Freelton United Church
Our History
Freelton United Church
Patrick Freel divided his 100 acres into lots. He made sure the Catholic Church had one of these lots. It seemed that the majority of the people in the Freelton area were Methodists.
In 1862-63 the New Connexion Methodist Church (Carmel Church) was built south of Freelton on the east side of the present Highway 6. In 1859 the Wesleyan Methodists had a church built north of Freelton at Beechgrove. These two congregations would unite in 1872. In 1882 the Carmel Church was moved to Freelton and became known as Freelton Methodist Church. In 1899 the present brick building, now Freelton United Church, was built in the centre of the village.
In 1925 the congregations of Freelton Methodist Church, Brock Road Methodist Church and Strabane Presbyterian Church became members of the United Church of Canada.
Time and COVID 19 Hurt Freelton and so the discussion about its future began in December of 2021 it was clear that a change was going to happen and so the recommendation to the Congregation to look at our future was made in January 2022. At that time, it was decided to invite Freelton's sister Church Strabane United to begin an amalgamation process. On September 10th at a Congregational meeting the Amalgamation agreement was accepted by the congregation and the new Freelton Strabane United Church was formed at its inaugural service on November 6th.
We are blessed in knowing that our legacy as an important spiritual home in Freelton will continue and that the Memory of those that founded and made the Freelton Church a caring community of Faith will be preserved.
Strabane United Church
Our History
Strabane United Church
In 1840 John Fraser gave a portion of Lot 7, Concession 8 for the building of a school, church and burying ground with the condition that the church was to be called Nairn Presbyterian Church. The Fraser family had arrived in Upper Canada from Nairn, Scotland in the late 1830s. In late 1845 a frame church was ready for use. It was 36 feet long and 24 feet wide. Sadly, John Fraser died suddenly in that same year. Up until 1846 the congregation had met for worship in the wooden school building. The congregation, known locally as Nairn Presbyterian Church, was established on May 12, 1847. In 1878 the present stone church was erected on an additional piece of property sold by Janet (Fraser) Cockburn, (widow of John Fraser) for $400.00. One year later, Mrs. (Fraser) Cockburn sold the church an additional 1/8 acre parcel for $50.00.
The new church was designed in cruciform shape, designed by architect James Balfour and constructed entirely of stone. Much of the stone is believed to have come from the local farm of one of the members of the congregation.
In January of 2022 the sister church of the Pastoral Charge came and asked if Strabane would consider an Amalgamation. After prayerful consideration it was decided that Strabane would enter into Amalgamation talks.
On September 10th at a Congregational meeting the Amalgamation agreement was accepted by the congregation and the new Freelton Strabane United Church was formed at its inaugural service on November 6th.
Freelton Strabane United Church
The New Freelton Strabane United Church was formed on November 6th 2022. Our first year was a very full and busy as we worked at mechanics of combining two churches. We had a small and dedicated team which worked on this mammoth project. The saddest part of the process was the sale of the former Freelton United Church. Here God truly smiled upon us and the building sold in twelve days and above asking. We were also blessed in that the building was purchased by St. Ignatious Knanaya Church an Eastern Christian Church.
In the fall of 2023 We were approached by two neighboring pastoral charges and invited to consider working together in a collaborative agreement. Again lead by the Spirit Freelton Strabane moved into a collaborative agreement with Rockton Sheffield Pastoral Charge and Lynden United Church and began to share a clergy person.
