Stanstead Christian Assembly, QC
From BrethrenPedia
History
Stanstead Christian Assembly, Stanstead, Memphrémagog, Estrie, Southeast Québec, Canada is a bilingual (French & English) open brethren assembly founded in 1947.
This assembly began with home meetings in the late forties, thanks to the efforts of Sydney Young and his wife Althea, both patients of Dr. Arthur Hill, who were saved at Grace Chapel in 1946, she first and he shortly afterward. The young assembly was affiliated with the CBCPQ in December 1947. When the Youngs moved into the upstairs of the old Stanstead post office, Sydney fixed up the first floor as a meeting room. From the outset, the small assembly depended on help from Grace Chapel in nearby Sherbrooke. Arthur McHarg, prior to his departure for the mission field, was one of those who gave a helping hand.
In 1952, Mr. Lawrence Wallace and his wife arrived from Victoria, BC, and remained for a dozen years. Brother Wallace was an experienced Bible teacher and the effect of his Christ-exalting ministry was soon felt in the area. He was appointed civil pastor in March 1960. His picture appeared in Letters of Interest for June 1962.
Earlier on, from 1952 to 1954 and possibly before, Roy Buttery, while living in nearby Waterloo, helped at Stanstead on the weekends. At a later date, Roy Langley and Edwin Down, the latter appointed civil pastor in March 1964, were active here. Other participating members early on include Doreen Neill, George Coburn, Paul Terhune, Murray Down, Leonard Johnson, and Jack Young,
In 1962, the property on Hackett Street was purchased for seven hundred dollars with some thirty-five persons then in attendance. Thanks to the impetus of Mr. Wallace, a fine chapel was soon begun on the site. The basement was completed with the first service being held there on New Year’s Day 1963. This served as the chapel for a number of years. By 1980, if not before, the main floor had been completed. Walter Scott’s father was one who helped with the construction.
Upon the departure of brother Wallace in 1964, Walter Scott arrived from Ontario. For whatever reason, going was a bit rough from the outset but by late 1968, fellowship ties were improved and strengthened between Stanstead and the leadership of Grace Chapel which had all along continued to be closely involved in this work. Walter was appointed civil pastor in 1979.
The Scott family have provided leadership down through the years and continue to do so following the homecall of Walter and Winnifred within the past several years.
AKA
- Stanstead Gospel Chapel (OB) 1947-2021+
- L'Assemblée Chrétienne (OB-F&E) +1989-2021+
Locations
- Old post office building
- 9 Chemin Hackett St. 1963-2021+
Correspondents
- Gordon John August Warnholtz (1919-2007) +1954-1955
- b. 1919 Hespeler, Waterloo, Ontario - d. 2007 Sherbrooke, QC
- W. Roy Langley @ Masonville 1956-1960
- Sydney Young @ Dufferin St. 1962, 1970-1987+
- Walter Scott @ Ayer's Cliff 1963-1964, 1968-1969, +1989-2014+
- Murray Down @ Ayer's Cliff 1965-1967
Alumni
Sources
- Walterick Publishers Assembly Address Books: 1943, 1948, 1950, 1954-1956, 1958-1980, 1982-1983, 1985-1987, 1989-2000, 2003-2004, 2006-2008
- ECS Ministries (Emmaus International) Assembly Address Books: 2009-2010, 2013-2014, 2016, 2018, 2020
- News of Quebec
- Ancestry.com
