By Rachel Garber
On May 4-6, the Sawyerville Baptist Church celebrates 190 years as a corporate entity. This venerable age marks the church as one of the very oldest institutions among the European settlers in what is now the Haut-Saint-François.
In 1822, the first of the settlers, Josiah Sawyer from Massachusetts, was still working on clearing the forests from the area that would later become Sawyerville. The largest centre for trade was in Eaton - now the small village of Eaton Corner. This was the site of the new Eaton Baptist Church, with 13 members.
"They had neither written creed nor catechism, but founded the church on the Word of God," says the church's history booklet.
The growth of the church was greatly influenced by Rev. Archibald Gillies, who began 38 years as pastor of the Baptist Church on January 1, 1842. An immigrant from Scotland, Rev. Gillies had been living in Montreal. To report to work, says the history booklet, "he crossed the St. Lawrence River by canoe, travelled by stage to Sherbrooke, and thence to Eaton Corner by special conveyance."
In 1853, the group moved to a new church near the home of Pastor Gillies in Grove Hill, not far from Sawyerville. Then in 1889, they built the present church building at 33 Cookshire Street in Sawyerville. Construction costs totaled $2,465. In 1900, the congregation changed its name to the Sawyerville Baptist Church.
Today, about 60 people attend the little white church regularly. This number is almost evenly divided between French and English speakers. Pastor Michel Houle is fluently bilingual. On Sundays, he conducts a French service at 9 a.m., a Sunday school in both languages at 10 a.m., and an English service at 11 a.m. The church also organizes Bible studies in various communities, and youth activities. This summer will see their ninth annual soccer camp in Sawyerville and Bury.
"We try to give the kids a place where they can have some good clean fun," said Pastor Houle.
The theme of the upcoming anniversary celebration is "190 Years of God's Faithfulness." On the program will be guest speaker David Dobson from Montreal, and special music with former member Paul MacKay from Brantford, Ontario. Activities extend from Friday evening to Sunday noon, and will incorporate music, reflections, messages, a mission's forum from the ladies perspective, a display of old photos and memories, a bus tour of the area, a buffet supper, and worship services.
"We're going to be doing a display of pictures of the past, going back quite a bit," said elder Austin Bailey. Part of the display will be the church register, with the activities of 190 years recorded, most often in fountain pen and ink.
The anniversary celebration is not only a "family reunion" for current and former members. "All are welcome! It's really an open house," Pastor Houle said. "Anybody can come even if they've never been to the church before. It's really a piece of history for the area."
Reservations are required for certain activities, such as the bus tour and the supper. For details, contact sawyervillebaptist.qc@gmail.com, or phone Mac Burns at 819-875-5371, or Austin Bailey at
819-884-5984.
