NELSON UNITED CHURCH
"We dare to live the Way of Jesus,
Embodying the Love of God"
TRINITY METHODIST CHURCH
As told by Edna Whiteley (nee Steed)
Our local Methodist heritage began with the establishment of a Methodist Mission on Kootenay Lake in the year 1891, holding services in a small frame building on Baker Street, near the present Bank of Montreal. Introduced to the area by the beloved and famous missionary Rev. James Turner, who came to be known as the “Saddle-Bags Parson” because he travelled and served the area on horseback with one saddle bag filled with his personal effects and the other bag filled with his Bible, hymn book, etc.
By 1897, Nelson had grown into a fair-sized community, and during the ministry of Rev. John Robertson, Trinity Methodist Church, a wooden structure, was built on the corner of Josephine and Silica Streets. This was the first church built on the present church site. The same Church that Evelyn MacDonald’s grandfather and sons put the roof on. It is interesting to note that even then the congregation could boast of a strong Board of Stewards, excellent choir and active workers. In 1898 Trinity Methodist Church became self-supporting.
In 1908 the Methodists re-built Trinity Church with marble from the quarry at Marblehead, in the Lardeau. The foundation stone was laid in 1908 and the dedication ceremony was held March 7, 1909.
A pipe organ from Turner Memorial Church in Vancouver was installed in 1922 as a memorial to those killed in the First World War.
A fire destroyed all but the granite foundation and marble walls on January 15, 1915. By the fall of 1916, the new "Trinity Methodist Church" was dedicated for worship.