Return to Towns, Villages, Hamlets, and CitiesMARY'S GENEALOGY TREASURES
Rev. Gavin Hamilton, first pastor of the Presbyterian
Church, came to Cardston April 25, 1897. Born in New
Brunswick, he was educated at Dalhousie College and
had charges at Brookfield, N.S. and Dalhousie, N.B.
Throat trouble forced his resignation from the latter and
he came west for his health. He located at Macleod
September 5, 1891 and took charge of the Presbyterian
Church at that place. His predecessor had a congregation
of only 5 people. In the first six months, Rev. Hamilton
collected only 50 dollars from his pastorate. He had to do
the janitor work. The next year he collected $646.00, and
the following year $1200.00. At the end of the first six
months his congregation had grown from five to ninety,
and attendance thereafter averaged 100.
When he came to Cardston a lot was bought from
Sterling Williams and a manse was completed by
December I897. The church was finished by June 1898,
and is now (1978) a private home east of the manse. The
cost of both buildings was $2250. They were built by J. C.
Cahoon.
The first church board was organized February 18,
1900. The board consisted of J. J. Orton, Chairman; J. C.
Johnson - Sec. Treas.; L. H. Bonnell, R. M.
Armstrong, and H. D'Arc-members. At the dedication
service 200 people were present with Rev. Grant as
visiting speaker.
By 1900 services were also held at St. Marys on the
Cook farm, and at Mountain View. Rev. Hamilton
travelled 25 to 36 miles every week, holding alternate ser-
vices. At St. Marys a 30 x 22 foot church was built and an
organ installed. At Mountain View a 40 x 24 building was
purchased from Mr. D. H. Cox and used for a church.
The first wedding in the Cardston church was that of
Mr. and Mrs. Vern Shaw, and the next was Mr. and Mrs.
Henry Noble. The first funeral was Jim Turner's, who
was Mrs. Noble's brother. Mr. and Mrs. Woolford were
married in the manse in 1920. Mrs. Woolford only
recently passed away in October 1977.
Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton were broad-minded,
preogressive citizens and did much to better the com-
munity as a whole. They were highly esteemed and ad-
mired by all who knew them. Mrs. Hamilton was a
talented, accomplished lady and a devoted wife.
Some of the ministers that came and went over the
next few years were: Rev. Whitmore-who helped the
church at Jefferson get started. Rev. Cameron started
church meetings at Raley, first in the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Church, later in the school when it was built. Rev.
Kellock was the minister in Cardston in 1918 to 1920.
Rev. Aylsworth was the last Presbyterian minister. He
came in 1920 and stayed until 1925. During his stay the
present church was built.
The present church was built in 1922. The first United
Church minister was Rev. H. W. Stevinson, who was
here in 1925. Bill Laidlaw came to town in 1924 and
started being organist in June 1925 and still is as of 1978.
Bill was president of the Sunday School starting in 1929
and kept the job until 1962. Bill lived on the south hill
and did not have a car. He made two trips a Sunday on
foot to the church, one for church and one for Sunday
School. Bill was on the church board for years and is now
a church elder.
In 1926 Mr. and Mrs. George Wolff moved to
Cardston. They became involved in the church, Mrs.
Wolff going to one meeting of the Ladies Aid and the
next month was installed as president. Mrs. Wolff is still
very involved in the church.
The 1930's were quiet years in the church. Some of
the expenses taken from the teasurer's books in the Thir-
ties are of interest.
P. G. Peterson for building a coffin-$7.25.
Out house for the manse-$10.00.
Wood and Son meat for Men's Club supper-$1.70.
Cleaning church-$.75 a month.
Frank Christie for building fires-$2.00 a month.
Insurance on Manse-$7.00 for three years.
Model Millinery-silk for shroud-$2.65.
Taxes on Manse for 1934-$23.76.
Annual Church Supper proceeds-$47.70.
Roy Neilson kalsomined church-$5.00 and 52.60
for the kalsomine.
Linoleum-$2.95 and laid for $3.85.
In the Thirties the Christies took a prominent part in
the church. Mrs. V. V. Christie, Cleland Christie, Ryer-
son and Ada Christie.
During the 40's with Rev. Bert King as minister an
addition was made to the manse adding kitchen, utility
room, bathroom, and two bedrooms. Most of this work
was done by Sam Carson who had moved from Woolford
to Cardston and was a carpenter by trade.
In the '50's Rev. Jim Vietch as minister started the
"every family visitation".
In the 60's, Rev. Bob Stobie was minister. The
United Church hall was built. During this time a United
Church was built in Waterton Lakes.
In the 70's our minister was Rev. Carnochan. At this
time the Chinook Co-operative Parish was formed. This
included Nobleford, Barons, Iron Springs, Picture Butte,
Coaldale, Raymond, Magrath, and Cardston. Later the
three Lethbridge churches came into the Parish. In this
Parish we have two ordained ministers and two more or-
dained ministers are shared with the city churches. These
ministers preach in their own charge three Sundays a
month, on the fourth Sunday each church has an alter-
nate minister or a layman.
This new concept of a Parish allows us to have our
own church board and treasury and also contains a cen-
tral board and treasury.
In the seventies we finished paying for our church
hall. It was also a time of loss for our congregation as we
lost many of our long time members-Mrs. Cook, Dr.
V. V. Christie, Mr. A. Darby, Mr. G. Wolff, Mr. and
Mrs. Ryerson Christie.
In June 1975 the United Church of Canada
celebrated its 50th Anniversary. To commemorate the
occasion, St. Andrews United Church of Cardston
celebrated with two special events. Sunday, June 8th, a
dinner and program were held in the hall. Represen-
tatives were present from the L.D.S. Wards, the
Lutheran, Anglican and Catholic Churches, and
members and friends of St. Andrew's. There were 275
persons attended the evening dinner and program. The
Master of Ceremony was Mr. Harvey Wolff.
Congratulations were extended from the other churches.
Rev. Jim Ruxton has a short mediation on church union.
Mrs. Roy Long gave the history of the Presbyterian and
the United Church. The church choir, led by Martha
Reichle, sang. Following this the youth group presented a
skit. A fashion show under the direction of Mrs. Gail
Valentine was presented showing fashions over the last 75
years.
The second event was the Anniversary Sunday, June
22nd at 11 a.m .
The fall of 1975 Rev. H. Usher and family moved to
Cardston. Rev. Usher, being a carpenter as well as a
Minister, got a lot and by Christmas moved into their
new home.
In 1930 the deed was turned over to the United
Church. George Briggs was janitor and was paid $.50 a
week. During the summer months it was decided that it
cost too much to have a janitor so the members did the
cleaning.
The Woolford church was closed in 1967. Mr. Brack
was superintendent of the Sunday School all but three
years of that time. Others were Mrs. Dower, Raymond
Christie and Mr. M. Stapelton.
The Woolford Ladies Aid was very active in the
church and without it the minister could never have been
paid. In 1937 the first chicken supper was held. Proceeds
were $14.40; supper $.30 and pie $.05.
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