Over the course of four days in late August, those who continue to follow in the footsteps of believers who first attended services at the local Orange Lodge in 1925 enjoyed music, food, family fun and words of wisdom from local church leaders past and present.
Open air meetings took place on a local fisherman’s wharf the year before in 1924, with visiting Pentecostals presiding to share with others information about their faith.
After the first service was held at the Orange Lodge in March 1925, they continued there and in private homes until a new church opened on April 2, 1926. Pastor Elsie Pike was its first minister, with many others having since served the church.
The first Pentecostal School in the community opened in 1955, and on May 26, 1963, a new church opened by Ship Cove Pond. It became a lively site in the early 1970s, when pastors Robert and Phyllis Simmons placed a greater emphasis on music. They taught many young parishioners how to read and play music. Later that decade, a television program born through the ministry of pastors William and Taffie Burton began to air on NTV. “Joyful Sound” was broadcast across the province for a few years and considered a great success for the church.
Two years after a new Pentecostal school opened on the Harbour Hills in 1985, a new church was built adjacent to the school. It officially opened on April 19, 1987. Under the leadership of pastors Junior and Rosabelle Winsor during this time, mission trips to assist those living in poverty became more commonplace. Those endeavors continued after pastors Moral and Tracey Bess took over the local ministry in 1996. The assembly began to support the Village of Hope, a charitable organization helping children throughout Africa.
When the Pentecostal school closed in the late 1990s, the church purchased the building to use as a ministry centre. Current pastors Jeffrey and Andrea White assumed control of the ministry in 2009. During their time, substantial renovations have taken place at both cemeteries and inside the church.
Over the course of four days in late August, those who continue to follow in the footsteps of believers who first attended services at the local Orange Lodge in 1925 enjoyed music, food, family fun and words of wisdom from local church leaders past and present.
Open air meetings took place on a local fisherman’s wharf the year before in 1924, with visiting Pentecostals presiding to share with others information about their faith.
After the first service was held at the Orange Lodge in March 1925, they continued there and in private homes until a new church opened on April 2, 1926. Pastor Elsie Pike was its first minister, with many others having since served the church.
The first Pentecostal School in the community opened in 1955, and on May 26, 1963, a new church opened by Ship Cove Pond. It became a lively site in the early 1970s, when pastors Robert and Phyllis Simmons placed a greater emphasis on music. They taught many young parishioners how to read and play music. Later that decade, a television program born through the ministry of pastors William and Taffie Burton began to air on NTV. “Joyful Sound” was broadcast across the province for a few years and considered a great success for the church.
Two years after a new Pentecostal school opened on the Harbour Hills in 1985, a new church was built adjacent to the school. It officially opened on April 19, 1987. Under the leadership of pastors Junior and Rosabelle Winsor during this time, mission trips to assist those living in poverty became more commonplace. Those endeavors continued after pastors Moral and Tracey Bess took over the local ministry in 1996. The assembly began to support the Village of Hope, a charitable organization helping children throughout Africa.
When the Pentecostal school closed in the late 1990s, the church purchased the building to use as a ministry centre. Current pastors Jeffrey and Andrea White assumed control of the ministry in 2009. During their time, substantial renovations have taken place at both cemeteries and inside the church.
