Bethel United Church

1500 Rideau Ferry Road
Updated:  March 1, 2004








The origin of Bethel United Church dates back to the Confederation of Canada in 1867 when the Presbytery of Perth of the Church of Scotland organized the congregations of Lombardy and Oliver's Ferry (now called Rideau Ferry).  In 1868, it was decided to build a church at Oliver's Ferry.  The congregation had been meeting in the schoolhouse and for special services in the Methodist Church.  A plot of land was donated and St. Mary's Presbyterian Church was built.

In 1866 a call was extended to The Reverend Neil Campbell to be the first full time resident minister.  At that time, seventy five members were recorded on the roll of St. Mary's.  A church manse was built on the adjoining lot, which was purchased from William McCue for the sum of $30.00.  In 1894 additional land was secured from William McLean and the present church was built.  The new church was re-named Bethel Presbyterian Church and was opened on July 21 1895.  In 1927, after the formation of the United Church of Canada, the congregations of Bethel Presbyterian and Elm Grove Methodist were amalgamated with Lombardy Methodist and St. Andrew's Presbyterian at Port Elmsley to form the Elmsley Lombardy Pastoral Charge of the United Church of Canada.

Today, Bethel has a family of over 100 members and active adherents from a wide spectrum of backgrounds.  Sunday School classes and a nursery are available for families with children.  The church is proud of its small but effective choir under the shared leadership of music directors Carol Husband and Ruth Anne Johnson.  The United Church Women (UCW) raise funds for many local, national and international organizations, support church projects, provide meals such as a pancake breakfast annually, Christmas dinner for seniors, and once each month during the winter have soup and sandwiches after the Sunday service.

The minister's office is located in the manse next to Bethel United Church..