United Church of Canada. Musgravetown-Bloomfield Pastoral Charge

Methodism in Musgravetown dates back to the 1860's and by the late 1800's Methodism was well rooted in Goose Bay. Congregations were active in Musgravetown, Bloomfield, Brooklyn West (Lethbridge), Portland and a little later Brooklyn. Musgravetown had a church building, a parsonage and a circuit clergyman.

In early records, Musgravetown was known by another name - Goose Bay . The name of the community was changed to Musgravetown after the then Governor of Newfoundland, Sir Anthony Musgrave (1864-1869). Musgravetown was supplied from Bonavista until 1872 when it was formed into a mission under J. P. Bowell. With the creation of the Musgravetown Methodist Circuit in 1872, among the communities served by this circuit was Hopeville later South East Arm, Brooklyn West, and Lethbridge. Lethbridge is just a few miles from Musgravetown and lies in the S.E. corner of Goose Bay in Bonavista Bay.

Although Musgravetown was the seat of the Musgravetown Circuit, each of the communities under its charge had its own little place of worship, often in the form of a school chapel as in the case of Portland and Brooklyn. Lethbridge was no exception. As early as 1874/75, records show money being collected for the church fund. Lethbridge's church was built when Mr. Broughton was on the field. Lethbridge's church was dedicated on 8 February 1903 by Rev. J.C. Sidley. To the great credit of its members, this church was opened entirely free from debt.

In February 1912, during the ministry of Rev. William Harris the church at Musgravetown was destroyed by fire. Almost immediately plans were made to build a church on the site of the old church. The building was commenced in June, the cornerstone laid in November and the church completed December 7, 1913.

On June 10, 1925, the Methodist Church in Newfoundland, with other Methodist Churches joined with some Presbyterian and Congregational Churches to form the United Church of Canada. At the time of the union, the Musgravetown Circuit had four preaching places: Brooklyn, Lethbridge, Portland and Winter Brook with a total membership of 177 families.

By the mid 1960's, the United Church Congregation at Musgravetown had grown enough to be classed as an entity unto itself, with their place of worship, their Heritage United Church in the community. Some of the congregations once embraced by the Musgravetown Circuit were placed with the Summerville Circuit, which, since the late 1950's, has enjoyed Circuit status. The Memorial United Church at Lethbridge became part of the Summerville Circuit, which at that time also included Brooklyn, Charleston, Princeton, Portland and Summerville.

Musgravetown remained an entity to itself until 1994 after which it was combined with Bloomfield to form the Musgravetown-Bloomfield pastoral charge with a family membership of 240 families.

Created - May 10, 2013

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