The Christian Fellowship Chapel in Orillia, Ontario has it roots in a group that left the local United Church to fellowship together in 1944. They were dissatisfied with denomination's lack of emphasis on individual spiritual redemption. The group was known as the Evangelical Fellowship until 1951, and met in rented facilities and homes in the Hampshire Mills area. In 1948 John Gowanlock donated the corner of a farm property, with the farmhouse, to the group. The house was converted into a meetinghouse. When the Mennonite Brethren began work in the area, the fellowship invited a call to Henry Dick, thus linking the congregation to the Mennonite Brethren Home Missions Board.

In 1951 the group became known as the Christian Fellowship Chapel. They were from United Church, Anglican, Alliance, Baptist, Brethren, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, and other church backgrounds and all of British heritage. The Home Missions Board encouraged young teachers of Mennonite Brethren background to begin their careers in the area. These people helped in church programs and became the nucleus of a radio ministry that continued into the 1960s. In 1961 the congregation officially was organized as an Mennonite Brethren congregation with 20 charter members. In 1963 a parsonage was built nearby the meeting house. There were 26 members in 1967. In 1972 a larger meeting house was completed and the original meeting house became an education wing and was only torn down in 1993. In 1980 the membership stood at 62 and 68 in 1990. In 1994 they celebrated their 50th anniversary with many former leaders of the congregation present.

Bibliography

Additional Information

Address: 1296 Cambrian Rd., R.R. 4, Orillia, Ontario

Phone: 705-326-8030

Website: Christian Fellowship Chapel

Denominational Affiliations:

Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches

Ontario Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches 

Christian Fellowship Chapel Membership

Canadian Fellowship Chapel Pastors

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