Church Memories Shared In Ompah And Plevna

Helen Forsey | May 22, 2013

The little United Churches in Ompah and Plevna were filled with song and stories on Sunday afternoon, May 19, as members and friends of the former congregations commemorated the long history of their beloved churches.

In December, after the painful decision to close the pastoral charge at the end of 2012, the church buildings were officially deconsecrated, but timing and weather did not allow for a full commemoration at that time. People in the church and in the broader community wanted an opportunity to come together again to remember and honour the many people and events that make up the rich heritage of the United Church in this area.

The May long weekend provided that opportunity, and close to a hundred people came – past and present residents, both year-round and seasonal, family members, former ministers and student ministers who had served the charge, and United Church representatives from nearby and farther away.

Before each service, people gathered to exchange greetings and view the photo displays posted on the walls. Then everyone settled into the pews to hear two pieces of choral music sung by the Ompah Community Choir, which regularly practised in the church after being started in early 1997 by then-student minister Kathy Walton.

The music continued with hymns throughout each service – traditional favourites chosen in advance by members of the congregations. They were accompanied by Don Timmins in Plevna and John Inglis in Ompah, where Richard Emery followed in his father's footsteps by leading the singing.

Brief histories of the churches were read, dating back to the 1880s, when the Plevna church was built. Its 75-dollar cost was offset by members purchasing seats for $4 apiece! A few years later, the Ompah church was built using working bees and donated lumber. In 1896, the minister for the combined "mission" earned a yearly salary of $145. Not much money, but lots of people – the combined congregation numbered 441 in 1925 when the United Church was formed.

Shared memories formed the heart of the commemoration events, as people recalled sad times and happy ones, childhood experiences, special occasions and wonderful people, bringing forth laughter and tears. Rev. David Spivey, who retired (again) in 2011 after five years serving the charge, offered a moving reflection, reminding us that although the buildings will no longer be there for us to gather in, the church itself is the people, "the Body of Christ", and we continue on in the Spirit. There were also messages of hope and affection from a number of former ministers, and from representatives of the United Church Presbytery and Conference to which the pastoral charge belonged.

The afternoon concluded with a lovely lunch prepared by the neighbouring congregation of Emmanuel Pastoral Charge (Cloyne, Flinton and Northbrook) – a heartwarming example of the caring and solidarity that are at the core of the church.

Afterwards, the organizers – Betty Kelford, Helen Forsey and Betty Hunter, named as a planning committee in December and later joined by Ellie Leakey and Ed Rohr – were very pleased with the dual event. They said it was "a lovely way to say a faith-full goodbye to our little churches as we move into the future."