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St. Stephen's United historical timeline

Historical timeline compiled by Glenda Pentland: 1893: The pulpit bible was donated by the John McKee family. It still sits on the pulpit and has only been rebound twice. The original pews are still in use today.
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St. Stephen's United Church was given heritage status by the city in 1989.

Historical timeline compiled by Glenda Pentland:

 

1893: The pulpit bible was donated by the John McKee family. It still sits on the pulpit and has only been rebound twice. The original pews are still in use today.

First Sunday school classes were held in a lean-to at the back of the building. There was a shed to tie horses up in.

1909: First permanent addition of four Sunday school rooms were added. A raised platform for the pulpit and choir loft was built. The wood furnace was put in the basement.

1925: St. Stephen’s Presbytery, Ladner Methodist and St. Andrew’s Presbytery joined to become the United Church of Canada.

1930: The church was often used by the school for performances. The Sunday school rooms were originally a stage with beautiful red velour curtains. These were kept closed for church services. In those days the church was not locked and someone stole the curtains. Twenty wooden chairs were also stolen. The police discovered them in a second hand store. The guild agreed to buy them back for $20.

1961: New Communion table and chairs were added. New choir benches were made and donated by Herb Walker. The pulpit was moved to the east to accommodate the benches and it remains there to this day.

1973: Evelyn Beharrell, organist and choir leader, retired and Isla Lawrie replaced her.

1979: Celebrating Delta’s centennial, the church was declared a heritage site.

1982: Wheelchair ramp installed. First of many yard sales and auctions at East Delta Hall.

1983: New sign installed with the hope of attracting new people.

1986: Inside of sanctuary painted. Pulpit was stripped of many layers of paint and restored to its original cedar finish by Jim Carney.

1991: 100th anniversary. A 4:1 scale of the church was built by Walter Staller, Peter Cordes, Elbert Malenstyn, Ian Paton and Dave Smith for a cost of $950, $50 more than the original church. It was entered in the Ladner May Days parade and women and kids dressed in period costumes and won first place.

1994: New roof, kitchen sink and cupboards installed.

2001: Regular trips to First United with donated fresh produce from the Gourley and Kelly farms. The congregation has supported First United continuously since the 1960s with monthly donations of food and clothing and financially every Christmas. It has also supported Vancouver School of Technology and Deltassist with a financial donation every Christmas since the 1970s.

2001: Received heritage preservation award from the City of Delta.

2004: Isla Lawrie retired as organist and choir leader after 31 years.

2019: Sept. 24, one day shy of 128 years since the church opened, the congregation voted in favour of accepting the board’s very difficult recommendation to close the church as of Nov. 24.