Kensington-Summerfield Pastoral Charge of the United Church

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Kensington-Summerfield Pastoral Charge of the United Church

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The Kensington-Summerfield Pastoral Charge of the United Church of Canada was formed when the Methodist and Presbyterian congregations of these communities united to form one church in each community. At the time of Union the United pastoral charge included Margate, New London North and New London South as well as Kensington and Summerfield.

Methodists in Kensington were originally part of the Bedeque circuit and, in 1858, became part of the newly separated Margate circuit. As part of the latter circuit comprised of Margate, Granville, and Kensington a church was built in Kensington and dedicated on 28 September 1889. In 1893 the circuit was split into the Granville circuit and the Margate circuit with the latter incorporating Freetown, Margate and Kensington. By 1912 this included the Wilmot congregation as well. The Presbyterian Church in Kensington was built in 1886 as part of the Malpeque Charge under the Ministry of Rev. George MacMillan. In 1917 Summerfield and Kensington were united into one charge.

In 1925 the Methodists of Kensington entered Union without a vote but the Presbyterians were divided in their opinion. However, over a hundred members and adherents joined the Methodists to worship in the Methodist Church which became the Kensington United Church under the Ministry of Rev. J.R. Saint. The church was moved and underwent major renovations in 1928 and was rededicated on13 January 1929.

The Presbyterian congregation in Summerfield was originally part of the New London Cavendish charge. Under the leadership of Rev. Hugh Dunbar a church was built in Summerfield in 1855. Following several reorganizations of the charge, Summerfield was united with Bedeque in 1887 under Rev. William Tufts and a new church was built in 1888 on a new site. The old church was moved and was converted to a public hall. In 1893, Summerfield was reunited with the New London charge and in 1917 was united with the Kensington charge under Rev. Thomas Goodwill. At the time of Union there was some dissension in the congregation and 11 families affiliated themselves with neighbouring Presbyterian congregations while their fellow worshippers joined with the Methodists to become the United Church. Shortly after the vote, the Church burned to the ground but a new one was quickly built and the First United Church of Summerfield opened its doors on 7 November 1926.

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