1817 Bedeque and Tryon became a circuit separate from Charlottetown.

1818 Frith Methodist chapel, 30’ x 40’ erected at the Bedeque Cemetery property.

1848 Chapel relocated to Bedeque Village as a school. A new church, 50’ x 38’, built at the present location on

land donated by Thomas Wright, was dedicated on July 15th of that year.

1849 A Pulpit Bible presented to the new church on July 14th, by Jamess Connell of Charlottetown

1870 Around this time the Bedeque Church used an organ for the first time to accompany the singing.

1873 Bedeque and Tryon became separate circuits.

1882 Thomas Moyse was licensed as a local preacher. He was lay preacher, elder, choir member and Sun

day School teacher. He was active in the church until his death in 1963 at the age of 99. He was the only

Island Methodist layman to attend the birth of the United Church of Canada in Toronto on June 10, 1925.

1883 Present manse at Bedeque built.

1884 The Women’s Missionary Society was organized on August 12th with eight members.

1887 Old 1848 church sold and hauled, by 32 span of horses, to Coles Wharf and used as a warehouse.

1887 Erection of the present church, 50’ x 31’ and vestry 32’ x 24’, on the same and present site. Pews made

by George Webber of Summerside and pulpit and three chairs made by H.A. Compton of Summerside.

Pulpit Bible presented by Hon. W.G. Strong. Offertory plates by Wellington Burns. A six hundred church

bell donated by Hon. Benjamin Rogers.

1888 January, new church dedicated with a capacity audience and marked by the tolling of the new bell.

1903 The Bedeque Church was enlarged by moving out the north end to provide an extra 15 feet for a choir loft

and two side rooms. The stain glass window in the chancel was installed by Nathan MacFarlane

1921 Louise Callbeck designated as a missionary to Japan.

1925 Bedeque Methodist Church became Bedeque United Church.

1926 Claire Wright was ordained by Maritime Methodist Conference and appointed to Japan as a missionary

associated with native pastors of the Japanese Church until 1941.

1930 Horse shed built in the yard behind the church.

1935 Vestry extended 20 feet to make extra space for the Sunday School.

1954 John Craig Memorial Hall built.

1960 Horse shed north of the church put up for tender and sold for $525.00.

1964 Hammond electric organ purchased.

1965 The new Canadian and the Christian flags were presented and installed at front of church by the Younge

Peoples Union.

1965 Chancel renovated.

1966 Arthur Murray was ordained as a minister.

1971 Addition of church parlour and kitchen.

1974 Additional land purchased on the east boundary, for Lower Bedeque Cemetery.

1975 Piano donated for the church sanctuary.

1979 October, sponsored a Vietnamese family of four, the Troung’s, for one year.

1980 Improved washroom facilities. Wheelchair accessible.

1981 Ceiling fans placed in the sanctuary.

1984 Wheelchair ramp installed.

1985 Improved sound system in the main church.

1987 CGIT & Explorer groups Bermuda Exchange

1987 Major vinyl siding project on church exterior completed.

1988 Celebrated 100th Anniversary of Bedeque United Church throughout the entire year.

1991 Allan organ purchased.

1992 TV & VCR purchased.

1993 Exterior windows were installed to protect the stained-glass windows.

1994 New choir gowns purchased and a stage built in the hall. New chairs purchased for the choir loft and the

vestry. Also, the central vacuum system was installed.

1995 Addition of two Sunday school classrooms.

1997 Addition of Minister’s Office and Pastoral Charge office space.

1998 A legal entitlement to the Bedeque Church property was obtained through the Quieting of title Act. Pur

chase of Voices United Hymn book and new chairs for the hall.

1999 Repair of steeple and the addition of a stainless-steel United Church of Canada Crest.

2003 Manse renovation.

2004 Ruth Callbeck Memorial Room dedication.

2007 Arthur Craig Heritage and Artifact Room established.

2007 New pulpit Bibles donated by the Bowness families.

2007 Additional land, on the north boundary purchased for the Bedeque Cemetery.

2009 Sound and video/screen projection system installed.

2010 Nancy MacFarlane Family room constructed.

2010 Manse horse barn demolished and modern car garage constructed.

2011 3 quilts made to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the United Church of Canada

2012 New church sign.

2016 Amalgamation of the three churches of the Bedeque Pastoral Charge to embrace a new congregation of

Bedeque United.

2016 a Syrian refugee sponsorship initiative began with other likeminded community members and over

$30,000 has been raised toward the project which is ongoing.

2020 Covid-19 pandemic; all in person church services and events cancelled.

2021 In person church services and activities slowly began to resume.

2022 Manse sold.

2022 Heat pumps installed and old oil furnaces removed.

Rev. E.C.Turner 1886-1889

Rev. Wm. Harrison 1889-1892

Rev. W.J. Kirby 1892-1895

Rev. George Palmer 1895-1899

Rev. F.A. Wightman 1899-1903

Rev. Neil MacLauchlan 1903-1906

Rev. George Steel 1906-1910

Rev. Hammond Johnson 1910-1914

Rev. George Ayers 1914-1918

Rev. George Somers 1918-1922

Rev. R.A. Fitzpatrick 1922-1927

Rev. A.J. Reynolds 1927-1931

Rev. L.P. Archibald 1931-1935

Rev. Arthur Organ 1935-1937

Rev. Ralph Barker 1937-1942

Rev. J.M. Baxter 1942-1947

Rev. Burton Crowe 1947-1953

Rev. George K. Ward 1953-1955

Rev. G.A. Cowper-Smith 1955-1959

Rev. Harold B. O'Brien 1959-1960

Rev. Bruce Roberts 1960

Rev. R.M. Cameron 1960-1969

Rev. Arnold Mitton 1969-1978

Rev. A.G. Ware 1978-1984

Rev. Samuel P. Shields 1984-1985

Rev. Russell Burns 1985-1991

Rev. Barbara Wagner 1991-2005

Rev. Hugh C.  MacLean 2005-2006

Rev. Gloria Churchill 2006-2011

Rev. Hugh MacLean 2011-2012

Rev. Chesley Boutilier 2012-2012

Rev. Catherine Stuart 2012-2012

Rev. Anthon Ware 2012-2013

Rev. Catherine Stuart 2013-2020

Rev. Eric Lynk 2020-2021

Rev. Barbara J. Cairns 2021-Present

Since 1950, the following ministers have been our spiritual leaders:

Rev. Burton Crowe 1947-1953

Rev. George K. Ward 1953-1955

Rev. G.A. Cowper-Smith 1955-1959

Rev. Harold B. O'Brien 1959-1960

Rev. Bruce Roberts 1960

Rev. R.M. Cameron 1960-1969

Rev. Arnold Mitton 1969-1978

Rev. A.G. Ware 1978-1984

Rev. Samuel P. Shields 1984-1985

Rev. Russell Burns 1985-1991

Rev. Barbara Wagner 1991-2005

Rev. Hugh C. MacLean 2005-2006

Rev. Gloria Churchill 2006-2011

Rev. Hugh MacLean 2011-2012

Rev. Chesley Boutilier 2012-2012

Rev. Catherine Stuart 2012-2012

Rev. Anthon Ware 2012-2013

Rev. Catherine Stuart 2013-2016

1831 The first Methodist chapel was built on land donated by George Muttart and another strip of land

donated by John Clark.

1844 Revival services were held by Mr. Marshall and Rev. George Wheelock.

1861 The chapel was renovated and pews replaced the benches.

1864 A gallery was erected and a new organ was purchased. The organist was Mrs. Robert Muttart (Minnie

Clark).

1873 The large Margate-Bedeque Circuit was divided and Cape Traverse became part of Tryon Circuit. In the

late 1800’sSunday School formed with Josiah Howatt as Superintendent and Women’s Missionary

Society formed with Mrs. Charles (Sarah) Buxton as president.

1887 Rev. Artema Bell, born in Cape Traverse, was ordained.

1889 Montague Muttart donated land to build a new church, which was dedicated in July 1890.

1890-3 Evangelistic services were held during the ministry of Rev. J.K. King.

1893 The circuits were reorganized and Cape Traverse became part of the Bedeque Circuit.

1894 A Mission Band was formed named “Cheerful Givers”.

1902 Rev. J. Ritchie Bell, evangelist and singer, conducted a series of meetings.

1914-18 During the ministry of Rev. George Ayers, women were appointed to the Quarterly Board. Mrs. R. J.

Lord (formerly Mrs. Montague (Matilda) Muttart) and Mrs. Herbert (Margaret) Lord were asked to be

District Visitors.

1918-22 A series of revival meetings were held while Rev. George Somers was pastor.

1924 Revival meetings were held with Mr. Foster from Maine.

1925 On June 10th Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational denominations joined to form the United

Church of Canada. The first marriage in the church united Bessie Waddell and Wylie Irving.

1931-35 Services at Cape Traverse were often conducted by ministers of the Tryon Charge; these included Rev.

J.L. Lund, Rev. Fred Young and Rev. W.H. MacLean.

1932 Young Peoples Union was formed.

1941 The church steeple was struck by lightning.

1943 After fifty years with Bedeque Charge, Cape Traverse became part of Tryon Charge.

1950 Diamond Jubilee of the church was celebrated.

1951 A furnace was put in the church and a choir loft was built with Sunday School rooms on each side.

1956 Vestry was built on west side of church to make more space.

1957 Thirsty Sunday School Children wrote Temperance assignments.

1961 First Explore graduates were Connie Muttart and Grace MacDonald.

1962 Ralph MacCaull, a former Elder and Sunday School Superintendent, was ordained. The same year the

Women’s Missionary Society became the United Church Women with Mrs. Alf (Magda) Norring as leader.

1962 First graduate from CGIT was Margaret Cairns.

1964 A second unit of United Church Women was formed, meeting in the evenings, with Mrs. Cooke

(Frances) Howatt as leader.

1965 First electric organ was purchased. First wedding reception held in vestry followed the marriage of

Margaret Cairns to Allison Sherren. In the same year the Explorers produced the slide presentation,

“The Birth of Jesus”.

1967 Only double wedding held in the church was the marriages of Lynda Muttart and Armand Taylor and

Connie Muttart and Gary Campbell.

1968 Cape Traverse again became part of the Bedeque Pastoral Charge with the Borden and Cape Traverse

congregations worshipping as one. Each church had its own Sunday School, Board of Trustees and

Stewards. There was a joint Session and Choir.

1970 First woman Elder Mrs. John (Laura) Haslam was elected.

HISTORY OF CAPE TRAVERSE UNITED CHURCH

1973 Memorial Book donated in which all memorial donations were entered.

1977 Additional parking land was donated by Wallace Muttart and land for extension of cemetery was donated

by Harold Muttart, both descendants of the original George Muttart.

1979 As a pastoral charge we sponsored (for a year) Hai, Ann Truong and baby along with Hai’s sister,

Quyen, from Vietnam.

1986 Mrs. Avalah (Grace) MacCallum was the first member from Cape Traverse U.C.W. to serve as President

of PEI Presbyterial U.C.W.

1987 A large extension was added on the north side including vestry, kitchen, choir room and washrooms.

1988 First wedding reception held in the extended vestry followed the church wedding uniting Karen Sherren

and Michael Curtis.

1990 Provincial Public Speaking winners Jennifer Kilbride, Robyn Walsh and Jeremy Rogers received awards.

1990 100th Anniversary of the church was celebrated.

1991 Rev. Barbara Wagner became the first female minister to serve Bedeque Pastoral Charge.

1994 Sunday School teacher Mrs. Thelma Cairns was honoured for 50 years of continuous teaching.

1995 A Farewell Gathering was held honouring John and Priscilla Myers for their years of dedication in the

church.

2000 The 110th anniversary of the church was celebrated. Rev. Anthong G.N. Ware was the special guest

speaker at the morning service. A celebration of games and lunch was held at Amherst Cove School in

Borden with all the congregation and community invited.

2001 UCW Unit 1 was disbanded. A celebration in their honour took place during the regular church service,

June 10th, 2001, during which Rev. Barbara Wagner read a short commentary about the contributions

each member had made to the church during her years in UCW.

2002 On November 10th, the 40th anniversary of UCW was celebrated. UCW members participated in Cape

Traverse and Bedeque during the regular church service.

2005 On June 12th, the 80th anniversary of the United Church of Canada was celebrated in Bedeque where

Cape Traverse members participated.

2005 Rev. Barbara Wagner, after 14 years as minister of the Bedeque Pastoral Charge, left to become the

minister the Hunter River United Church.

2005 Don MacWilliams and Joe Richard installed railings on both side of the pulpit to make entry easier to

access. Rev. Hugh MacLean became our minister for one year.

2006 In July, Rev. Gloria Churchill came to our charge as our minister after recently being ordained. Margaret

Sherri, Judy MacKenzie and Bev Noonan attended the ordination service in Sackville.

2007 January 27 – a new Yamaha Clavinova Keyboard was purchased with memorial and Honourable

donations to the church.

2008 New roof was installed over the kitchen section. New speaker and light were provided by Don

MacWilliams for the choir loft.

2009 Trees were planted in the cemetery.

2010 The stewards took over the serving of the fall supper after the UCW served for a number of years.

2012 Rev. Hugh MacLean again came to our charge in the fall.

2012 Due to illness, Rev. Chesley Boutilier agreed to fill in until we could recruit a new minister.

2012 Rev. Catherine Stuart became our minister in July. That fall she went on maternity leave and Rev.

Anthony Ware became our minster for a year.

2015 We celebrated our 125th Anniversary as a faithful house of worship. The time capsule was opened from

1990.

After considering over a period of time due to declining attendance and support, we voted to amalgam

ate. Bedeque, Borden and Cape Traverse became one congregation worshipping in Bedeque. After

voting on various name changes, we officially became Bedeque United Church.

2016 On July 17th at a special evening service, Cape Traver United was decommissioned.

2016 Amalgamation of the three churches of the Bedeque Pastoral Charge to embrace a new congregation at

Bedeque United.

Rev. H.P. Cowperthwaite 1888-1890

Rev. J.R. King 1890-1983

Rev. W.J. Kirby 1893-1895

Rev. George Palmer 1895-1899

Rev. F.A. Wightman 1899-1903

Rev. Neil MacLauchlan 1903-1906

Rev. George Steel 1906-1910

Rev. Hammond Johnson 1910-1914

Rev. George Ayers 1914-1918

Rev. George Somers 1918-1922

Rev. R.A. Fitzpatrick 1922-1927

Rev. A.J. Reynolds 1927-1931

Rev. L.P. Archibald 1931-1935

Rev. Arthur Organ 1935-1937

Rev. Ralph Barker 1937-1942

Rev. J.M. Baxter 1942-1943

Rev. Austin Jardine 1943-1947

Rev. E.R. Woodside 1947-1949

Rev. R.L. Bacon 1949-1952

Rev. Alexander MacKay 1952-1953

Rev. Lloyd Archer 1953-1957

Rev. A.D.C. Earle 1957-1961

Mr. Lester MacFarlane 1961-1962

Rev. Dr. W.A. MacQuarrie 1962-1963

Rev. Allison OBrien 1968-1969

Rev. R.M. Cameron 1968-1969

Rev. Arnold Mitton 1969-1978

Rev. A.G. Ware 1978-1984

Rev. Samuel P. Shields 1984-1985

Rev. Russell Burns 1985-1991

Rev. Barbara Wagner 1991-2005

Rev. Hugh C. MacLean 2005-2006

Rev. Gloria Churchill 2006-2011

Rev. Hugh MacLean 2011-2012

Rev. Chesley Boutilier 2012-2012

Rev. Catherine Stuart 2012-2012

Rev. Anthony Ware 2012-2013

Rev. Catherine Stuart 2013-2016