Copetown United Church

1794   Conrad Cope arrived in Copetown. Services were held in homes

1825   One acre of land, Lot 32 Ancaster, was purchased From James Waugh, for a new church.  Cemetery is now on that land

1828   White frame church was completed when Rev. Henry Ryan sought to divide the Canadian Churches from Genesee  Conference. Wm Slater, the minister, died. The assistant,  Egerton Ryerson,  completed the year as minister

1855   Great Western Railway was put through Copetown and disturbed parishioners.  Damages sought but suit defeated.

1856   Lots 83 and 84 Ancaster of Samuel C. Ridley survey were purchased for new church, corner of Victoria and Church streets, Copetown.

1859   New brick church was built which stood on a hill a few rods southwest of present church.

1861   Copetown was joined with Lynden in various circuits including Salem, Brock road, Zion Chapel, Flamboro and Harrisburg, but not all at the same time. Parsonage was at Lynden.

1879   Parsonage sold to Lynden

1884   Copetown, Salem and Flamboro formed the circuit. Lot was purchased for new parsonage from F.J. Fry for $450.00. Fifty dollars was donated by Mr. Fry.

1885   Frame house parsonage was burnt and replaced by a brick house which was still standing in 1975.

1907   John Gray Boughnar exchanged lots with Copetown Church Trustees allowing them to build their new church closer to the road.

1908   Present brick church was erected. Corner stone laid July 8th and dedicated October 18th.

1915 Final efforts to pay of church mortgage were successfully completed by a group of 28 called “Young Marrieds” under the leadership of Rev. Merner. This group traveled the countryside in the dead of winter with horse and sleigh to enact a pageant.

1917   West Flamboro circuit closed.

1921   For Copetown Church, a piano was purchased during the ministry of Rev. Henry Cotton.

1924  Rockton joined the circuit and  presently we are the Copetown/Rockton charge.

1926  At the time of church union a number of West Flamboro circuit joined fellowship with Copetown United Church.

1933   Silver anniversary of Copetown Church. There was one week of celebration under the leadership of Rev. W. D. Clark . A Memorial Booklet dedicated to pioneers was issued.

1940  Salem church as part of Copetown charge was closed during the ministry of Rev. Chas. Jay, Copetown Choir purchased black choir gowns.

1941   Memorial picture window “Christ the Good Shepherd” was added to the choir loft.

1946  Baptismal Font donated.

1949   Church addition added on the south side of the church.

1953   Consonatta Electric Organ dedicated.

1954   First food tent set up at Rockton Fair. Young Women’s Federation in charge.

1955   Two stained glass memorial windows dedicated. “Gethsamene Window” and “Christ Blessing the Children”. Sold the large red brick parsonage, across the road from church. A lot was purchased from Frank Cumming on Ancaster side of Governor’s road for new parsonage.

1956   Open house for new parsonage with hosts Rev. & Mrs Wm. Pelley

1958   Red brick addition build to the south of the Church. October was 150th anniversary under the leadership of Rev. and Mrs D. E. Freer. A historical booklet was prepared and souvenir plates sold.

1959   Copetown Church members served dinner at the official tent at the International Ploughing Match, Peter’s Corners. The sum of $4000.00 was raised.

Church lot boundary lines were changed taking footage from west and adding to the east. This was at the time of the proposed Mansfield survey.

1960   Highway 99 widened and additional church land purchased to south for circular driveway. Church renovations included: new well, indoor plumbing, hot water heating system and new red brick entrance to the west.

Copetown Church women catered at the International Ploughing Match at Springfield and raised $1000.00.

1961   Red church carpet was installed.

1963   Women’s Missionary Society and Ladies Aid united to form the United Church Women (UCW) A gold cross for the communion table and the oak flower stand were presented to mark this event.

1964   Carillon Chimes were presented and installed in the church tower.

1967   Celebrated Canada’s Centenial, by renovating the Sunday School, holding an old fashioned church service and planting trees.

1972   Loud speakers and amplifying system was donated to the church and 70 new hymn books (Anglican-United) were donated.

1973   Improvements made to the driveway. Decorated the Church sanctuary. Purchased new choir gowns for our 165th Anniversary.

1975   An historical pageant, “Alive in Seventy-Five”, with a cast of 90 was presented to celebrate the 50th anniversary of church union. It was written by Anna Jones (Mrs Carl) and the musical director was, Leonore (Mrs Murray)  Bonham.  Edna Harris, organist and choir leader for 50 years was honoured for her faithful service.

1983   175th Church anniversary

1984   Stained glass memorial window “The Sower” was dedicated. Served four church dinners. Continued the annual catering at a food tent at Rockton World’s Fair. Aluminum trim replaced all wooded areas outside the church. Bell tower and slate roof were repaired.

1988   Purchased new electric organ costing $8500.00.

1989  First pictorial directory produced.

1990   Slate roof replaced by brown asphalt. Zion Hill United Church disbanded. Many of their congregation joined us and donated a large walnut cross to the church.

1991   New entrance on the west with interlocking stone walkway and landscaping with timed lighting and decorative boulders was completed.

1992   Newly structured Unified Board replaced the Board of Stewards and Elders. Memorial garden with inscribed plaque was dedicated. Electronic piano purchased.

1993   185th Church anniversary. Rev. Judith (Freer) Johnson, guest speaker. Manse, built in 1956, was sold. Front steps and doors of the church were removed. Two memorial windows “Come Unto Him” and “Go Ye into the World” were dedicated. Bathroom, front foyer and church Sunday School room was completely remodeled and updated with wheel chair accessability. Additional office space was made and the stage area lowered.

1994   New burgundy and cream choir gowns purchased by both Copetown and Rockton.

1995   Copetown’s directory published, of family pictures, names, addresses and phone numbers.

1999   The last year we sold food at Rockton Fair. Published a book of pictures, phone numbers and addresses of the members of the Copetown and Rockton churches to celebrate 75 years as a charge.

2000   Started to hold two annual dinners in the Lion’s Community Centre. They are held in Spring and Fall.

2004  Copetown and Rockton Charge affirmed that we celebrate and honour the life journeys of all people (covenanting, baptism, confirmation, marriage, healing, death and dying.)

2007   Motion to close the church was defeated. Congregation continues to worship. Forty copies of “More Voices” were donated to the church.

2008   Celebration of 200 years of worship within a building on or near the current location. The year the winter weather closed the church for several Sundays.