Carbon's United Church is closing after its service Sunday, December 7, 2014. The history of the United Church in Carbon dates back to 1902.
It will be a bittersweet day at the United Church in Carbon this Sunday, as the congregation holds its last celebration.
The service will be held on Sunday, December 7 at 11 a.m. followed by a potluck luncheon. Reverend Jean Udall of the Knox United Church in Three Hills said this has been coming for a while. They were operating as a two-point charge ministry.
“It has been looked at for a great number of years, we actually closed as a congregation in June of this year and all that means is we no longer had sufficient people to be their own board,” explains Udall.
The United Church is one of the longest standing institutions in the Village of Carbon. The earliest record of ordained ministers in the Carbon valley dates back to 1902. The Carbon Church was organized as a Presbyterian congregation of the Calgary Presbytery in 1905, and services were held in homes in Carbon.
In 1913, the first church was erected serving Carbon, Gamble and Swalwell. By 1925 it was recorded there were 120 member families.
During the Spanish Influenza, the Church was used as a hospital and during that time, services were prohibited.
Over the years, it became part of different charges, at one time joining with Three Hills, while at another with Rosebud and Rockyford. In 1951, it became part of the Drumheller charge.
In 1954, the new church was built.
“At one time it was a thriving congregation, always very active, tremendously mission-minded. They have given to local people as well as projects in Alberta and projects around the world, tremendously generous in their mission givings,” she said.
Without a board, she says typically they look to sell the assets. With no one breaking down the door to buy it, the small handful of families continued to worship.
With the loss of the board, Udall explains the Knox United Church was required to seek out another partner to remain a two point charge and they partnered with Linden.
"That meant Carbon needed to disband,” said Udall.
“There were only four or five families, but they see it as a funeral, it is going to be a gut wrenching day,” said Udall.
There is a bright spot however. The church was looking at donating the church to the Three Hills Arts Academy for three months, but it fell through. They then approached the Village of Carbon.
“Council met on a Monday and said yes right away!” said Udall. “We are just so pleased they are able to take on the building.”
The Church disbursed their remaining funds to seven volunteer institutions within the community.
Udall said that if the Village took on the building they hoped it would be used by the community.
“It will be up to the Village to decide what to do but certainly it is a venue if you want to have birthday parties, anniversaries or receptions, there is opportunities to bring in concerts. It is a beautiful well maintained building.”
“It is nice to see someone take it on so it won’t be abandoned.”
