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History
The United Church services were held in the different homes of the congregation until 1925.
The United Church was built in the summer of the year 1910 and was situated near the North Lakeland School. Lumber was supplied by the Portage Lumber Company at a cost of $506.38. At this time it was a Methodist Church. Its first trustees were: Mr. J. Carson, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Waind, Mr. Jackson, Mr. McKechnie.
The church building was moved to Langruth in the spring of 1923 on sleighs. Renovations were carried out to enlarge the building. Cost of the first organ was $48.50, paint $27.21, chairs $28.00, and hardware $25.15.
In 1925, the United Church of Langruth became a living fact. The church
was placed on a cement foundation and a stained glass window was put in the wall
above the choir loft. The window was the gift of the I.O.D.E. After the first
World War, this order, which had given good service during the war years, was
disbanded in Langruth. The money that remained in the treasury, was put in a
trust fund to be used to place a memorial in the first church to be put up and
dedicated in the town. The memorial was to be in honour of the men from the
district, who gave their lives during the war. Beneath the window, a plaque was
hung with the names of the men engraved on it.
The names of those who formed the first board and of those who helped
greatly in the first years should be remembered. Prominent among these were: Mr.
and Mrs. Martin Jackson and later Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Hall.
As the years went by, the church prospered and was served by student
ministers, appointed by the Home Mission Board. These first student Ministers
received $10 to $15 per Sunday plus room and board for Saturday and Sunday.
At one period in the 1930's, Mr. Paul Longville, a retired minister,
who lived in Langruth, preached the services in our church for some months.
In 1952, winter services were started. The first student to serve
during the winter was Mr. Garth Nelson, who used to come from United College in Winnipeg every second weekend. On the alternate
weekend song services were held.
In around 1959, we became a self-supporting Pastoral Charge, leaving
the Home Missions field and at that time, the Lakeland congregation joined services with
Langruth. They brought with them and gave to the church an offering plate which
had been given to their church by the C.G.I.T. girls in Lakeland, in memory of
Patricia Anne Oliver, one of their members. The cross which stands in front of
the stained glass window was made and given by the Lakeland Trail
Rangers.
Our hymn board was given by Mr. and Mrs. C. Arksey and family in memory
of her sister Jonina Margaret Halldorson. The reading lamp on the pulpit by Mrs.
Duff in memory of her parents Mr. and Mrs. J. Haney and the vases on the
communion table by the late Mr. J. Connell in Memory of his
wife.
The pulpit Bible, an extremely good one was donated by Mrs. Robertshaw,
Mrs. McKechnie, and Joseph Carson Sr.
In 1926-63 the church board worked hard to make a dream come true. That
dream was to have an Ordained Minister serve the Charge. This was done by
joining the Lakeshore and Plumas Charges, forming the Plumas Lakeshore Charge.
Our first Ordained Minister was Reverend W.D. Lord. His first service in
Langruth was July 7, 1963, at 12:00 noon. Rev. Lord served us until June 20,
1965. We continued with either two ordained ministers or one ordained with the
help of a student minister or a lay minister until 1982. By 1982 the cost of
operating the large charge had risen what with the need for two ordained
minister and travel expenses. It was decided it would be better to divide the
charge into the Plumas Charge and Lakeshore Charge.
In July 1982, we once more became part of the Lakeshore Pastoral Charge
with the Reverend Phyllis Thordarson (MacAulay) as our minister.
Various repairs and renovations have been made during the ensuing
years.
In 1948, more pews were secured and a cement walk put in from the
sidewalk to the front church steps. In 1951, the church was wired and
electricity installed. A Sunday School room was added to the main church
building in 1953. The same year the church decided to sponsor a C.G.I.T. group.
A wind storm in 1973 resulted in the re-shingling of the church
roof.
A special drive for a building fund took place in 1978. This fund was
used to put in a new chimney and buy another oil furnace which was placed at the
back of the church. The outside of the church was painted.
Carpet had been laid in the church and in 1976 was laid in the choir
loft.
The communion table was given to the Langruth Congregation by the
Burnside
United Church when their church closed. This
table was given in the first place by the Allardyce family in memory of their
mother.
The cross above the chancel and the plaque on the north wall was given
by the Wilson
family in memory of John Wilson. The New English Bible with the Apocrypha, was
given by the V. Bjarnarson family in John Wilson's memory as were the
candlestick holders given by the Clearwater Family.
The Christening bowl was given by the U.C.W. in memory of Mrs. W.C.
Hall. The communion glasses and breadplates were also given by the
U.C.W.
The Hammond electric organ was given by the
respective families in memory of older members and relatives who gave their
lives in the two wars.
The Praying hand plaque on the south wall was donated by the Ab
Armstrong family in memory of their son Ronnie Armstrong.
New Hymn books have been dedicated to the church in memory of Clarence
Emberly, Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Crealock, John Wilson, Edith Wilson, Clarence Olson,
Edna Duff, and Mabel Wright by their families or friends.
In 1980 we held our first Pot Luck supper to celebrate 70 years since
the building of the church. We have made this an annual event.
In 1984, the United Church Board members were:
Minister - Reverend Phyllis Thordarson
Chairman Raymond Caddoo
Secretary - Rita Organ
Treasurers - Sydney and Daisy Craik
Jack and Betty Oliver
Kristine Arksey
Florence Jackson
Cathy Grant
Evelynne Callander
Lois Wilson
We apologize to anyone for any omissions or errors that may have
occurred in the compiling of this history.
We would be remiss if we didn't acknowledge a "bouquet" to Mrs. H.D.
Wilson for her part in compiling records from which most of this history was
taken. We would also like to give a "bouquet" to Mr. Charlie Organ for the care
he has taken in repairs and the heating of the church.
With the coming of Phyllis, our attendance is improving and interest
keener. As the years go by, we sincerely hope the church will continue to
prosper and expand as it has done in the past, and with God's help and blessing,
we feel sure it will continue to be an inspiration for our
people.
UNITED CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL
The history of the Sunday School in Langruth began in 1913, when Mrs.
Lena Thorleifson organized a Sunday School for all children of all faiths.
Sunday School was held in the public school. In these early years she was
assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Chapman and Mr. Patterson.
Following 1925 when the church now known as Langruth United
Church was moved to its
present site Sunday School was held there. It has been in continuous service for
fifty-seven years.
It is recorded that in 1928 Mr. Joseph Carson was elected
superintendant. There was at that time an enrolment of sixty-five pupils, with
an average attendance of fifty. Mrs. G. Langdon, Mrs. J.S. Haney, Mrs. G.
Eastman, Mr. Craigie and Mr. McLarty were dedicated teachers of these early
years followed by Mrs. W.C. Hall as teacher and superintendant. She had given
25 years of faithful service when she went to her eternal rest in 1950.
Associated with her in her work were Pearl and Kristin Halldorson, Irene and Doreen
Emberly and Gordon Holmes who acted in the capacity of secretary
treasurer.
When Mrs. Hall passed away, Mrs. H.D Wilson who had been teaching
became superintendent. Mrs. H.D. Wilson continued to teach but gave up the
duties of superintendant to Mrs. Chas. Organ in 1952. Mrs. Chas. Organ had given
ten years o devoted service when she retired in 1959. Mrs Chas. Organ and Mrs.
H.D. Wilson were instrumental in introducing The Cross and Crown Awards, awarded
to pupils for faithful attendance This system is still in use in 1983. Numerous
pupil have received these awards, ranging as high as the fifteenth year
bar.
Upon Mrs. Chas. Organ's retirement, Mrs H.D. Wilson resumed the duties
of superintendant for one year when Mrs. Tom Yungkurt was called upon to serve
as leader. Mrs. H.D. Wilson was honored at a Sunday School Service on June 2:
1968. She had given 25 years of ardent service an guidance to the Sunday
School.
Mrs. Tom Yungkurt became involved with teaching in 1953. She served as
superintendant and teacher until June 1978. In appreciation for her 20 years of
loving service a party was given in her honor on December 3,
1978.
Down through the 57 years, many women and some men have given of
themselves to serve teachers. Parents, interested in their children receiving a
Christian Education gave loyal support, Mr. Chas. Organ deserves a bouquet for
well over 30 years of donated time and effort as Caretaker. We of the United Church
family gratefully acknowledge their participation.
The pupils came early in years to Sunday School. They came, they
stayed, attendance was faithful. Enrolment averaged from 60-40 until these
latter years, when population has had a sharp decline. As young boys and girls
matured they did admirable teaching, continuing until high school
graduation.
Down through the years Sunday school has raised monies to aid our
church and charities. There have been spring teas and fall bazaars, Coronation
tea, when Queen Elizabeth was crowned was a gala event. The list is endless even
a theatre night in 1952 which netted $150.00 to help in the addition to the
Church building. There have been fun times, hikes, cookouts, sleigh rides,
skating parties and always the annual picnic. Everyone brought a friend. The
church yard was filled with laughter which overflowed to the school grounds for
a rousing ball game. If a minister was present he was elected umpire.
Canada's 100th birthday was
celebrated at one of the picnics. How the young pupils eyes sparkled as the
candles were lit and there the entire village knew they were singing
O'Canada.
Each year a Christmas Service has been presented. The Christmas Story
has been told and retold in dialogue, music and song.
We wonder how many who read this remember the year Mrs. Santa came to
dispense the gifts and candy? Speaking of candy in quote from a 1935 receipt 20
lbs. of candy $3.50.
We are happy to report that the Sunday School in 1983 had 19 pupils and
four teachers. A former pupil of the Sunday School, Mrs. Evelynne Callander
serves as superintendant and teacher.
All is well, as they travel down that road of faithful service. The
trail blazed 70 years ago, teaching and learning the old lessons which are
forever new.
submitted by Jessie Yungkurt
The United Church services were held in the different homes of the congregation until 1925.
The United Church was built in the summer of the year 1910 and was situated near the North Lakeland School. Lumber was supplied by the Portage Lumber Company at a cost of $506.38. At this time it was a Methodist Church. Its first trustees were: Mr. J. Carson, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Waind, Mr. Jackson, Mr. McKechnie.
The church building was moved to Langruth in the spring of 1923 on sleighs. Renovations were carried out to enlarge the building. Cost of the first organ was $48.50, paint $27.21, chairs $28.00, and hardware $25.15.
In 1925, the United Church of Langruth became a living fact. The church
was placed on a cement foundation and a stained glass window was put in the wall
above the choir loft. The window was the gift of the I.O.D.E. After the first
World War, this order, which had given good service during the war years, was
disbanded in Langruth. The money that remained in the treasury, was put in a
trust fund to be used to place a memorial in the first church to be put up and
dedicated in the town. The memorial was to be in honour of the men from the
district, who gave their lives during the war. Beneath the window, a plaque was
hung with the names of the men engraved on it.
The names of those who formed the first board and of those who helped
greatly in the first years should be remembered. Prominent among these were: Mr.
and Mrs. Martin Jackson and later Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Hall.
As the years went by, the church prospered and was served by student
ministers, appointed by the Home Mission Board. These first student Ministers
received $10 to $15 per Sunday plus room and board for Saturday and Sunday.
At one period in the 1930's, Mr. Paul Longville, a retired minister,
who lived in Langruth, preached the services in our church for some months.
In 1952, winter services were started. The first student to serve
during the winter was Mr. Garth Nelson, who used to come from United College in Winnipeg every second weekend. On the alternate
weekend song services were held.
In around 1959, we became a self-supporting Pastoral Charge, leaving
the Home Missions field and at that time, the Lakeland congregation joined services with
Langruth. They brought with them and gave to the church an offering plate which
had been given to their church by the C.G.I.T. girls in Lakeland, in memory of
Patricia Anne Oliver, one of their members. The cross which stands in front of
the stained glass window was made and given by the Lakeland Trail
Rangers.
Our hymn board was given by Mr. and Mrs. C. Arksey and family in memory
of her sister Jonina Margaret Halldorson. The reading lamp on the pulpit by Mrs.
Duff in memory of her parents Mr. and Mrs. J. Haney and the vases on the
communion table by the late Mr. J. Connell in Memory of his
wife.
The pulpit Bible, an extremely good one was donated by Mrs. Robertshaw,
Mrs. McKechnie, and Joseph Carson Sr.
In 1926-63 the church board worked hard to make a dream come true. That
dream was to have an Ordained Minister serve the Charge. This was done by
joining the Lakeshore and Plumas Charges, forming the Plumas Lakeshore Charge.
Our first Ordained Minister was Reverend W.D. Lord. His first service in
Langruth was July 7, 1963, at 12:00 noon. Rev. Lord served us until June 20,
1965. We continued with either two ordained ministers or one ordained with the
help of a student minister or a lay minister until 1982. By 1982 the cost of
operating the large charge had risen what with the need for two ordained
minister and travel expenses. It was decided it would be better to divide the
charge into the Plumas Charge and Lakeshore Charge.
In July 1982, we once more became part of the Lakeshore Pastoral Charge
with the Reverend Phyllis Thordarson (MacAulay) as our minister.
Various repairs and renovations have been made during the ensuing
years.
In 1948, more pews were secured and a cement walk put in from the
sidewalk to the front church steps. In 1951, the church was wired and
electricity installed. A Sunday School room was added to the main church
building in 1953. The same year the church decided to sponsor a C.G.I.T. group.
A wind storm in 1973 resulted in the re-shingling of the church
roof.
A special drive for a building fund took place in 1978. This fund was
used to put in a new chimney and buy another oil furnace which was placed at the
back of the church. The outside of the church was painted.
Carpet had been laid in the church and in 1976 was laid in the choir
loft.
The communion table was given to the Langruth Congregation by the
Burnside
United Church when their church closed. This
table was given in the first place by the Allardyce family in memory of their
mother.
The cross above the chancel and the plaque on the north wall was given
by the Wilson
family in memory of John Wilson. The New English Bible with the Apocrypha, was
given by the V. Bjarnarson family in John Wilson's memory as were the
candlestick holders given by the Clearwater Family.
The Christening bowl was given by the U.C.W. in memory of Mrs. W.C.
Hall. The communion glasses and breadplates were also given by the
U.C.W.
The Hammond electric organ was given by the
respective families in memory of older members and relatives who gave their
lives in the two wars.
The Praying hand plaque on the south wall was donated by the Ab
Armstrong family in memory of their son Ronnie Armstrong.
New Hymn books have been dedicated to the church in memory of Clarence
Emberly, Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Crealock, John Wilson, Edith Wilson, Clarence Olson,
Edna Duff, and Mabel Wright by their families or friends.
In 1980 we held our first Pot Luck supper to celebrate 70 years since
the building of the church. We have made this an annual event.
In 1984, the United Church Board members were:
Minister - Reverend Phyllis Thordarson
Chairman Raymond Caddoo
Secretary - Rita Organ
Treasurers - Sydney and Daisy Craik
Jack and Betty Oliver
Kristine Arksey
Florence Jackson
Cathy Grant
Evelynne Callander
Lois Wilson
We apologize to anyone for any omissions or errors that may have
occurred in the compiling of this history.
We would be remiss if we didn't acknowledge a "bouquet" to Mrs. H.D.
Wilson for her part in compiling records from which most of this history was
taken. We would also like to give a "bouquet" to Mr. Charlie Organ for the care
he has taken in repairs and the heating of the church.
With the coming of Phyllis, our attendance is improving and interest
keener. As the years go by, we sincerely hope the church will continue to
prosper and expand as it has done in the past, and with God's help and blessing,
we feel sure it will continue to be an inspiration for our
people.
UNITED CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL
The history of the Sunday School in Langruth began in 1913, when Mrs.
Lena Thorleifson organized a Sunday School for all children of all faiths.
Sunday School was held in the public school. In these early years she was
assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Chapman and Mr. Patterson.
Following 1925 when the church now known as Langruth United
Church was moved to its
present site Sunday School was held there. It has been in continuous service for
fifty-seven years.
It is recorded that in 1928 Mr. Joseph Carson was elected
superintendant. There was at that time an enrolment of sixty-five pupils, with
an average attendance of fifty. Mrs. G. Langdon, Mrs. J.S. Haney, Mrs. G.
Eastman, Mr. Craigie and Mr. McLarty were dedicated teachers of these early
years followed by Mrs. W.C. Hall as teacher and superintendant. She had given
25 years of faithful service when she went to her eternal rest in 1950.
Associated with her in her work were Pearl and Kristin Halldorson, Irene and Doreen
Emberly and Gordon Holmes who acted in the capacity of secretary
treasurer.
When Mrs. Hall passed away, Mrs. H.D Wilson who had been teaching
became superintendent. Mrs. H.D. Wilson continued to teach but gave up the
duties of superintendant to Mrs. Chas. Organ in 1952. Mrs. Chas. Organ had given
ten years o devoted service when she retired in 1959. Mrs Chas. Organ and Mrs.
H.D. Wilson were instrumental in introducing The Cross and Crown Awards, awarded
to pupils for faithful attendance This system is still in use in 1983. Numerous
pupil have received these awards, ranging as high as the fifteenth year
bar.
Upon Mrs. Chas. Organ's retirement, Mrs H.D. Wilson resumed the duties
of superintendant for one year when Mrs. Tom Yungkurt was called upon to serve
as leader. Mrs. H.D. Wilson was honored at a Sunday School Service on June 2:
1968. She had given 25 years of ardent service an guidance to the Sunday
School.
Mrs. Tom Yungkurt became involved with teaching in 1953. She served as
superintendant and teacher until June 1978. In appreciation for her 20 years of
loving service a party was given in her honor on December 3,
1978.
Down through the 57 years, many women and some men have given of
themselves to serve teachers. Parents, interested in their children receiving a
Christian Education gave loyal support, Mr. Chas. Organ deserves a bouquet for
well over 30 years of donated time and effort as Caretaker. We of the United Church
family gratefully acknowledge their participation.
The pupils came early in years to Sunday School. They came, they
stayed, attendance was faithful. Enrolment averaged from 60-40 until these
latter years, when population has had a sharp decline. As young boys and girls
matured they did admirable teaching, continuing until high school
graduation.
Down through the years Sunday school has raised monies to aid our
church and charities. There have been spring teas and fall bazaars, Coronation
tea, when Queen Elizabeth was crowned was a gala event. The list is endless even
a theatre night in 1952 which netted $150.00 to help in the addition to the
Church building. There have been fun times, hikes, cookouts, sleigh rides,
skating parties and always the annual picnic. Everyone brought a friend. The
church yard was filled with laughter which overflowed to the school grounds for
a rousing ball game. If a minister was present he was elected umpire.
Canada's 100th birthday was
celebrated at one of the picnics. How the young pupils eyes sparkled as the
candles were lit and there the entire village knew they were singing
O'Canada.
Each year a Christmas Service has been presented. The Christmas Story
has been told and retold in dialogue, music and song.
We wonder how many who read this remember the year Mrs. Santa came to
dispense the gifts and candy? Speaking of candy in quote from a 1935 receipt 20
lbs. of candy $3.50.
We are happy to report that the Sunday School in 1983 had 19 pupils and
four teachers. A former pupil of the Sunday School, Mrs. Evelynne Callander
serves as superintendant and teacher.
All is well, as they travel down that road of faithful service. The
trail blazed 70 years ago, teaching and learning the old lessons which are
forever new.
submitted by Jessie Yungkurt