Reston United Church

Postcard from Peel's Prairie Provinces taken about 1910

Today is the final post in my churches of Reston series along with The Baptist, Anglican and Methodist buildings.  Thanks to a little gold booklet bought at our second hand store - Hidden Treasures - I have a lot of early information about the Reston United Church. The booklet was written to mark its 60th Anniversary in 1963.  The 2 RM of Pipestone history books are a huge help as always as well. 

Opening day of the impressive Presbyterian brick structure was Sunday February 1, 1903 with both a morning and evening church service. The following evening, the ladies of the congregation served a supper meal in the basement -“ the tables groaning under the load of good things “. The meal was followed by a lecture and choir music upstairs. The building is described as solid brick with a stone foundation with seating for over 200. It boasted gasoline lighting and stylish furnishings at a building cost of $5000, with only 300-400 dollars owing in 1903.

The Presbyterian Church in Manitoba originated from the Scottish immigrants and HBC employees. United Empire Loyalists moving from the east and new immigrants swelled the ranks. Morally and socially, they were attempting to meet the challenges in the advocation of prohibition, the nurturing of overseas missions, advancing Sunday schools, and the cultivation of new immigrants into good Canadian citizens.

The Reston townspeople declared their religion on the 1916 Canadian census and I tallied the responses below. Many more parishioners lived on the farms surrounding the town who are not included.  Although they identify as that religion, they may not have attended or supported the local church but these numbers give an idea what diverse religions lived in Reston.  Interestingly, it was not uncommon to see husband and wife declaring different religions but children were declared the same one as the wife.  

• 210 men, women and children were counted as Presbyterians, 
• 90 were Methodist, 
• 90 Anglicans, 
• 40 Baptist, 
• 20 Lutheran, 
• 13 Greek Catholics, 
• 9 Roman Catholics 
• and 4 Congregationalists. 

Previous to this brick building in 1903, outdoor services were held on the banks of the Pipestone Creek and in settlers' homes and barns beginning in 1883. Presbyterian and Methodist followers both held services at Lanark. In the spring of 1893, services were moved to Reston to the building that sat where the library does now. The Methodist built their own building first in 1896 and the Presbyterians used it as well until building this fine brick church. Work was done by local pioneers to scrape the lot, dig the basement, gather and lay stones for the foundation.  After renaming as Reston Union Church in 1917, the Reston Methodist and Presbyterian congregations joined. In 1925, the United Church of Canada was born.

1958 - Photo from the collection of John and Verna Olenick

Music was an important part of services and choir members, a leader and the organist were needed to give their talents. In the 1930’s, the Sunday School had an orchestra and a Junior Choir group carried on for many years. Sunday School for children often included all denominations under several long term Superintendents including G.S. Munro, J.F. McLaren, W.J. Abbey, A. K. Cates and Murdock McIver supported by many teachers. In years since 1963, A. Miller, John Rainnie, Warren Reid, Mark Gould and Fred Stonehouse took their turn. 

Ladies Aid has been known as the Women’s Association and U.C.W. - United Church Women.  The first meeting of ladies of the Presbyterian congregation was recorded on November 18,1898. Suppers and concerts were successfully organized to raise funds. Maintaining and furnishing the manse was one responsibility of the group as well as Red Cross work to support the troops in both wars. Visiting and sending flowers to the sick and bereaved was a practical community support. Several Units or Guilds were formed geographically and for different times to include as many women as possible.  CGIT, Mission Band/Messengers and Baby Band/Cradle Roll were groups for children. Cubs, Scouts and Tyros were groups of boys for socialization and outdoor pursuits. A young people’s society was organized and continued through the years for bible and mission study, social events such as debates.  A women’s Missionary Society was also associated with the church as early as 1907 to support the work of missions in other parts of the province, country and world.  A Reston lady Myrtle McArthur Timmins was recognized for 19 years of Mission work at Pine River, MB with Ukrainian immigrants in such communities as Ethelbert and Garland. The Reston congregation supplied clothing, food and money to support her work.

In 1929, the vestibule (with a top that looks like a merlons on a castle) and choir loft were added and repairs and renovations were done following a fire.  Many practical and ornamental items were purchased over the years in memory of former members by their families. Chimes were installed in 1956 and dedicated to the early pioneers by the Women’s Association. Modernization on the building has continued with a new office, lighting and an enclosed ramp built in 1989. New organ and speakers and metal roofing and major basement upgrades by both volunteers and paid contractors in 2000 saw the church fortified for the new millennium. The basement gathering space was named Schurman Hall  in honour of Rev Ernie Schurman who was minister from 1969-1977 and remained active in the church after his retirement. 

The Reston United Church continues to serve its community well and is a point of pride for her citizens.