Congregation in Irvine celebrating a century
The People Peace United Church in Irvine is holding a special service for its 100th anniversary on Oct. 22.
Rev. Jan Stevenson of Medicine Hat’s Westminster United Church, who also leads monthly services at the Irvine and Redcliff United Churches, called the Irvine congregation “very small but mighty.”
“(It’s) a very welcoming community,” Stevenson said about the town of 300. “When there’s a wedding, a baptism or anything like that, the place is packed, because in a rural and ranching area everybody is related.
“That a community that small can support a viable congregation is remarkable.”
Stevenson said the church hosts a monthly wine supper and numerous bake sales throughout the year in the community.
“There are about 15 very active members and households. Between the lot of them, they manage to do all of this, which is a lot of energy,” she said.
“They’re not too much into counting numbers. They see themselves as a church for the community. They support various community events and the community supports them.
“A lot of people may not be listed as members who come on Sunday morning, but if there’s work to be done, they’ll be there.”
Stevenson said the church was originally founded by German immigrants around the time of the First World War. It became part of the United Church of Canada after the war.
Those looking to learn more details about the church’s history should attend the service on Oct. 22.
“They’re going to do a special service in honour of the occasion and part of that will be sharing the history of the church,” said Stevenson. “They’ve done a lot of research.”