Belmont Anglican Church celebrates 125 years
Back in the winter, the Belmont Museum Committee thought it would be nice to host an event for the 125th anniversary of the Anglican Church in Belmont, as this Church is now part of the Museum.
The date for this service was decided to be on the August long weekend in conjunction with Belmont’s Annual Music in the Park held on Saturday, and the Church service being held on Sunday.
When the Committee started to discuss the idea of the Church service they admit it all seemed so easy. As one of the organizers remarked, “it turned out the idea was the easiest part. Then we found a group of people that helped bring it all together. What amazing help we had!
After the service we planned an appreciation lunch hosted by the Museum, with hot dogs, an assortment of cookies, puffed wheat cake, and rice krispie cake. Our Committee sent out a message requesting help with desserts and the Belmont residents did not disappoint! The variety and amount of desserts was overwhelming and so greatly appreciated.”
The Committee also wanted to recognize the other two Churches that had been in Belmont, and decided to make the service non-denominational with representatives from the Anglican, United and Pentecostal. The organizing group also wanted to have a choir to make the event even more perfect. The Committee reached out to Patty Manning who immediately agreed to be the Choir Director.
With ten Choir members enlisted, Patty worked wonders and had the entire Choir cohesive with only one practice a week before the event.
Neal Boyce, an accomplished organist and former resident of Belmont, generously offered to share his talents providing musical accompaniment for the service.
Donna Myers, a former long time Belmont resident volunteered to do the service, choosing the hymns and readings.
Our readers representing the three churches were: Dennis Pryke – Anglican; Jennifer McGill – United; Neal Boyce – Pentecostal.
The service was a message of community, the strength of gathering together, the importance of bearing one anothers burdens, and the practice of hospitality.
Donna also gave a history of the Anglican Church in Belmont as well as the importance of churches to the settlers of our communities and Districts. Churches were used for support, community and socialization.
On the day of the event, the Church was full and the comments were all very positive.
It truly was an amazing event!
Thank you to everyone who made the day perfect in every way from those who donated desserts, the Museum Committee, the Choir members, Donna Myers, Neal Boyce, Patty Manning, Dennis Pryke, Jennifer McGill, and anyone else who was involved in any way.
PHOTO CAPTION: Neal Boyce played the hymn “Come in, come in and sit down” at the 125th anniversary celebration of the Belmont Anglican Church. PHOTO BY SUZANNE PADDOCK
