The final service at Morrin United Church this Sunday will mark the end of an institution dating back more than 100 years.
The Morrin United Church board made the difficult decision to amalgamate with the United Church in Drumheller and this Sunday, May 26 they will be holding their final service in their community.
“Our congregation is pretty small now so we are going to amalgamate with Knox United Church in Drumheller,” said Marilyn Trentham. “It was a very tough decision. It has been coming for quite a while. We just got to the point we had to do something.”
This faith community in Morrin began with the building of the Union Church in 1911, representing Methodist, Presbyterians, Baptist, and Anglicans. Harry Jackson was the first minister. In 1925, the Methodists, Congregational, and Presbyterians joined together to become the United Church. In 1953, work on a new church began with the existing church adjoined to the new construction to be used as a church hall and Sunday School.
Up until the closing, the church had a minister come twice a month for services. Compounded on the small congregation is the lack of finances.
“It is just the way of a lot of small communities. A lot of their churches had to make difficult decisions,” said Trentham.
She explains, for the amalgamation to happen they had to approach Knox United in Drumheller to get its blessing.
“We contacted them and had a meeting with them and they were very receptive to having us join, so that has worked out well,” she said. “That’s what one of the advisors said to us, ‘first you look after the people,’ and then you look after the property, your possessions, and artifacts you have collected over 100 years.”
They are also looking at options for what to do with the church building in the community.
“We are putting it out to the community to see if we can find someone who might like to take it over for some kind of a museum or something,” she said.
At the Wednesday, May 15 Village Council meeting it was brought up for discussion.
The final service is to be this Sunday, May 26 at 2 p.m. The congregation is inviting everyone to this special service. They have invited some of the former ministers including Mary Ellen Moore and Harold Hunter. There will be refreshments and fellowship following the service.
