Unheated service warms hearts
The giant pot of hot mulled apple cider next to shortbreads and other assorted treats is definitely something to look forward to at the annual Christmas service at the Congregational Church of Chebogue.
But the experience of being together with many others in the unheated church, with music by the Yarmouth Bell Ringers, the Yarmouth Shantymen and Accidental Consort (recorders) also helps provide warmth.
Church trustee Stephen Sollows says the building hasn’t had any major renovations since being built in 1860, so services are limited to non-electric instruments and candlelight for light.
“It’s turned out to be a real blessing over the years as it’s an opportunity for the community to gather its “unplugged” musicians to provide the music for our programs,” said Sollows.
The Christmas services have been held since 2000. This year’s was held Dec. 9.
“I find many of the same people come to this service year after year, and for many it does make Christmas. It does for me too,” said Sollows.
The church typically holds three services annually: an Easter sunrise service, a Thanksgiving or, alternatively, a service of remembering and reflecting on the history of the arrival of English settlers in Yarmouth in 1761, in addition to the Christmas service.
When threatened with closure, community leader Francelia
Nagle decided her church would not be closed or taken from the community. Each summer she held a service of remembering, telling the story of the early settlers and how their faith helped keep them alive in the early years of settlement.
“I remember the passion she showed then telling this story. She also, I believe, personally paid for the upkeep of the church until her death in the 1990s,” said Sollows.
A summer student keeps the church open for tourists to visit in July and August.
Sollows says history plays a big part in the church and organization
ome summers, a group of members get into 1761 costume and perform a tour through the Old Chebogue Burying Ground, telling stories of the community and those long departed.
Funds raised through the three annual services help provide seed money for restoration work per- formed on the old building. In the past year the trustees were able to have the roof re-shingled. This year the church was granted provincial heritage status, which makes it eligible to apply for additional funding towards the maintenance.
“There seems to be continued interest within the community to save this church,” says Sollows.
“This is in part due to the history of the church and a deep respect for those who came before us. With so many of these old buildings disappearing, it seems the right thing to do, to save some of them for future generations to see, use and hear of the history of the church and the community that supported it and why.”