Picton Gospel Hall, ON
From BrethrenPedia
Picton Gospel Hall is an open brethren assembly in Prince Edward Co., Southern Ontario, Canada. It is currently located at 3 McFarland Dr., in Picton. Local mainstream attractions include a restored Edwardian opera house known as the Regent Theatre (built in 1918) and Macaulay Heritage Park.
From prior to 1878 thru 1903 there were a number of exclusive PB residing in the Picton area, who were associated after 1890 as the TW-Lowe EB. They included Mr. McGilvray +1878-1879+, Draycott White +1880-1889+, G. Handley +1889+, and William McCaw +1894-1903+. See Picton Meeting Room for detail on this.
In 1906, it was reported the The Witness (1906-8) that R. Irving and W. Morrison were having encouraging tent meetings in Picton. It was reported in the next issue that they were still continuing such but finding it "uphill work". By October, they had moved their gospel tent to Holloway, Cochrane District and having small attendance.
In 1948 or 1949, Timothy Kember (1921-2021) was commended to gospel work by Sarnia Gospel Hall and relocated with his wife Mary to Bloomfield, near Picton where they remained for the rest of their lives.
October 8th, 1950 marked the start of special meetings by G.P. Taylor and Timothy Kember (from the area), as per T&T where they were "hoping to see an assembly formed shortly in this district" where they had labored previously. By the summer of 1951, they were constructing Hall while pitching a gospel tent. In early 1952, it was reported in both T&T & WiS that the construction work was "coming along nicely", the outside work was done and "our brethren" were in the process of finishing the inside.
1952-5 T&T reported that in Deseronto, Ontario that a "series of gospel meetings by J.F. Pearson of Salisbury, Mass. and G.P. Taylor, were well attended. They hoped to be a couple of evenings in Picton, where the young assembly continues for God. They have built themselves a nice hall." That same issue announced their first joint annual conference (between Deseronto & Picton) for May 24-25 at the Legion Hall in Deseronto, with a prayer meeting scheduled for 8 p.m. on the 23rd at Deseronto's Gospel Hall on St. George St. The correspondent at Deseronto was given as William Root.
1953-1 T&T: "A.T. Stewart and T. Kember had three weeks in Picton, one professed. They also had meetings in Deseronto, Campbellford and Peterborough."
1953-7 T&T: Timothy had "suffered a severe break of his forearm", and requested prayer for full recovery so he might "return to his loved labour in the gospel".
1953-9 T&T: Tweed, Ont. - "G.P. Taylor and T. Kember are under canvas here and get some in to hear the Word, and are working the town and surrounding district. F.G. Watson spent two nights with them when visiting around that part of the country seeking to look up some isolated and sick saints. He also visited Peterborough, Picton and Deseronto, where the Word was ministered and appreciated."
Also See
Sources
- 1954-2018 OB AB's
- PEC wiki
- Truth and Tidings: 1950-11; 1951-9; 1952-2,5,7; 1953-1,9
- Words in Season: 1952-1
- The Witness (New Series): Vol. 16. 1906.
