90th Anniversary of the Bridge
1922-2012

Memories:

The first time we attended the Church of the Nazarene we had 3 dinner invitations.  Wow!

            Shane and Tami Woods

Meeting Aldean and sharing time together with her.

            John Aleksiewicz

We remember:  Boyd Low painting his cowboy boots a different color for the pancake breakfast every year; Mom’s Day Out with Lillian Deasely; singing with Dorothy Low, and accompanied by Maxine Cross, the best cook in Lethbridge and a beautiful pianist; pitching a grapefruit to Boyd Low at our church picnic base ball game; dedicating our two oldest children – Jared in 1983 and Melissa in 1986. 

            Greg and Melody DeGroot

We were the first couple married in the church in 1951.  It is rather sad to see it go, as it was with the old church on 3^rd Avenue North.  We have many happy memories especially of all the pastors and their families and others that always spread the joy of the Lord.

                Dwaine and Hazel Harvie
(circa 2006)

We moved to Lethbridge from Winnipeg in 1980 and didn’t know a soul.  Our first Sunday at Lethbridge Nazarene Church we found our good friends Boyd and Dorothy Low, who had led our youth group years before in Winnipeg and had just moved here too.  God is so good!

                Greg and Melody DeGroot
(circa 2006)

The Lethbridge Church has played a critical wonderful part of my life.  I grew up in the Church and attended with my family.  What great memories of the strong prayer warriors who taught me Sunday School when I was young.  Mrs. (Grandma) Warnock and Mrs. Fry, the tremendous youth leaders – Mrs. Harvie and the Mitchell’s, and the faithful pastors, Reverend Derksen and Reverend Boyce and others.  The great youth retreats, camps and inter church youth nights that kept us active and in the faith during those difficult years. Really trying to cram as many youth in a Volkswagen to go to A&W, honey on the toilet seats at camp and sing songs from the back of a station wagon do keep youth strong.

                Eunice Lynn Prichard (about 2006)

I have fond memories of attending your services and meeting all you friendly people.  I just pray that the future will hold great promise for your congregation.
With best wishes Marjory Russell (Malcolm)
 
We arrived in the middle of the building program for the present sanctuary in the fall of 1966.  Here was a very active church with a congregation that was “gung-ho.’
There was a wonderful gang of youth in the church and a joy to be with.
I remember when the Peter’s family arrived in the church on a Sunday morning.  What an addition to the church.  Most of the family played instruments and provided an orchestra for Sunday evenings.
So many good times with all the families of the church.  We can’t begin to tell it all.  Our sincere best wishes for the future.
                Glenn and Ieleen Boyce

I remember when Brett would go up and down the aisles when the church would sing and dance to the music.  I was so scared that I would get into trouble but the seniors, especially Spencer, said they enjoyed him and they found him entertaining.
                Nina Devine
 
I owe the church a great deal.  It provided Sunday school classes for me as a child… there was a great youth program as a teenager… and a chance to learn and serve as a young adult.  But the most important and memorable event was meeting the woman who was to become my wife.  It was a Sunday night.  I was late and sat at the back and saw her lovely long auburn hair… She was working for Canadian Sunday School ministries and needed to visit different churches.  I invited her out for coffee and the rest is history.
                Larry Dahl
 

A total of 29 pastors and associates have served God through this church.  Some you may recall by reputation and some you may recall by friendship.  E.S. Matthews, A.H. Eggleston , Percy Bartram , W.A. Peterson , H.H. Tromburg , Wilbert Cross , Walter W. Tink, Clyde Rather, B.H. Bailey, Solomon Kaechele , C. G. Hansford , W. R. Robinson , Harry Stetson , David Blum , Warren Boyd , Verbal Williams, Tom Gillespie, Dan Derksen , Glen Boyce , Robert   Deasley , Larry Spicer, John Davidson , Frank Priddy , Warren Boyd , David Murray , Jeff  Baker(Asst) , Bob Tattrie , Glenn /Shirley Hobden, Mark Noonan

The Church building on 9^th Avenue South was renovated in 1966.  It was dedicated on December 18, 1966 with Reverend Dan Derksen and Reverend Glenn Boyce officiating.

In approximately 1950, the second building for the church of the Nazarene was erected on the corner of 16^th Street and 9^th Avenue South.  A feature of this Church was the vacant lot, adjacent to the building.  It was used as a volley ball court and most Wednesday prayer meetings and Friday youth groups began with a game of volley ball

The first building where the First Church of the Nazarene made its home can still be found.  It is a now a house on 3rd Avenue North, east of 13th Street, next to the Old York Hotel.  Pictured below is the original building with several founding  members (circa 1924)