175 years of faith
Falmouth Baptist Church marks special milestone
It was hot and muggy inside the Falmouth Baptist Church, but there were also laughs, hugs and prayers as the congregation rang in 175 years.
Rev. Gail Whalen-Dunn, who has been the pastor of the Falmouth Baptist Church for the past four years, said she felt proud to help celebrate the special milestone Aug. 5.
“It’s an amazing opportunity to be a witness to God in a world where we’re seeing a decreasing number of people believing in God in churches all over,” WhalenDunn said. “For 175 years, this church has stood on this corner, and it’s a real witness to the love of God here.”
Whalen-Dunn said the community celebrated all weekend long, swapping stories, holding tours of the historic grounds, sharing food and more.
“It’s a real privilege to be a part of this community,” she said. “It’s not about this building, it’s about the people who have been here and stood here for 175 years.”
Whalen-Dunn made history when she began preaching at the Falmouth Baptist Church, becoming the first ever senior female pastor to lead the church.
The church’s longest-standing pastor, Wayne Merill, who served from 1993 to 2009, gave a sermon to help celebrate the anniversary.
“It’s an opportunity to reconnect, to come back and celebrate with everybody,” he said. “I was here for the 165, and it’s great to see that it’s still thriving.”
Gary Nelson, a member of the congregation, is working on updating the church history, which hasn’t been updated extensively since 1943.
“The church is not the building, it’s the people, and the fact that we were here for 175 years, is the real celebration,” Nelson said. “When you look at that history, you can see how faithful they were, how committed they were, to maintaining a place of worship.”
Nelson credits the church’s founders and all of those who’ve come since then for keeping the a vibrant centre of the community for so long. Dooley, James “Jim” Samuel — 67, of Brooklyn, Hants County, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018 in the Q.E.II, V.G. Site, Halifax, surrounded by his loving family and treasured friends, listening to his favourite Newfoundland songs. Born Dec. 1, 1951 in Plate Cove East, Newfoundland, he was the son of late John Thomas and Elizabeth Jane (Barker) Dooley. Jim was a veteran of the Canadian Navy and a proud sailor on the Athabaskan (282). After the Navy he went to work for Hefler’s Mill. He loved sports, fishing, bird watching, anything to do with nature and he enjoyed the great outdoors. Jim adored the love of his life Debbie, his daughters and grandchildren. He loved his family and it was very hard for him to say goodbye. Until we see you again; Jimmy Sammy.... Fly High. Jim is survived his wife, the former Deborah Justason, daughters; Erin Dooley (Daniel Tonge), Dartmouth, Meaghan Dooley (Matthew Fowlie) Sackville, grandchildren; Emma and Samuel Fowlie, brothers; John (Delores) Dooley, St. John’s, New-
foundland, Edward (Dioni) Dooley, Kingston, Ontario, Sean (Judy) Dooley, St. John’s, Newfoundland, sisters; Sandra Vellone, Kingston, Ontario, Elizabeth (Bob) Haggett, Roberts
Arm, Newfoundand, Shirley (Harv) Hiscock, Champense, Newfoundland, Sharmaine (Art) Pinsent, Dildo, Newfoundland, Beverley Dooley (Danny Daniels) Whitby, Ontario, many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by son, Samuel James and brother in-law, Frank Vellone. Cremation has taken place under the care of the Lindsay Windsor Funeral Home, 194 King Street, P.O. Box 2218, Windsor, N.S. B0N 2T0. “Come celebrate Jim’s life at the Dooley homestead (5 Chalet Crescent, Brooklyn) on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018 at 3 p.m. Bring your great memories of Jim, any adult beverages you might enjoy and lawn chairs for your comfort.” Burial will be held at a later date. Donations in memory of Jim may be made to the Renal Dialysis Unit at the V.G. Site, QEII, Halifax, N.S., B3H 2Y9. To have a donation card placed, please call Lindsay’s (902-798-2232). Online condolences may be sent by clicking on “guestbook” at www.lindsaysfuneralhome.com.