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Reverend Paul Langill continued to serve the new Bethel Presbyterian Church from his base in Vernon until 1894. Reverend George Wilson succeeded Reverend Langill in Vernon. Reverend Wilson had pastoral oversight of the valley, including Benvoulin until 1898. From 1894 to 1897, Kelowna and Benvoulin united to form a student mission field - the pulpits being supplied by theological students, assigned by the Presbyterian Home Mission Board and changed semi-annually. Services were held every Sunday in Kelowna and at Benvoulin on alternate Sundays during this time.In 1898 the Reverend R. Boyle was placed in charge, becoming the first ordained person assigned here. This became an ordained field until 1912, when Benvoulin was "separated" from Kelowna. Services continued to be held every Sunday in Kelowna and at Benvoulin on alternate Sundays.
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Portrait of Reverend Paul Langill and Mrs. LangillCirca 1890
Vernon, British Columbia
Credits:Greater Vernon Museum & Archives #10230
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People who served the Bethel Presbyterian/Benvoulin United Church1892-1962
Benvoulin, British Columbia
People Serving as Ministers the Congregation at Bethel Presbyterian Church/Benvoulin United Church
1890 Rev. Paul F. Langill1916 Rev. David Lister
1893 Mr. J.M.Millar 1917 Mr. J.F. Briggs
1894 Dr. J.H. McVicar1918 Rev. W.H. Bates
1894 Mr. Reid1919 Rev. Peter Connal
1895 Mr. McKay1920 Rev. J.A. Dow
1896 Mr. Alexander Dunn1925 Rev. A. McMillan
1897 Mr. George Mason1936 Rev. A.C. Pound
1898 Rev. R. Boyle1940 Rev. J.A. Petrie
1899 Rev. P.D. Muir1948 Rev. R.G.S. Crysdale
1902 Mr. Charles Foote1952 Rev. Percy Mallett
1905 Rev. A.W.H. Herdman1957 Mr. J.A.B. Adams
1912 Rev. J.R. O'Brien1961 Rev. A.H. Mundy
1915 Rev. W.T. Beattie
Some of the People serving as Church Trustees
1892 Robert Munson, J. Watson, James Crozier, F.C. Conkling,
1915 Manley Burns, Alexander Gordon
1926 Alexander Reid, Archibald Hardy, Donald McEachern, William Hamill, Mrs. J.B. Fisher
1849 Mrs. McIntyre
Elders
1903 Alexander Reid
1905 Donald McEachern
Stewards 1903-1920
Alexander Reid, Donald McEachern, Andrew Patterson, W.A. Scott, W.M. Todd, Archibald Hardy, Alex Cowan, William Patterson, Wm. Hamill.
Credits:Lorainne McLarty
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Portrait of Lord and Lady AberdeenJuly 1898
Ottawa, Ontario
Credits:Library and Archives of Canada, MIKAN # 3212516
William James Topley (photographer 1845-1930)
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Lord and Lady Aberdeen visited Guisachan Ranch once more in 1895. Lady Aberdeen, in her diary, describes some of the families who bought small farms in the Benvoulin area, many of which attended the new Bethel Presbyterian Church. Lady Aberdeen also mentions attending Presbyterian services with her husband, Lord Aberdeen, in Kelowna and at the "pretty little church at Benvoulin which H.E. helped to build".6
Excerpt from Lady Aberdeen's Diary at Guisachan Ranch on October 20th 189520 October 1895
Guisachan Ranch, Okanagan Mission, British Columbia
Sunday October 20th, 1895. Guisachan B.C.
We came on here from Sicamous on Friday. We are glad we came down here, as we have found there is a good deal to arrange and re-organize.... There are a number of educated young Englishmen here who have bought small farms and who are beginning to have hope, although money is still very short with them. There is Mr Stirling, who was in the navy, who has money and is v. keen about farming; Mr Lysons, the nephew of Gen. Sir D. Lysons and Mr. Hobson his partner, both very gentlemanly young fellows; two young Roses, grandsons of Rose of the Inverness Courier; two young Fitzmaurices, grandsons of Mr Gladstone's rector at Hawarden; Mr and Mrs Pridham, tiresome grand people; Mr and Mrs Crozier, a nice old Cumberland man; Mr and Mrs Crichton, a happy looking young couple and so on... We have been twice to Presbyterian service to-day - this morning at Kelowna and this evening at the pretty little church at Benvoulin which H.E. helped to build. Both services taken by Mr Mackay, a pathetic looking starved, wizened, little missionary - it was his first Sunday - he preached the same sermon twice...
(excerpt from The Journal of Lady Aberdeen: The Okanagan Valley in the Nineties, Annotated and Edited by R. M. Middleton, 1986, pp 37-38)
Notes:
-This is the second visit to their Guisachan Ranch that is described in Lady Aberdeen's diary. This may be because of the acquisition of the Coldstream Ranch. MacKay had purchased the Coldstream ranch, from the Honourable F. G. Vernon (MacKay's partner in the Okanagan Land and Development Company), for the Aberdeen's soon after their visit in 1891. They visited their new Coldstream Ranch in Vernon in 1894, after they returned to Canada upon Lord Aberdeen's appointment as Governor-General in 1893. This was their last visit to Guisachan Ranch recorded in Lady Aberdeen's diary. Guisachan Ranch was sold in 1903 to the Cameron family.
-H. E. refers to Lord Aberdeen after he is appointed Governor General of Canada
Credits:The Journal of Lady Aberdeen: The Okanagan Valley in the Nineties, Annotated and Edited by R. M. Middleton, 1986, pp 37-38
Lady Aberdeen (author)
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Congregation leaving Bethel Presbyterian Church after Sunday serviceCirca 1914-1920
Bethel Presbyterian Church, Benvoulin, British Columbia
Credits:Kelowna Public Archives #8005
Central Okangan Heritage Society Fonds
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During the early years of the Bethel Presbyterian Church there were a number of interesting stories, that came out of the congregation. Besides regular church services, weddings, funerals and baptisms were an important part of the church community.There are a couple of stories of interest that were written by Reverend William Stott in 1926 and published in the 1953 Okanagan Historical Society (OHS) Report.
"On one occasion, the minister became irritated by a restless child in church. He made some reference to it and the father took the child out. After the service there were words between father and minister, which finally terminated in a fisticuff encounter between the two."
"At the Benvoulin church, when a funeral service was being conducted by a visiting minister over the body of one Hugh Keyes, a pause occurred. The ushers, not used to church funerals, decided that it was time for the offering. So the plate was passed with all due decorum and very few present felt the incongruity of the circumstance."
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Banner Class Memorizing of Scripture certificatepre- 1925
Bethel Presbyterian Church, Benvoulin, British Columbia
Credits:Central Okanagan Heritage Society Fonds
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Early photograph of the Banner ClassCirca 1913
Bethel Presbyterian Church, Benvoulin, British Columbia
Credits:Reid Family Collection (Allen Reid)
Benvoulin United Church Memory Book 1892-1952, p.22
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Bethel Presbyterian Church Attendance diploma29 March 1925
Bethel Presbyterian Church, Benvoulin, British Columbia
Credits:Reid Family Collection (Allen Reid)
Benvoulin United Church Memory Book 1892-1952, p. 25
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Jemima Reid and her fundraiser quiltCirca 1950s-1960s
Benvoulin, British Columbia
Credits:Kay (Snowsell) Benzer
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James and Gladys (Hall) Reid in front of Benvoulin United Church after their wedding1929
Benvoulin United Church, Benvoulin, British Columbia
Credits:Reid Family Collection (Allen Reid)
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Records were not kept of early bequests, with the exception of the picture of Crathie Church that was given to the congregation by Lady Aberdeen. This picture hung in the church throughout its use as a church. (Note: There is no record of where this picture is now. It may be with one of the families who looked after the church.) There were a number of other bequests over the years. These included: pump organ donated in 1914; silver christening bowl donated by Mrs. G. Boer in 1908; six chairs and Sunday School table from Mr. and Mrs. Hodgins in 1950; in 1952 a linen undercloth (acorn design) donated by the McMillan Circle; oak offering plates hand turned by Dr. and Mrs. Webb of North Battleford donated in 1949; red drapes from Mrs. Percy Mallett in 1957; Sunday School blackboard in 1955 from Mr. and Mrs. Doran; set of fine English China plates; and lastly noted was a flower basket presented by Mrs. Snowsell. |
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