In the 1860’s, many people moved from Bonavista to Goose Bay, Bonavista Bay. In Church records at Bonavista, there are 37 entries of births from the Goose Bay area from 1865 to 1872. These 37 babies were baptized at Goose Bay as it was part of the Bonavista Circuit and the minister from Bonavista visited about once a year. These early settlers called their new community Musgrave Town after the then Governor of Newfoundland, Sir Anthony Musgrave (1864 -69). The Musgravetown Circuit included all Goose Bay, Clode Sound, Happy Adventure, and Indian Arm.
We have no record of the building of the first Church building, but we believe it was opened in the mid to late 1870s.
After the morning worship February 4, 1912 when residents of the Community were enjoying their Sunday dinner, the alarm was sounded that the church was on fire. Men left the dinner table and ran with buckets in hand. But the fire was so far advanced that the Church was soon smoldering ruins.
A meeting of the Trustee Board was held in the Parsonage on February 5, 1912 to decide what to do with the work of the congregation on an interim basis. A public meeting was also announced to meet in the Orange Hall on Saturday night, February 19, 1912 to consider the construction of a new church. At that meeting it was unanimously agreed to build a new church on the old site.
The Corner Stone for the new building was laid on November 21, 1912.
On Sunday, December 7, 1913, nearly two years after the old Church was burned to the ground, the Congregation assembled in the New Church for regular worship.
On June 10, 1925, the Church, along with the other Methodist Churches, joined with the Presbyterian and Congregational to form the United Church of Canada. Many changes to the building and site have occurred over the years including the removal of the fence around the church property to give parking spaces. As well, electric power came to Musgravetown and central heating and modern lighting was installed.
In 1963, the Official Board asked the Presbytery to change the boundaries of the Pastoral Charge to include only Musgravetown and Bloomfield. This resulted in our Church becoming self supporting in 1966 for the first time.
In the early 70’s, Church membership had increased so greatly that the Church congregation needed to find an alternative place for Sunday school and other groups. In 1973, Rev. Alex Smith gained support for the building of the Christian Education Centre as an attachment to the Church Building. In November of 1974, the Centre was officially opened.
At a session meeting on December 6, 1992, a motion was made, seconded and carried to name the Pastoral Charge as Bloomfield-Musgravetown. For many years, the second church building was informally called many names: Methodist Church, Musgravetown Church, United Church, Musgravetown-Bloomfield United Church. However, on February 11, 1986, the name Heritage United Church was chosen from a name list. The name was voted on, and then officially passed.
PLEASE NOTE: The brief history given above is taken from excerpts found in a booklet published for the 100th Anniversary of the Church Building in 2013. Copies of that booklet are still available and can be purchased by contacting the church office.