Revision as of 03:41, 25 February 2023

In 1845, hymnwriter of What A Friend We Have In Jesus, Joseph Medlicott Scriven emigrated to Woodstock where he broke bread with friends, this meeting eventually split with other exclusives to become a Raven-Taylor (now PBCC exclusive) meeting which met thru recent years on Mill Street, and another at City Hall, those meetings are not presently open to the general public.

In 1883, the open brethren publication Barley Cake reported: "Brother Muir is in Bay City. He is preparing for the tent season, and is longing for a fellow laborer. Brother Goodfellow, who has been laboring with James Reid in Woodstock may join him."

Prior to 1927, there was an open brethren meeting known as Woodstock Gospel Hall, ON that met first at 704 Dundas St., then in a home by 1947, with a correspondent since 1927 of Ralph E. Tree. The Woodstock Gospel Hall folded by 1948, and a few families transferred to the home of John Josiek to break bread, then it was moved to the old BME church, and rebranded in 1964 as Park Row Community Chapel, ON, whichfolded in 1976.

Letters of Interest 1976-10: "Woodstock, Ontario: Park Row Community Chapel: Meetings have been temporarily discontinued. Christian families are needed to help build up a testimony in this very promising area. Write to: Ray Taylor, R.R. #1, Woodstock, Ont., N4S 7V6".

Still existent Bible Chapel assemblies in Oxford county are in Tavistock & Tillsonburg. There are also continuing Gospel Hall assemblies in West Zorra (Embro) & Burgessville, itinerants from those circles continued ministry at various area fairs into the mid-1990's.

In 2014, Dr. David Reist wrote an article in Thinking Ahead, "How Followers of Jesus Can Engage Mental Illness in Society and the Church". The forementioned magazine is a quarterly newsletter from Vision Ministries Canada, which was founded by open brethren to assist in church planting and rebranding. Drs. David & Nicole Reist are registered clinical psychologists with private practices in Woodstock, as well as in London, Ontario. The article may be found here.

Locations

• @ home of John Josiek, 256 Raglan St. 1956-1965
• British Methodist Episcopal Church aka Hawkins Chapel, 257 Park Row St. 1966-1976

Correspondents

• John Josiek 1956-1967
• Harold Swanson, 220 Clarke St. 1967-1973
• Raymond E. Taylor 1973-1976

Meeting Times

• 1956-1965: Su B 10:30am; Tu P/BS 8pm;
• 1966-1968: Su B 9:30am, F 11am; Th C 7pm, P/BS 8pm;
• 1969-1976: Su B 10am; S/F 11am; G 7pm; Th P/M 8pm;

Who's Who

Josiek family

• John Josiek +1948-1967+

McLeod family

• Benjamin McLeod
  • LOI 1979-10: Obits: "Benjamin McLeod, of Coxsackie, New York, on July 12. He was saved in his teens and for 75 years lived a godly life. He was in fellowship at Midland Park, Longport, Albany, Woodstock and Saugerties."

Swanson family

• Harold Swanson +1967-1973+

Taylor family

• Raymond E. Taylor +1973-1976+

Visiting Ministry

1957

• L&L 1957-1: "John Rea, 903 Lorne Ave., London, ON: Recently I visited Shakespeare for a weekend, also ministered in a small gathering of His people who are seeking to establish a Scriptural testimony in Woodstock, Ontario. Last Lord's day I preached the gospel at one of our assemblies at London. Will be in Clinton, Ont., D.V., the weekend of Dec. 23."

Sources

• EB/OB AB's 1880-1976
• Letters of Interest: 1967-8; 1976-10; 1979-10
• Barley Cake 1883
• Light & Liberty: 1957-1