About Carstairs Bancroft United Church

History 

History of the Bancroft United Church

Before the rural school was built, and with no other building or meeting place available, the congregation gathered in the open air on the south shore of the Buschlen Lake in 1901, and held their first service of worship in the Bancroft District. 

When the ministers and student ministers came, they held services in the homes of the early settlers. Fred Moyle and john sick homes were the most frequently used. Sunday school was held every Sunday at Moyle's conducted by Mr. Moyle. 

It was not until the spring of 1906, when Bancroft was built, that the homesteaders had regular church services. 

In 1925, several church denominations united together to form the United Church of Canada. 

Rev. M. Ing was the minister at the Bancroft church at this time. 

Church services moved to the newly built midway school in 1954 and regular services were held there until March 1998 when it was decided to join with Carstairs United Church to form the Carstairs Bancroft United Church. 

History of the Carstairs United Church

In 1901, the first Methodist congregation was formed in Carstairs. Services were held in the Presbyterian church on alternate Sundays.  

1903 - a parsonage was built and in 1906 the Carstairs Methodist church was dedicated. 

1906 - the first church was built. 

1925 - Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregationalist churches united to become the United Church of Canada. At this time, the pastoral charge consisted of Carstairs, Bancroft, Jackson, Hawkeye and Greenwood. 

1930 - the church hall was built. This hall became the meeting place for many groups 

1932 - Cremona joined and Greenwood ceased to exist as a preaching point. 

1956 - 50th anniversary of the United Church building was celebrated. 

1959 - new manse was built and the old one was used for Sunday school classes. 

1968 - the old church and parsonage were torn down and a new church complete with hall was constructed. 

1978 - the addition of the board room, minister's office, secretary's office, washrooms and a full basement were built onto the west side of the church hall. The narthex was enlarged by removing the two washrooms and the minister's office became the choir room. A bell tower was also constructed. 

1985 - Cremona had become self-sustaining and left the Carstairs pastoral charge. 

1998 - Carstairs and Bancroft congregations joined to form the present Carstairs Bancroft United Church.