Embedded Files
Compiled with research from Jeremy Crouse (MCC Paper), Sheldon MacLean, and Gordon Weatherby.
*This page needs additional information and history. If you would like to contribute information to this project, please email info@restorationhistory.ca*
The exact date of the beginnings of the Dorn Ridge Church Of Christ is unknown. In the October 1880 issue of The Disciple “Doyran” (noted spelling) Ridge is listed as having 2 baptisms, 27 members, 40 scholars, and 7 teachers. The Evangelist Report in that issue says:
“From Deer Island we went to Doyran Ridge, York County, New Brunswick. Here we found a number of brethren who had quite abandoned the worship of Christ. We labored among them till an organization was evvected of 27 members and a Sunday School of 40 scholars. We supplied them with a Sunday School library, donated by the Coburg Street Church, Saint John.” - H. Murray
Writing in The Christian, August 1897, Henry W. Stewart wrote of his work with the churches in this area. At the time he would hold worship services at Jones’ Forks in the Morning, Dorin Ridge in the afternoon, and Burtt’s Corner in the evening. At that time, the worship services at Dorn Ridge were being held in the schoolhouse.
In the fall of 1900 the Home Missions Board of the Disciples of Christ sent another evangelist W. H. Harding to the Keswick area. Brother Harding left this area in July of 1901.
After W.H. Harding left the area, the church at Burtt’s Corner applied to the Home Missions board for financial assistance to hire a full-time pastor. A small grant was given and H.E. Cooke accepted the call to the area. This was the start of a thirty two-year ministry in this area. Reporting in The Christian, September/October 1901, Cooke was still preaching at the three preaching points.
In the winter of 1901, H.E. Cooke organized a series of meetings with Bro. Ralph Gebbie of Kentucky University. These Evangelistic meetings were held between the churches at Dorn Ridge, and Burtt’s Corner, with no mention being made of services at Jones’ fork.
These meetings were considered to be successful though work in the area was slower in the winter months as many of the men worked in the lumber camps and were gone until Spring.
By the early 1900s steps to organize the fellowship took place. Before this, various ministers traveled out to Dorne Ridge to hold services in the schoolhouse. Reuben Butchard (1949:333) describes the church as follows:
“A rural church nestling amidst the hills, practically in the Saint John River Valley, The Church grew out of a desire of people of various faiths to have a community church. There was a sprinkling of Baptists, Disciples, Methodists, Adventists, and Episcopalians – all sheep without a Shepherd and having only occasional preaching."
The building was raised in 1904, and denominationally was a union church, open to all. About this time H.E. Cooke, minister in Burtt’s Corner, established a mission at that point.
Gradually there was a leaning towards the Disciples. A good Sunday School, warp and woof of religious culture outside the home, exists. About Twenty-five or thirty homes are served with religious fellowship after the New Testament patterns.”
In the winter of 1901, the people began plans to erect a church building. The following people were at the first meeting: Jim Haning, Isaac Lawrence, Sanford Haines, Rob Allen, Sam Jones, and Hiram Weaver, who acted as chairman. Mr. and Mrs. Rainsford Boone donated a lot for a church and a cemetery and deed it to a board of Trustees.
Harry E. Cooke officially organized a Church in 1902. Thomas E. White was appointed elder and superintendent of Sunday School. David Griffeths was appointed deacon. Charles McLean was also a deacon in the early years of the church. Later, Watson McNeill became a deacon, and upon Charles McLean’s death in 1947, his son Sheldon MacLean took his father’s place.
In 1902 construction began under the leadership of Hiram Weaver. A lot of materials were donated and people canvassed the area for money. (A Mr. Smith lived across the road and his boy was to be married. They had the sills and some of the framework all cut for their house. He decided to go to the States instead of getting married so donated the sills and framework to the church.)
With much sacrifice and effort, the church building was completed and dedicated June 4, 1904 free of debt. James Crisp, a Methodist minister, preached the dedication, assisted by H. E. Cooke and Mr. London, a Baptist Minister. (Actually, a small debt remained at the beginning of the service but Mr. Crisp kept saying “five dollars more and then we’ll go home for dinner” and continued to say this till the debt was removed.)
Later in 1904, the congregation held a meeting to discuss whether or not they would purchase an organ. Chesley Haines told them to buy the organ and he would supply the organist. He wasn’t married then, but married Laura Flewelling and she was the organist for 50 years. H.E. Cooke accepted a call from the Church at Port Williams, Nova Scotia in October of 1904, but decided to stay at Burtt’s Corner at the Last moment. In February of 1910, Mrs. H.E. Cooke passed away.
Later on, in the fall of 1910, H.E. Cooke held another week of Special services at Burtt’s Corner, Dorne Ridge, and Jones’ Forks (probably at the school house.) In January of 1912, the minister, H.E. Cooke was married to Miss Beulah Allen, daughter of W.H. Allen. It seems that He took a leave of absence and stayed in Saint John until May.
In 1913 Harry Cooke performed the first wedding. The bride and groom were Cleda McGeorge Haines and Alfred White. Brother Cooke continued his pastorate until 1930 when, owing to advanced age, he retired. There was no regular minister again until 1932.
W.J. Johnson held special services in the summers of 1930, 1931, and 1932.
Barry Scott McLean from Dorne Ridge, a “Timothy” of Mr. Cooke was called to be minister and was able to accept the pastorate in 1932.
At the Annual meeting held in June 1932, soon after Barry McLean began his ministry here, he recommended using the name “Church Of Christ” saying “It is Christ’s Church, so why not give it His name?” The name was changed from Union Church to Church of Christ.
In his later years of ministry here, a Rev. Johnson from Saint John assisted him because of his ill health. Barry McLean resigned in 1936 because of poor health.
John Carr was minister between 1936 and 1940, followed by Charles E. Armstrong who began his ministry June 1, 1940 and served until 1954. Medford Conley’s ministry began November 21, 1954 and he served until August of 1975.
During Mr. Conley’s pastorate, ties were officially broken with the Disciples of Christ, and a movement was made to become independents. This decision was largely based on the practice of open membership, which had crept into the the All-Canada Movement of the Church. In 1956 talks started with Mr. Oliver McCully of the All-Canada Movement. This eventually led to the Church at Burtt’s Corner hiring a lawyer to draw up an official document stating that the Burtt’s Corner and Dorne Ridge congregations would be breaking from the movement and would function as independents.
Maurice MacCabe’s ministry began September 1, 1975 and as others before him, he served both the Dorne Ridge and Burtt’s Corner churches.
In 1976, the interior of the Dorne Ridge Church was completely renovated and electric heat was added. The First Kingsclear United Baptist Church donated the carpeting. Ed Kovacs donated all wiring, and Linda (MacLean) & Howard Hanson donated a piano.
In January 1980 after a time of upheaval a split in the church at Burtt’s Corner resulted in many of the congregation at Burtt’s Corner becoming part of the Church family at Dorn Ridge.
In 1980, Maurice MacCabe became the first full-time minister of the church at Dorn Ridge. In the church’s history this was the first time the church had a full-time minister. Prior to that time the minister had shared the minister with the congregation at Burtt’s Corner. Earlier in the church history, the minister would have also been involved in a work at Jones’ fork. (Not sure if there was ever a congregation at Jones’ Fork).
The Urban Haines property across the road was purchased in 1981. The house was renovated and used as hall and Sunday school rooms. An addition to this house was added in 1983.
After acquiring the Haines property, the church for the first time held a Vacation Bible School. The first year of V.B.S., there were close to 50 children and thirteen adults.
In 1982, Maurice MacCabe started a Christian camp. For the next five years, it was held on the church property. In 1987, it was held at Cassidy Lake due to the overcrowding and lack of facilities at Dorne Ridge. Mr. MacCabe resigned March 11, 1983.
Gregory Nicholson began his ministry here August 1st., 1983 and served until November 15, 1989. Interim ministers from 1989 until May 1990 were Ivan Rayner, Conrad Cline, and Jamie MacKay.
In 1990, renovations on the church building included a foyer built by church members. This entrance is used for Sunday School and Junior Church Programs.
In May 1990, Mark Reeves was called to minister and served until September 1992.
Gordon Weatherby served on a part-time basis from the last Sunday of November 1992 until April 1993. At the Annual meeting, it was decided to hire Gordon Weatherby on a full-time basis.
A few weeks later, the church hosted an Easter breakfast in the church hall across the road. The following day, the men of the congregation started tearing apart the old Church hall to be remade into a parsonage for the minister and his family.
May 1, 1993, Gordon Weatherby was hired on a full-time basis with the church. Gordon remained at Dorn Ridge until June of 2015, when the church closed it's doors.
In March of 1994, a steeple was built and donated by Russell Phillips.
Special Meetings were held in 1994 to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the congregation. Brother Earle Ohl with the Church at Murray Harbour, Prince Edward Island had been scheduled for these meetings. A few months prior to the meetings, Brother Ohl had suddenly passed away of heart failure.
In his place Dale Eynon of the congregation in Weymouth, Nova Scotia was brought in and delivered very powerful messages to the church on that occasion. The church also had plates and other momentos made up for the event.
On June 29, 2015, the Dorn Ridge Church of Christ held it's final service. Gordon Weatherby preached on Joshua 1:8-9, "Be Strong and Courageous". You can listen to this sermon at the link below:
The rest of the final service was recorded in audio. You can listen to these recordings below:
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