Fonthill church celebrating 50th anniversary Sunday

The congregation of Glad Tidings Church of God in Fonthill will celebrate its 50th anniversary this weekend.

The church at 1 Pancake Lane will hold a Friday evening celebration, to start at 6:30, to reminisce about its heritage. The event features a video of many archived photos and documents.

A celebration Sunday will focus on the future. It starts at 10:45 a.m.

A brief history provided to The Tribune says Glad Tidings’ roots can be traced back to the early 1800s when evangelists began to preach in the area. One such evangelist was J.H. Shipman.

Local resident Peter Bouk was so taken by his message that he gathered together a group of like-minded believers following his own baptism in 1846.

After several years of meeting together in a variety of locations, it was decided that a church would be built. At that time, smaller groups that had been meeting in Fenwick, Welland and Niagara Falls, N.Y., joined the congregation in Fonthill.

In 1908, a church was constructed on what is now the site of Frontier Gun and Sport Shop on Regional Road 20.

As the church began to grow and flourish, it was decided to build a new one to accommodate the growing congregation. The church was dedicated on Nov. 17, 1968.

The church is led by Pastor Daniel Calcagno and his wife Sarah, and meets each Sunday at 10:45 a.m.

Everyone is welcome to attend both events this weekend. More information on the church can be found at gladtidingschurchofgod.com.