declined to approve the anticipated Union and conversations ceased. Since 1967, Ministers have been:
Rev. Stephen Hamilton 1967 - 1971
Rev. Robert Hetherington 1971 - 1973
Rev. Walter Coulton 1973 - 1979
Rev. Kermit Butin 1979 - 1981
Rev. William Barkwell 1981 - 1983
(No Resident Minister) 1983 - 1984
Rev. Peter Walker 1984 - 1988
Rev. James Henning 1988 - 1995
Mr. Frank Johnson, L.M. 1995 - 1999
Rev. Franklin S. Lough 1999 - 2003
The Congregation is enriched by the vitality of the Rainy Creek U.C.Wand and by the Church Choir. A Green suppliment to the Red Book, called, "Songs for a Gospel People", was introduced in 1987 and a new volume, Voices United, in 1997.
The Bentley UCW (United Church Women) was disbanded in the 1990’s when the average age of the members was reaching 80. The Rainy Creek UCW remained active with ten members and became the official woman’s group for Bentley. They celebrated their 100 th anniversary in 2006.
The Bentley United Church has sponsored the Scouts and Guides of Canada over the years by allowing their youth groups to use the facility for their meetings and gatherings.
Once a month, our members take turns along with other denominations in providing Worship Service and music at the Bentley Care Centre for the residents.
A recent well-received curriculum for Church Schools, "The Whole People of God", is being replaced by a newly conceived course of study titled "Bible Quest". During the last year of the Twentieth Century, the Congregation received a new carpet for the Sanctuary which was also freshly painted. The old roof was replaced by a new during the summer of 1999.
In 2005, the United Thrift Shop was opened in the Christian Education building. It is open every Saturday from the May long weekend until the Labor Day weekend. It is also open the first Saturday of the month during the winter and in July and August, is also open on Thursdays. The shop is run completely by volunteers and it is well stocked with many excellent household items, toys, etc. The shop does not handle clothing or large furniture or appliances due to lack of room. The Thrift Shop was founded on the idea of helping to green the planet by recycling, reducing and reusing. It allows folks to donate their unwanted items and others to purchase needed or collectible items economically.
The Rainy Creek UCW disbanded in 2009 when the average age of its nine members was 83.
Reverend Raymond Goodship has served the pastoral charge of Bentley/Blackfalds since 2003 to the present time – 2010.
As the Congregation enters a new decade, we echo the words of the Psalmists:
"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go to the House of the Lord"- Psalm 122: 1
At the time of writing, the world is confronted with the unbelievable horror of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. The United Church has people on the ground and are collecting aid and praying for those whom are suffering this terrible tragedy. We pray for strength and hope for all Haitians and those who are there as rescuers. We also pray that Haiti will emerge from this ordeal a much better place.
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Bentley Pentecostal Church
Bentley Christian Centre
Bentley Community Church
Mrs. Carrie Erskine, of the Bentley area, received the Pentecostal experience in British Columbia in 1928. The first Pentecostal preacher was Reverend John Wood. Services were held in Durham School. A. Dalby and A. Christianson, Pentecostal lay preachers from Calgary, commuted to Bentley for Sunday services for a few years. Services were held in the Durham School, then in the Bert William's Hall. In 1931, Lennox Smith, Miss Maisie Coulter (late Mrs. A. A. Lewis) and Jack Field each served as pastor for a few months.The early preachers stayed with the Blish or Morsch families.
October 11, 1931, Reverend John McAlister, Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Alberta District Superitendent, met with the Bentley group of Pentecostal believers. They decided to become the Bentley Pentecostal Assembly, affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. The first board members were J. M. Erskine, E. H. Morsch B. Sc., and E. C. Rud. A. Dalby was asked to be pastor. The first church families were J. M. and Carrie Erskine and daughter, Dorothy; Mrs. John Blish and Lily; Mrs. Rachael Petry, Gordon, Leslie, Grace, Bertha; Edwin and Mabel Morsch with Lillian, John, Edwin, Alberta; Ernest and Marie Spycher, Arnold, Chris, Godfrey, Freda, Ernest; Mrs. Chaland, Vera and Irene; Mrs. Kelso; Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Rud, Alfred and lnna; Mr. and Mrs. Gelin and Effie, Sylvia Blish and Eugene, Clifford, Hugh and Norman. Services were held in the Bert William's Hall for about two years. After the Dalbys left, local people filled in until the next pastor came, who was Dorothy Erskine. She was followed by Clare and Alice Richardson. Next came R. M. McCallum, who also had services in Lockhart and Meadow Brook Schools.
While Pastor and Mrs. Ian Presley (1934-1935) were there, the Pentecostal Assembly's first church building of their own was built by themselves. The church was dedicated, December 4, 1935, by Reverend G. R. Upton, Alberta District Superintendent.
Young People's meetings were held in different homes.
During Pastor Presley's ministry, there was an outreach ministry, who held sunday school in Aspen Beach and Gull Lake School during the months of June, July, August and the first Sunday of September.
While Hugh Fraser (1936-1940) was pastor, local assembly people added two-story living quarters to the north end of the church.
Reverend and Mrs. Arthur Sayer and Lillian arrived in 1940. The church enjoyed real growth.
In1944 the parsonage was built and the sanctuary was extended into the old living quarters increasing the seating capacity.
Rev. Sayer passed away in May of 1946.
Pastor & Mrs. N. E. Britton (1946-1947) followed Sayers. At this time, the basement was put under the church.
Various supply pastors came until 1949.
Pastor& Mrs. Henry Lindberg (1949-1950) came after the pastor graduated from Canadian Northwest Bible Institute. During their ministry,
Freda Spycher organized and the church aired the children's radio program Savior's Air Corps, over CKRD Red Deer, for over two years.
Under Reverend and Mrs. E. W. Peterson (1950-1967) the church enjoyed much growth. The sunday school peaked over two hundred many times, when the Village of Bentley had a population of about five hundred.
There was a large youth group. Many of these young people left for Bible College, University or to find work in other places.They were really missed. During the Peterson's ministry, an addition was made on the west side of the church and the front to accommodate the growth.
Reverend and Mrs. A. A. Lewis pastored from 1967 to 1972. They worked to build up the church. Ernest Spycher Sr., Murray Bigam and Edwin H. Morsch Sr. were made Honorary Board Members for the rest of their lives because of extended service on the church board. Mr. Morsch was secretary-treasurer for 35 years.
Reverend and Mrs. Rosswell Olson came from 1972 to 1974. Reverend Olson was known to be a good Bible teacher. Following his Bentley ministry he joined the staff of Northwest Bible College, Edmonton, Alberta.
Reverend W. D. Lewis and his wife, Pattie, (1974-1987) followed and gave leadership to the church. Their new church building, Bentley Christian Center, was dedicated May 22, 1977. Because the local church people donated money and help, it cut the cost of the church considerably. In 1979, this church opened their own private Christian day school. To increase the size of the sanctuary and accommodate the school, a large addition was made, including a gymnasium. This was usable in September 1980. The school had a capacity for one hundred students. The church was built and through the generous giving of the congregation, it was debt free.
For varying numbers of years, this church has had various outreach programs. Pastor Hugh Fraser and young people, including John Morsch, held services in Sylvan Lake. Sylvan Lake soon had another church, a Pentecostal Church, with its own pastor.Branch Sunday Schools were held at Aspen Beach, Gull Lake; Chappel School, Forshee; Stephenson School, west of Bentley; Gilby; Blindman School near Blackfalds and all were staffed by Bentley Church folks. Street meetings were held on Main Street. Drive-In Services were held at Gull Lake by the Sanders and Freda Spycher. Sunday School Bus service was given for some time. Edwin Morsch Sr., Norman Wheeler and Edwin Morsch Jr. were among the bus drivers. Folks from the church helped a great deal in the development of Sunnyside Pentecostal Camp on the north shore of Sylvan Lake. For years, the Women's Ministries group has helped missionaries, provided some of the needs of the H. H. Williams Memorial Hospital in Hay River, North West Territories and more.
In September 1982, Sunday morning service outreach was started in Rimbey. The service staff commuted from Bentley. In 1987, Pastor Reg Darnel left Bentley as they formed the Rimbey New Life Fellowship. The Darnels have pastored there since.
Over the years close to forty of the churches young people left the Village of Bentley to attend Bible College. Many have gone on to spend their entire life in the ministry; to teach, preach, pioneer churches, missions ministry and others to be a help in churches where they attend.
In June of 1987 Pastor Greg and Janet Rathjen were called to take up the role of leadership. The church had gone through some troubled waters and there has been a time to see people return to the roots that made this church outstanding in our Fellowship. The people of Bentley Christian Centre have again reached out to be a blessing to the Entire Community.
Though the Christian School closed in 1990, the wonderful facilities provided by the congregation are now used by the Public school kindergarten program. The church has become a facility to be available for many community events.
The 5 acres of property by the school and hospital was sold and homes and seniors housing were built. Property was donated to the Village so the government would build the Oxford Court [Seniors Housing]. The former car wash - school building was sold to become Bentley’s Library. This enabled the congregation to build with only a small mortgage, a beautiful manse.
The people continue to look beyond Bentley, and in the recent years, many thousands of dollars have been invested in World Missions, including Romania, Fiji, Ukraine, Mexico, Northern Canadian, India and other fields.
As we continue to listen to the call of our brothers and sisters around the World and to open our hearts and assist them out of even our times of need, the Lord seems to always see to it that our needs are looked after.
As Pastor Greg has shared,
"We are so thankful for the heritage of the Bentley church that started seventy years ago. We are also very thankful for all the work, sacrifice and energy that went into providing such wonderful facilities. We are very proud of the congregation that continues to love this community, to support the work here and to reach out around the world."
Some of the original Church Members are still in Bentley. Grandma (Marie) Spycher is in the Bentley Care Centre, and celebrated her 108 birthday this past May, 2000
[Most of this has been taken by a report written by J. Shirley Morsch, in 1982.]
The history of the church now in 2010 nearing 80 years, continues to develop and service the town of Bentley. Pastor Greg and Janet Rathjen have given over 22 years of service to the community and church Dec 2001, the Congregation decided to change the name to reflect the work and relationship of the church to the greater community. Bentley Community Church continues to serve the people of the town and area. The church continues to seek ways of making Bentley a better place to live. In the fall of 2004 following the tragic death of Kenny Gibson, Pastor Greg was elected to town council and is now completing his second term serving the people of the community. Pastor Greg having ministered to about 150 families through funerals, people are encouraged each Christmas Eve to light a candle in Memory of loved ones. Candles and carols of hope along with the whole community coming together for our community Remembrance Day service along with the annual Community Carol night and people helping others through the Blessing Pantry round off the fall and Christmas season. We all enjoy coming together as churches and community each year for a Rodeo church service and picnic.
As life changes in communications, we have gone from typewriter and gestetners to photocopiers and printers, to digital communication! We choose to keep retooling to share the same message of love, learning, relationships and faith. We trust the message of hope is never lost, though the opportunities to project this message are unlimited in creativity and demonstration. Pastor Greg.
BENTLEY SDA CHURCH HISTORY
In 1919 and 1920 an influx of Adventists moved into the area from the Beisker / Cluny area. These were mostly German farmers. Some people moved up from the Dakota's from the USA.
The weather was hot and dry and farmers in Southern Alberta were looking for greener pastures. As they traveled north they found the greener lands around the Bentley area. They bought land and brought large machinery to harvest the crops planted after the lands were cleared.
Sam Leiske donated some land for the Adventists to build a church where they could meet. The land was located about one mile east of Bentley and two miles south. (The Cemetery is still at that location.) All the lumber was hauled in one day from the Blackfalds lumber yard on wagons drawn by horses. That same year, 1920, the church was formed with about 50 charter members. They asked to become a part of the Alberta Conference of SDA. Since many of the families were quite large, some families did not have vehicles (wagons or in the winter cutters) large enough to take the whole family to church. Some of the families lived too far to travel to the church, so they met for services in their homes.
This was a church where only German was spoken. The English speaking SDA's met for many years in homes, schools or halls. They began to meet in the afternoons in the SDA church shortly before l939, the German speaking members having already met for the morning services. In the fall of 1939 the church was reorganized as it had been shut down for several months. Both English and German speaking members were invited to become members.
The recording books from 1920 -1939 have been lost and only when the church was reorganized were records kept again. Forty-one charter members attended the services along with other family members.
The membership peaked in the year 1984 with a total of 95 members.
The college for the SDA church in Canada is located at Lacombe. The College Theology Department wanted a place to train future pastoral students in practice preaching. In the year of 1945 a unique request came to the congregation to help fill this need. The Alberta Conf of SDA's and Canadian Junior College requested that the church in the country be moved into the village of Bentley so it would be in a more convenient location. The roads to the country church could be quite bad in winter and spring. The church building was also in need of some repairs, so the congregation raised the money to make the move. The pastor, Pastor Peter Rick, and a new member Albert Reimche worked along with John Gimbel and other members in moving and rebuilding the church. They completed re-plastering or gyp rocking the walls, put trim on the windows and doors, and built and finished the basement rooms.
In l968 discussions were started about building a new church. Not until 1977 did these discussions become a reality. The old church was sold and moved back into the country west of Bentley to become a private home. In 1980 the Gus Johnsons moved into this remodeled (church) home. Warren Krenzler was chosen to be the contractor to build the new church. The new church was opened on June 10th, 1978.
Some interesting facts about the SDA churches in Bentley ;
In 1925 the records are given of a pastor for the year: salary $1,460, missionary visits - 426, sermons 73, bible readings 235, baptisms 10, letters written 34
1925--Week of Prayer speaker for German - D.R. Reiner for English - J. Hnatyshyn
Dec 31, 1926 Bentley membership - 36, tithe $384.30, average member giving per year - $10.67, missions - $780.60, member per week giving - $0.41
One outstanding person in the church was Peter Rick. Peter lived with his parents in the Rainy Creek area. Later after finishing grade 12 he went to India to sell religious books. While there his girlfriend joined him and they were married. They then went to Australia where he went to college and finished his training for the ministry. Two children were born there. Upon returning to Alberta, he worked in various places. He worked in the Peace River country. He drove on the train tracks with his old car to get there. Mr. Rick timed his travel between trains to be off the tracks when the train ran. While working in the Peace country he traveled by horse and wagon. He had a wooden heater in the wagon. In the winter he would stop at the end of the day and sleep in the wagon with the heater burning for warmth. He would also carry his firewood around with him in the wagon.
Peter came back to work in the Bentley area and was here when the church was moved from the country into the village. He helped to rebuild and repair the church to make it functional again. He worked in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and also Newfoundland. While in Newfoundland he served as the President of that Mission.
In 1978 a former member, Dr. Ellsworth Wareham, received the "Educator of the Year" award from the government of the United States for his role in teaching and organizing the Open Heart Surgery programs of Loma Linda University conducted in Third World countries.
Twenty-six pastors served the Bentley church and twenty–two students in training from CJC and CUC.
Since 1939 there have been around three hundred and fifty people who have become members of the church and then either moved away to other areas, died, as a result our membership dropped.
God has blessed -- perhaps not with great numbers of members in the church, but He has blessed each week those who came to worship Him during these eighty years. Being a Christian is not just being one when coming to worship Him each week, but it is to trust Him at all times. He is to be the Lord of my life, my salvation, my God and in Him will I trust.
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP CATHOLIC CHURCH BENTLEY
In the Beginning:
Records indicate that the first masses celebrated in Bentley date back to 1909, when Norbertine monks, Father Alexandre Delestre and the Father Van Wetten, from Wetaskiwin, came to the hamlet occasionally to minister to the five persons who were Catholic.
In 1921 Archbishop Henry Joseph O’Leary established Lacombe as a parish having a resident priest, and Father Graydon Harrison was asked to serve Lacombe, Ponoka and Alix. Rimbey built its Catholic church in 1924 and Father Harrison added that to his duties. He tried to visit five or six additional missions a few times during the year, one of which was Bentley.
Mass was held in local homes, and then later (in the 1930’s and 1940’s) in the CPR station, as the station master and his wife, Clarence & Eva Herggot, were devote Catholics. During the summer months, the Catholic congregation in Bentley would swell in numbers as campers and cottage owners at Gull and Sylvan Lakes attended the religious services. By 1940, Father Harrison was assuring a Sunday mass on the second and fourth Sunday of each month, even though there was no church building in Bentley.
In 1947, Father Patrick Rooney, the new pastor in Lacombe, worked with the parishioners in Bentley to receive permission and financial help from the archdiocese for a church. In 1948 a church building was completed with the help of the carpentry skills of Father Joseph Murphy of Rimbey and many volunteers. On July 27, 1949 the church was blessed by Msgr Michael O’Gorman and dedicated to Our Lady of perpetual Help. The first wedding in the church was that of Anthony and Grace (Hansen) Tharou on August 2, 1948. As Father Rooney had left for a family reunion in P.E.I. Father Wilfrid McNabb of Sacred Heart Parish, Red Deer officiated.
Through the years Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church of Canada has been a mission church of Lacombe, Rimbey, and now Sylvan Lake parishes.
The following priests have served this mission: Father Alexandre Delestre, VanWetten, Graydon Harrison, Patrick Rooney, Kennedy MacLean, Duncan MacDonell, Joseph Sullivan, Phillip Mueller, Donald MacDonald, Michael Heffernan, John J. O’Halloran, Theodore Rozmahel, Paul Kingston, Hugh McGuillivry Patrick O’Neil, Jan Sienko, Enzxo Agnoli, Joseph Ayling, Peter Sharp. Sylvain Casavant and our current priest, Father Paul Moret. Sister Camille Campbell assisted the two priests from 1993 to 1997.
The Altar Society was the first women’s organization, followed by the Catholic Women’s League which existed until 1991. They held many bake sales, catered many meals, bought necessary items for the church, and took part in community activities such as World Day of Prayer and Meals on Wheels. The men are able to join a Knights of Columbus organization in the parishes nearby.
Cathechism classes have been held during the years in homes during the week or at the church after Sunday mass or after school during the week. For a few years children had correspondence courses. They could also attend camp at the Gull Lake Hotel or later at Our Lady of Victory Camp north of Bentley on the shores of Gull Lake.
The church has seen many weddings, funerals, baptisms, first communions and of course confirmations. It is always a privilege to have the bishop come to visit us. Since Our Lady of Perpetual Help belongs to the Diocese of Edmonton, Archbishop John Hugh MacDonald, Bishop Anthony Jordon, and for about the last twenty-five years, Archbishop Joseph MacNeil have officiated at confirmations. In 1999, the diocese appointed a new bishop, Archbishop Thomas Collins.
Several renovations have been made over the years. A bathroom, larger entrance, and exterior work made a great deal of difference in the late 1980’s. The interior was improved in 1992. Most of the maintenance and renovations relied on a core of very dedicated parishioners.
In the spring the "cottage people" and "snowbirds’ many of them with permanent homes, are welcomed back to our congregation. Good times of fellowship are had at church picnics, potluck suppers, children’s Christmas programs, banner making ‘bees’ and even church painting and clean ups.
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