Grand Cascapedia Gospel Chapel, QC

The Grand Cascapedia Gospel Hall was a hive-off of the work at Black Cape.³⁷ It too may have gotten underway as early as 1915 with meetings in homes before moving on to the “old hall” below Campbell’s Store³⁸ near the Gilken place. Mrs. Gilken baked the bread for the Lord’s Supper. Somewhat later, around 1926, a Sunday School was begun by William Moir and his wife who, as we have already learned, had three daughters of their own. This was conducted in the home of Scott Mackay whose parents were already associated with the Brethren. House meetings were also held at nearby Dimock Creek in the home of James Dimock as well as on the Indian Reserve at Maria.

The construction of a new hall was begun in 1928/29. In the 1930s, Sam Stewart built an apartment over the hall to accommodate visiting preachers. I well remember visiting this hall. Among those who helped with its construction was Colin Barter whose wife, Lyla, came to Grand Cascapedia in 1935 and taught school in the old school house. They were married the following year. Susie Woodman also taught in the same school house which eventually became her home.

As of 1942, this assembly was apparently “as large as any on the coast.”³⁹ The following year it had a Sunday School with “64 on the roll ... five meetings every week, and all are very well attended.”⁴⁰ We learn the above through correspondence from Charlie Major who, according to Donald Huntington was “tall, with a booming voice and always wore a black suit.”⁴¹ In 1965 the name was changed from Gospel Hall to Chapel.⁴² Others named in connection with this assembly include Alex Gilken, Warren Gilken, Alfred Harrison, Milton Lovering and James Young.