The South Cayuga Community Church

About Us

South Cayuga Community Church was established in 2009 through the amalgamation of 3 rural churches: Dunn United, South Cayuga Trinity and Kohler Zion. The history below was written by Rev. Bob Thompson who acted as leader, guide, teacher, negotiator, support and care staff during this time of transition. It is a testament of the respect and vision of three congregations moving together with one vision, one plan and one faith.

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From South Cayuga Pastoral Charge to South Cayuga Community Church

This is a short record of the story of three congregations who decided to move forward with their ministry in their communities with a decision to amalgamate and share in a brand new facility.

First, a little history. The South Cayuga Pastoral Charge was formed in 1968 following a merger of the Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) and the United Church of Canada. Each congregation brought gifts and differences to the pastoral charge. Dunn United Church had a long history with the Methodist Church and became a United Church at the time of Church Union in 1925. It was a small church seating approximately seventy-five people and had a strong inter-generational worshiping congregation. Good lay leadership, and active Sunday School and a mixture of people from every generation were gifts that this church brought to the new church. Many of its members had a farming background and they were involved in mixed farming and vegetable farming along the banks of the Grand River. Someone once described it to me as the little church on the big curve. (Link to article on the history of Dunn)

Dunn  - Obtaining the Land 

In 1863 John Holmes, who lived on the property now owned by Ad Godrie, deeded a parcel of land to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada for the sum of $1.00. In 1914 Stewart Holmes deeded to the church, for love and affection and $1.00, the east part of the cemetery. In 1984 1.88 acres from the Ontario Government, part of which has been used for the parking lot. This was free of charge from the Haldimand-Norfolk Region.

Dunn Church in 1863 had no vestibule. One entered directly into the sanctuary. The centre aisle was wide, with seats on either side. Two rows of seats were positioned lengthwise on each side of the pulpit. The pulpit was high with a door to open and the minister to step inside. In front of the pulpit was the communion table. The windows were straight across the top, with small panes of clear glass.

During the 1890's the church building was modernized. A vestibule was built, modern windows were installed, and a choir platform was built with a railing. the pulpit was modernized. New unfinished pews were ordered, which were finished by the members according to professional instructions. Benches were made for extra seating, choir chairs were purchased, and a new library cupboard was placed at the back for use by the Sunday School. The church interior was redecorated and the exterior was repaired and painted. In the early years there was no musical instrument but a tuning fork was used.

From one who could recall attending Dunn around 1930, it is noted that Dunn was a small white church, very plain, with hard low pews, two wood burning stoves toward the back corners, a pine floor, a chandelier of coal-burning lamps in the centre ceiling, and bracket lamps at the windows. The walls and ceiling were papered, and the windows were glazed. Often in winter the church was cold unless one sat by the pot-bellied stoves. Music was supplied by pump organ. In what is now the parking lot stood an outhouse (also cold in winter) and there was a long shed used for horses. This shed was cleaned out in the spring for the strawberry supper, and again in the fall for the chicken supper.

With the coming of hydro, the lamps were replaced with electrical fixtures, the pine floors were refinished and the aisles and platform were covered first with green carpet, then red. The pulpit chairs, flower stands and pulpit coverings were replaced. The walls were paneled, the ceiling tiled and we purchased a new piano. The basement was built around 1962, then a new furnace was installed, the basement walls were paneled, the basement ceiling was tiled and the floor painted. We purchased tables and chairs, and made curtains. Soon we had a kitchen.

Unfortunately the basement wall cracked and further work had to be done to keep water from seeping in, so in 1972 a new part was added to the front of the church, giving us two small rooms, a hallway, bathroom an two sets of stairs. Again in 1981 the walls had to be reinforced. in 1985 vinyl siding, insulation and roofing were added and also some electrical heating. In 1998, the sanctuary was refurbished and the paneling was removed, drywall was installed and painted, wainscoting was made and new carpet added. New light fixtures were purchased for the sanctuary, the foyer and the landing above the steps. A cross and communion cupboard on the front wall gave our church a new look.

Trinity  - A History of Change

In the fall of 1841, in the homes of settlers carved out of the bush of the township of South Cayuga, the foundation for was laid for a rich heritage of faith, community, and service. Many of the settlers of South Cayuga District were descendants of German families who had settled in the eastern United States, especially Pennsylvania (the Pennsylvania Dutch).

In 1839, work began along the shores of Lake Erie. By the fall of 1841, sufficient numbers were gathered in these "in home" services in South Cayuga to warrant the formation of church and so Trinity was born. In 1854, Trinity's Sunday School began, soon followed by the formation of the "Young People's League".

The new Trinity Church was built in 1878 under the direction of Samuel Beck Sr. for $2,572.39 including furnishings and sheds. That same year, the church was dedicated to God by Bishop H. Dubs. The congregation appears to have prospered in it new home with the parsonage next door. In May 1892 the Women's Mission Society of the Evangelical Association of South Cayuga was formed with eleven members.

Attesting to the strength and commitment of the families to our church, many family names of men appear frequently in the minutes and offices of these years are familiar to us today and still have members active in the congregation, Names like: Joe Hoover, Victor Nablo, Reuben Kriter, John Kriter, William Kriter, Ezra Kriter, Roy Miller, Harry Link, J. Link, Reuben Schwanz, Charles Bilger, James Winger, John Bowden, Reginald Chapman, Lee Gifford, George Waltham.

In January of 1968, the Evangelical United Brethren united with the United Church of Canada and so Trinity became Trinity United. With church union, Trinity and Kohler/ Zion joined with Dunn United to become the South Cayuga Pastoral Charge.

In 1977, the church was painted, the belfry covered, and the interior with new pews and a new red carpet. Services were held in the during August while the work was completed. A new Baldwin organ was installed and dedicated the following year. In October of 2007 there was a motion at the congregational meeting stating "we agree to join together with Dunn United and Zion Kohler to move ahead with plans to combine congregations anda new modern functioning building for the South Cayuga Pastoral Charge".

Kohler - Historical Memoire

In 1892 there were three prayer classes at the Rainham Evangelical Church. The "Hinter or Back Class" were from Kohler and because of the distance, Rev. J.P. Hauch consented to hold the service in Kohler at Lewis S. Lint's store. They also had the use of his organ. The first service was in October, some being in German. Mr. J.J. Lint was the first Sunday School Superintendent and kept this position for twenty-five years. In 1893 Jennire O. Lint and Kenneth B. Lint were baptized in the store.

In 1897 a church was deemed necessary and a dedication service was held in September of the same year. The following year Pearl M. Nablo, Willian O. Lint and Lena L. Lint were the first to be baptized in the church. In 1902 the alcove and lobby were added, also the Rose window. The first stained glass window was dedicated in memory of C. Otto and wife by Lewis Lint Jr. and family and was installed in the lobby. In 1913 a two manual pipe organ was installed from Christian Kohler's family in memory of Martin and Annie Kohler. In 1919 there were five churches on the Rainham Circuit; Stoney Creek, Rainham White, Kohler, South Cayuga and Selkirk. Kohler and South Cayuga became one circuit.

In 1920 an individual communion set was dedicated in memory of Christian and Mable Kohler by Mrs. Barbera Kohler, Mr & Mrs. Martin Kohler & Mr. & Mrs. Norman Kohler. A Pastor's visiting communion set was presented to the South Cayuga Circuit from Mr. & Mrs. Lewis Lint Jr. in 1926. In 1931 hydro was installed in memory of William Warner and also a blower installed on the organ. Between 1939 1nd 1954 several stained glass windows were installed in the south side of the alcove from the family of Mr. & Mrs. Jacob Nablo to commemorate their 50th Wedding anniversary. July 3, 1940 a memorial window for Christian & Barbera Kohler and Jacob J. & Caroline Lint was installed from Mr. & Mrs. Norman Kohler. In 1954 a window was installed in memory of Rev. & Mrs. Wm. Fiddes from their sons Gladstone and Victor.

To commemorate Aunt Jennie Lint's 75th birthday, a pair of Indian brass vases were presented to the church in 1962 from Lewis S. Lint and family. Between 1962 and 1963 thefloor was and the Sunday school classrooms were. An addition as built with washrooms and kitchen on the lower level. On the upper level there was a meeting room and a storage room. In 1968 the Evangelical united Brethren Church of Canada officially joined the United Church of Canada.

Between 1976 and 1983, several items were presented to the church. A Pulpit Bible in memory of Mrs. Ernest Smith and Brass Collection Plates in memory of Ernest & Elsis Smith were presented by their family. A large brass cross was presented in memory of Mr. Edgar Wardell from Regina Wardell and family. A hand worked mural of the Last Supper, made by Setma D. Kiline was donated in memory of her in April 1978 from the family. A new communion table was presented from the Winger family in honour of Mr. & Mrs. George Winger and a candle-stand was given to the church from Earl Link.

November 30, 1986, a stained glass window was dedicated to the church on the occasion of Lewis S. and Mary Lint's 60th Wedding Anniversary from their family. In 1992 communion cup holders were installed in all of the pews and on October 5, 1995 a new P.A. System was dedicated from the memorial gifts of the late Lewis S. Lint & Earl Link. March 1996 a stained-glass window was dedicated from Louisa Mae Porter in memory of her husband, Harold Porter and Martin & Pearl Kohler and their son Blake Christian Kohler. In 1999 there was the dedication of the Christmas Creche to the church by George and Donna Mulder. On October 16, 2004 a re- dedication of the refurbished Pipe Organ was held.