By Dawna Butler​

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As one of the first persons to become a member of Cedar Hill United Church, and a newcomer to the Region of Waterloo, writing this piece took a bit of research and that is an understatement.

My reading has taken me back to Galt and its proud Scottish heritage as a community based on faith and religious upbringing.  It has been an inspiring and insightful endeavor that I have attempted with a great deal of enjoyment. I trust you will value your roots here at Cedar Hill as you learn more about your ancestry.  

Now to the task at hand …

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I gathered a tremendous amount of information from a booklet authored by Andrew W. Taylor in 1949 entitled Banners Unfurled The History of First United Church, Galt, Canada, 1824-1924, published to commemorate the 125th anniversary.  I quote from his introduction:

 

“There was once a description of our city which ran as follows:  “All men

are born infants, but if there is any place where the process o fgeneration

is sectarian and denominational, if there is any place where one can be born

a Presbyterian, then surely that place is a hill-girt town of Galt, Ontario.”

 

The church has been through wars, differences of opinion, financial struggles and pandemics. The First Presbyterian Church lost 16 parishioners in the First Great War and seven in the Second World War.  Aside from that tragic loss, I do see some similarities to our church today with wars and rumors of wars around the world and I am sure you will all remember the Covid pandemic.  The United Church takes a positive stand on inclusion which sets us apart from other denominations.   If  you wish to know about present financial woes, just review your annual statement!

 

But Cedar Hill stands tall and proud.  Thanks be to God!  The God who worked through the hearts and hands of our ancestry to build a church in downtown Galt   Rev. Joseph Tate Cooper, D.D., of Philadelphia, moderator of the General Assembly, 1862 left a very complete account of his visit in 1864 when he spoke at the United Presbyterian Church  inaugural service.   “This congregation numbers about 300 members.  On last Sabbath they entered, for the first time, their new church.  It is a very handsome stone building, and occupies a commanding position.”

 

In 1907, the United Presbyterian Church was under the leadership of the Canadian Presbyterian Church.  Rev. R.E. Knowles was the interim moderator for the church which then officially became First Presbyterian Church.  In 1925, First Presbyterian Church was the only Presbyterian congregation in Galt to vote for union with the Methodist, Congregational and some Presbyterian churches across Canada to form the United Church of Canada, thereby becoming First United Church.

 

The birth of St.John’s-On-The-Hill happened when members of First United Church recognized the need for another United Church on the growing west side of Galt.  The first service of the West Galt Community was held in Highland School in 1957.  Land was acquired in 1958, and in 1960, a portable church was erected on the present site.  In October 1969, the first service in the present building was held, and  in 1971,  the  name St. John’s-On -the-Hill was approved.

 

On October 29, 2017,  First United Church knew  that the sale of the property was inevitable and that is when First United Church and St.-John’s-On-The-Hill amalgamated to form Cedar Hill United Church. 

 

Carol Ariss, the present Chair of Council at Cedar Hill United Church and who had been at First United since 1948 was quoted as saying “It’s fitting that the two congregations have joined under a new name to move forward together.  There is so much history, which is why this is so special.  It’s amazing, the number of folks who have come from First United Church, who have been there as long as I have, and are ready to move on as well.”

 

Five years after the amalgamation, renovations became necessary for the growing population at Cedar Hill and were funded by the sale of First United Church.  This included upgrades to the lighting and air conditioning, an enlarged reception hall, office and meeting room along with an accessible washroom and elevator.  When the renovations began, Covid reared its ugly head and made things a tad difficult but we met through Zoom, a media platform that all parishioners became quickly aware of.  Despite the delay,  95% of the renovations were completed for the dedication service on October 16, 2022.  

 

Geoff Clarkson is presently working diligently on renovating the upstairs washroom and hopes to have it completed very soon.  The washroom  repairs are being funded by the Friendship Club and in doing my research I read an article submitted by Carole Neudoeffer in YEARS of BLESSING, 1824-1999 where I learned that Friendship Married Couples Club was formed at First United in February 1955 and Mr. and Mrs. George Axford were the first presidents.  Today, we have the pleasure of enjoying the leadership of Anne and Wayne Taylor as our presidents.  It is now called Friendship Club and we meet on a monthly basis.

 

When I first attended Cedar Hill, we were being blessed by the ministry of interim pastor Rev. Randy Covey.   During the renovations we were thrilled to have Rev. Whitton Daley consent to being our full time minister. He is of Jamaican heritage and has recently become a Canadian citizen.  His vision for the church lines up to exactly what is needed for our congregation as we look to continued growth and community involvement.  Presently, we have approximately 130 families in the congregation and we are constantly looking for ways to welcome many more.

 

This year as we celebrate 200 years of our faith community, there have been many artifacts and historical pictures on display.  I would be amiss not to mention the stained glass windows that now adorn our sanctuary.  Many hours have been dedicated by Wayne Taylor, Keith Martin, Dean Campbell, Geoff Clarkson and Brian Hunt to have two windows relocated from First United Church.  They have been re-framed, mounted and backlit. 

 

I am proud to be a member of the Cedar Hill family and I’m privileged to be a part of the church council.  The discussions regarding visions for the future and needs that must be met presently makes me thankful to be part of such a thriving and blessed family.  I know God is with us - so who can be against us?