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535-03 Page 122��, Dereham Centre Church History 1tIq DEREHAM CENTRE, Jan. 12.— Some 80 years ago there came to this district John Butler, a man who was to become the ancestor of many of the present citizens of Dereham Centre. At that time there was a small settlement of Roman Catholics here who own- ed five acres of land including the Pr esent church property on which III intended to build a church. also ha They d laid out ground for a cemetery. In 1864 Mr. Butler bought this land from the Roman Catholics at a comparatively high price and donated it to the Bap- tist church. After the union of the Free Will Baptists and the Close Com- munion Baptists some years later, the Dereham Centre Baptists at- tended the church at Mount Elgin. Then the Bible Christians held ser- vice in the Dereham Centre church which was later used as a com- munity Sunday school for all de- nominations. Reverend Mr. Veal, the firs: man to preach in the Bible Chris- tian church, was also the first resident minister of Dereham Cen- tre. He boarded at the home of Mr. Sutton, a member of his con- gregation, until after his marriage when he lived In part of the Sut- ton house. In 1879 the present parsonage was built on property donated to the church by Richard and Elizabeth Butler. The first occupant of the new house was 'Rev. Hr. Hull. His salary was. only $200 a year but it was supple- mented by generous donations of farm produce. In the meantime, the first Methodist service at Dereham Centre had been held in the Adam- son barn which had just been built. Mrs. Adamson remembers attending that service— about 75 Carago. A minister came from asonburg to hold services in the barn while the new frame church was being erected on the property' where the church shed now stands.' In 1867 Thomas Sutton deeded this property to the Wesleyan'', Methodist church. The first regu- lar minister lived in Brownsville' and had six appointments: Rich- mond, Corinth, Brownsville, Cul loden, Delmer and Dereham Cen- tre. For a number of years Dere-, ham. Centre had two churches — the Bible Christian Church, hold- ing services in the old Baptist church, on the property where the present church stands, and the'i Methodist church, on the property �h ak �atidi iQtvn� A'�' 'QI,tG!L y a ihw. now a:cupied by the church shed. Later, the two denomina- tions united, holding services in the Methodist church. The Bap- tist church was sold to Dereham I township and used as a council hall. Some years later it burned down. The Bible Christian par- sonage was occupied by the min- ister of the United church. This minister had four appointments— Dereham Centre, Ebenzer, Zion (a small place located on property now owned by Stewart Williams) and Bethel (between the eighth and ninth concessions south of Dereham Centre on Mr. Fewster's farm). Later the appointments changed and to 1892 when the present church was built they were Dereham Centre, Mount Elgin and Ebenezer. With union in 1925, the charge became Dereham Centre and Mount Elgin. After the burn- ing of the parsonage at Versch- oyle, this congregation joined the Dereham Centre -Mount El- gin circuit during the ministry' of Mr. Strachan here. In 1892 the, Methodist church bought the pres- ent church property from the Bap- tist church. Mr. Boyd, the minis- ter at that time, had a reputation for building churches. He found the people of the Dereham Centre community anxious to co-operate and willing to offer materials and time to help in the building. On the building committee were Jos- eph Hunsley, secretary; Thomas Butler, and William Butler. Thej trustee board of the church at the time of the building was com- posed of James Pringle, Thomas Butler, Robert Wright, William Butlm Joseph Hunsley, Leaman Harris and Joseph Curtis. The con- gregation co-operated to the full- est degree in the building of the new church. All team work was done free; Thomas Butler donated brick, sold logs to the church at a reduced price and did the sawing free; Richard Butler donated the silver communion set. The chan- delier which cost $178 came from New York. The brick work and plastering and. also the building of the stone walls of the church was done by Doyle Brothers and Joseph Esseltine was the carpen- ter. The total cost of the church building was $6,019.82. The new church was opened January 8, 1893. Edward Butler played the organ on this occasion. The cornerstones were laid by Mr. and Mrs. Tillson of Tillsonburg, Mr. and Mrs. T. Butler, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Buller, and Mr. and Mrs. Stevens of Ingersoll. At thaip.d time Mr. Stevens was mayor oU.,- Ingersoll. In the cornerstone ooU the east side of the front door was placed a box containing hymn books, newspapers, and a few coins, and several other articles. The ministers of the Dereham Centre church since 1892 have 'been: Mr. Boyd, Mr. Deacon, Mr., Collins, Mr. Ferguson, Mr. HarnJ 'vell, Mr. Couch, Mr. Peters,- M4 Cavers, Mr. Bean, Mr. Brearley, 'Mr. Quigley, Mr. Strachan, Mr. {;ook, Mr. Plyley, the present. in- cumbent, Rev. A. R. Taylor.