Woodstock Gospel Hall, ON

In 1845, hymnwriter of What A Friend We Have In Jesus, Joseph Medlicott Scriven emigrated to Woodstock, Oxford, Ontario, Canada where he broke bread with friends, this meeting eventually split with other exclusives to become a Raven-Taylor (now PBCC exclusive) meeting which met from +1954-2015+ on Mill Street in Woodstock, and another at City Hall, neither of which are 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."

In 1908, A.R. Crocker was standing on a street corner in Woodstock at the age of 23, and was converted to Christ thru the preaching of a Mr. Lester and a Mr. Brown who later served in Argentina.

Prior to 1927, there was an open brethren meeting known as Woodstock Gospel Hall that met first at 704 Dundas St., then in the home of Ralph E. Tree by 1947 then folded. Afterwards, there were a few families meeting in the home of John Josiek, where it was rebranded in 1966 as Park Row Community Chapel, ON, which folded in 1976. Still existent Gospel Halls in Oxford county are located in West Zorra (Embro) & Burgessville. There are also Bible Chapels in Tavistock & Tillsonburg.

Later Woodstock ministry

T&T

Gospel Hall itinerants continued ministry in Woodstock at surrounding areas in the mid-1990's, including the Woodstock Wood Show, advertised at Festivals Toronto as "Canada's oldest consumer woodworking show" (started in 1987) at the Woodstock Fairgrounds.

• 1993-12: From Goodwood, Lorne Langfield reported "many good contacts" at the fall fairs including the Walkerton Ploughing Match, Woodstock Wood Show, and Orillia Fair.
• 1994-9: Lorne Langfield had had "encouraging children's meetings" in Goodwood, and expected to have further children's meetings at Newmarket & Valens in August, and in the Fall, he was planning a gospel display at the Orillia Fall Fair, the International Plowing Match (near Ottawa), and the Woodstock Wood Show.
• 1995-3: address change for Jim Bergsma at 137 Dundas St., Unit 15 in Woodstock.

Locations

• 704 Dundas St. +1936-1973+
• home of Ralph E. Tree +1947

Correspondents

• Ralph E. Tree +1927-1947

Meeting Times

• Times:
  • +1936-1943+: Su B 11am, SS 3pm, G 7:15pm;
  • +1947+: Su B 11am;

Visiting Ministry at Woodstock Gospel Hall

Itinerants

• George Fraser 1934

1930's

• L&L 1935-1: "George Fraser had meetings in Rugby, Warminster, Sparrow Lake, Woodstock and Haileybury with blessing to saved and unsaved. Now in New Liskeard, but he hopes to go to an unevangelized district thirty-six miles away, called Kennabec. Prayer will be valued."

Who's Who at Woodstock Gospel Hall

Elsbrie family

1904 @ Salford Gospel Hall, ON

• James Elsbrie +1931+ (b. 1851 England, emig. 1872, d. 1948 Ingersoll, ON).
• Mary Anne Gillard Elsbrie +1931 (b. 1854 Drayton, Somerset, England - d. 1931 Woodstock, ON), dau. of Joseph Gillard (b. 1827 Drayton, Eng. - d. 1909 Oxford, ON) & Elizabeth Millish Gillard (b. 1829 Wedmore, Somerset, Eng. - 1895 Elgin, ON).
  • OR 1931-4: "Woodstock, ON: On March 2, Mrs. Jas. Elsbrie departed to be with Christ, in her 76th year. She was saved at the opening of the Straffordville Hall, on July 1, 1880. Bro. R.E. Tree conducted the services."

Sources

• OB AB's 1927, 1936, 1941, 1943, 1947
• EB AB's 1880, 1959
• Light & Liberty
  • 1935-1
• Our Record
  • 1931-4
• Truth & Tidings
  • 1995-3
• Barley Cake 1883