Feature Article October 16, 2003
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb HomeOmpah Church Celebrates 105th AnniversaryOn October 5, a touching and memorable service was held to honour 105 years of dedicated service to the Ompah United Church. The church was beautifully decorated and some of the ladies of the congregation and the minister were dressed in period costumes.
The service was conducted by student minister Linda Tomlinson. Guest minister Rev. Kathy Walton, who served the charge from 1994 to 1997, delivered the message. The scripture was read by Gordon and Grace Millin of Belleville. The 17-member Ompah Community Choir, which had its beginning in Rev. Kathys term, sang four selections. They sang a selection of hymns, including Church in the Wildwood, and Swing Low, Sweet Chariot both favourite hymns of the congregation. Their voices were splendid. Memorial plaques were dedicated to the Glory of God in memory of past members Lyall Stewart, Gladys Roberts, Eleanore Sweeney, who although a member of the Anglican Church, was very active in the United Church, and 27 members from 1897 to the present.
On October 5, 1897, Jack and Christina Watt, the Hotel Keeper, donated the land for the Ompah congregation to build a church. One dollar was paid to make it legal to the Presbyterian Church of Canada. The Church was called Eternal Rest. The first trustees were Henry Slunham, William and Charles McDougall, Alexander Monroe, and Robert Watt with Rev. Turkington as witnesses. The deed was registered October 13, 1897. These were the first names on the memorial plaque, the last being Alan Kenning Knowles, who passed away May 4, 2002, a summer resident who attended our Church the past ten years.
We want to thank everyone who came out to help us celebrate our 105th Anniversary and to recognize the loyal and dedicated service of past members. We want to thank Don and Mary McCall, chair of Presbytery, for coming. With perseverance the Church was built by the early families in this community, and with perseverance we have remained open. Bill and Helen Kelford were one couple who faithfully gave of their time, raising funds to keep the Church open when the congregation numbers were low. The Church kitchen, converted to a Sunday School room in 1982, was dedicated to this couple in 1983, and was renamed Kelford Hall
A light luncheon was served in the Community Centre after the service. Many thanks to everyone who donated and helped serve the luncheon.
