First Ragged Island United Baptist Church closes in Osborne
Property now has a new owner
The First Ragged Island United Baptist Church in Osborne, Shelburne County, has officially closed. The property and building now has a new owner.
This church was built in 1872-73 and the first worship service was held in November 1874. The pews were filled by entire families from nearby communities.
The great attendance and fellowship continued for many decades. Slowly, during the mid 1900s to the early 2000s, the congregations kept becoming smaller. Many young members and adherents moved away for higher education and employment and, as senior members passed away, there were few left to take on their responsibilities.
Finally, in late 2017, the five active members and one loyal adherent realized they couldn’t continue. Plans were organized to officially close their “beloved house of worship,” which had spanned three centuries.
There are many people with fond memories and experiences during their years within the church family: baby band, baby dedications, mission band, Sunday school, young people’s groups, W.M.S., Bible study, choir practice, weddings, funerals, and many people who maintained the building.
The bell was successfully removed from the bell tower by Bob MacDonald, who lived in Osborne and attended Sunday school as a boy. He is making plans to have the bell permanently installed on the grounds of the Osborne cemetery in the spring of 2019.
Churches do not seem to be the busy centres that they once were decades ago. This great era of Christian fellowship within First Ragged Island United Baptist Church has come to a sad end, but the spirits of many great Christians gone before us will be with us as we go on with our lives.
(NOTE: This article was contributed by Madrine Enslow, Sable River, Shelburne County. Enslow was treasurer of the First Ragged Island United Baptist Church for 40 years.)