Maple Glen United Church

Maple Glen United Church

For service times and bulletins, visit the Services page.

Church History

On August 18, 1901, the construction of a new church was completed in Maple Glen, then known as Protectionville, about 15 miles north of Newcastle. Farming and lumbering opportunities had drawn families to the area to settle, as is evident from another name by which the community was known in the early 20th century: Sugary, from the fruit of the sugar bush maples growing in the area.

The land for the church was donated by Phineas Gunn, and community leaders such as Joe and Manford Sobey, William Campbell, and David Petrie directed the men and women who volunteered their efforts to the construction of the church.

In 1980, a steeple and bell were added to the church and major renovations were made to the sanctuary and basement.

The community cemetery is across the street from the church, on land donated by W. E. Baker. For years the cemetery rested under the shade of a towering pine tree growing near the entrance gate, until the tree was destroyed by lightning in 1990.

The sanctuary

The church was initially shared by all denominations in the community but later joined the Methodist Conference. With the Union of 1925, the church became part of the United Church of Canada. In the years that followed, Maple Glen United Church joined the Newcastle Pastoral Charge, sharing weekly worship services and functions of ministry with St. James and St. John United Church.

Jubilant centenary celebrations were held in 2001. Those attending the celebrations gave thanks for first hundred years of their church, and expressed a continued dedication to the future of "the little white church in the Glen," a reminder of "our help in ages past, our hope for years to come."