Western Manitoulin Pastoral Charge

The United Church of Canada's Western Manitoulin Pastoral Charge covers a large geographic area at the west end of Manitoulin Island and is made up of United churches in Meldrum Bay, Silver Water, and Elizabeth Bay. The Pastoral Charge includes the townships of Robinson, Dawson, Burpee-Mills, and part of Gordon/Barrie Island. The geographic area also includes two First Nations communities located between Meldrum Bay and Silver Water at Sheshegwaning and Zhiibaahaasing. We are a rural Pastoral Charge with rural values that have been passed down for generations. Many of our members can trace their family tree back three or four generations to the founding members of the communities.

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Meldrum Bay

Meldrum Bay is a small picturesque village situated on the western shore of Meldrum Bay at the western tip of Manitoulin Island. There are approximately 45 year round residents and many summer residents who have homes here. The early settlement began in 1870 and was supported by farming, commercial fishing, and lumbering. Now the economy depends to a great extent on tourism and on an aggregate quarry located approximately 10 kilometres from the village. The Meldrum Bay marina and exhibit centre offers many facilities for boaters.

The Meldrum Bay church was founded by families meeting in homes for services. After the school house was built in 1897 services were held there as a Union Church, meeting the needs of both Presbyterians and Anglicans. St Andrew's Presbyterian Church was built in 1920 and became a part of the United Church of Canada upon its founding in 1925. The church has cement walls with the painting of blocks to look like a block cement facing. The plaster walls on the inside still house the holders and the old coal-oil lamps. One of the main fund raisers for this congregation is a roast beef supper followed with an old fashioned worship service in March with only coal-fired lamps and candles supplying the lighting. Services are held in the summer months at 9:15am, and with the Silver Water congregation during the winter.

Silver Water

Silver Water is located in the centre of the Pastoral Charge geographic area. It has a year round population of approximately 62 families which almost doubles during the summer months. It is a vibrant rural community, with the majority of the population being retired seniors. The community contains a well equipped community centre as well as a popular country-style diner, both of which are well used community gathering sites.

The land around Silver Water was first settled in 1872. As the community grew, the families met in each other's homes for Bible study and services until the school was built in 1886. The Anglican Church established a mission with a church being built in 1897 with the Anglicans holding service one Sunday and the Presbyterians on the alternating Sunday. An application was made to the Crown for 98 acres to build a Presbyterian Church in 1897. The Presbyterian Church was opened on July 2, 1899. The church remained open until it was closed on May 23, 1999 with the celebration of its 100th anniversary. The new church, with its etched windows and larger sanctuary and Pastoral Charge office was opened on July 4, 1999. Services are held every Sunday at 11:00 am.

Elizabeth Bay

Elizabeth Bay is located on the east end of the Pastoral Charge. It is a rural community settled in the late 1800's by farmers and lumberers who cleared the forest and built farms. Today the area is populated mainly by retired people and a few farmers, as well as families who work outside the community. Additionally, several families spend the summer season here. Misery Bay Provincial Nature Reserve is a 1000-hectare provincial park located on the south shore of Manitoulin Island. This park is located 4km south of the Elizabeth Bay church, and contains a visitor interpretive centre that provides information on the unique and rare aspects of the park.

Families started settling at Elizabeth Bay in 1879. Sunday School was held at different homes of the community until a schoolhouse was built in 1896, whereupon it also served to hold church services for the Presbyterian Church. The community first started talking about building a church in January 1914. On June 20, 1926, the stone church on top of a hill was open, becoming a church of the United Church of Canada. Services are held in the summer months at 1:30pm, and with the Silver Water congregation during the winter.