Latest revision as of 03:52, 20 March 2025

Pre-PHGH

Exclusives +1839-1944+

From about 1839-1879, there was an brethren assembly that apparently met at Pengelly Landing in Peterborough Co., Ontario, Canada which eventually met at Port Hope. One of its most well-known supporters was Joseph M. Scriven, author of What A Friend We Have In Jesus, which was composed apparently when he resided in Brantford for a period, then relocated to Bewdley (near Port Hope), then retired to this area for the remainder of his life.

This assembly was Darbyite, or Exclusive in nature, see Pioneering Spirit and Port Hope Meeting Room, ON for more detail. By 1890, it was aligned with the TW-Lowe exclusives, and TW's by 1909 which it remained in fellowship with until its closure sometime after 1944.

J. Pengelly, a photographer, also resided in that county, in the village of Norwood, +1878-1880, and either broke bread in his home, or commuted to the meeting room in Port Hope. See Norwood Meeting Room, ON.

Opens

In 1885, open itinerants Goodfellow & Kernahan held tent meetings in the village of Wansford.

+1904+

By 1904, there were three open brethren assemblies meeting in Peterborough County.

• Lang Gospel Hall, ON +1904-1977 with earliest correspondent of Charles Edwards +1904-1927+ (1854-1931)
• Rose Island Gospel Hall, ON +1904+ c/o Charles Irish (1867-1938)
• Peterborough Gospel Hall, ON +1904+ c/o John Denoon (1861-1935), with his wife Alexandrina "Ina" A. Sinclair Denoon (1864-1930) who were both born in Scotland and died in Toronto.

+1927+=

There have been at least three area open assemblies active by 1927 and current today that may be spiritual descendants of those meetings, the first two being located in Peterborough:

• Westmount Bible Chapel (formerly McDonnell Street Gospel Hall/Chapel)
• Park Street Gospel Hall (formerly George Street Gospel Hall)
• Port Hope Gospel Hall

The two Peterborough-based assemblies in 1927 had correspondents of George Mulligan @ 804 George St., and E. Wager @ 273 Park St., and it is currently unknown which correspondent belongs with which assembly in that time period.

+1936+

By 1936, there was a Lakefield Gospel Hall active, which rebranded as Lakefield Gospel Chapel, ON|Lakefield Gospel Chapel]] by 1950, and may be still active today.

1945+

Four other open assemblies started 1945-1965, three still active today.

In 1945, Braidwood Bible Chapel (active) was started in Peterborough. By 1950, Norwood Gospel Hall had commenced, which rebranded in 1962 as Pine Street Gospel Chapel, active thru 1977. In 1961, another assembly in Peterborough started called Auburn Bible Chapel (active). In 1965, Edmison Heights Bible Chapel, ON started (active).

Founding PHGH

Port Hope Gospel Hall has been in two renditions, the first was +1927-1943+, of which its fate is debatable. It either folded after 1943, or rebranded by 1969 as Hope Bible Chapel, which met thru 1982 before closing. History of the current rendition of PHGH may be found at their website but essentially a remnant of believers left over from HBC, and others located in the area that were traveling to further GH's, amalgamated to form the current Port Hope Gospel Hall, still meeting in 2025. It was initially known 1983-1984 as Port Hope Christian Assembly.

Also See

"Who's Who" and "Visiting Ministry" sections include alumni/news of both PHGH's, as well as that of Port Hope Bible Chapel, until more information is known about the transitions.

• Who's Who at Port Hope Gospel Hall, ON notable alumni
• Visiting Ministry at Port Hope Gospel Hall, ON conference news, etc.

Sources

• Barley Cake 1885
• TW/EB AAB's 1878-1944
• OB AAB's 1904-2024