Lundy's Lane United Church closing.

New beginnings for United Church

By Alison Langley, Niagara Falls Review

Friday, June 5, 2015 9:56:04 EDT AM

Lundy's Lane United Church Minister Douglas Mitchell and Bryce Anderson, a member of the congregation for 70 years, with the original announcement of the church opening in 1888. On Sunday, the church will hold it's final service.

It will likely be a bittersweet Sunday for Bryce Anderson.

Sunday will mark the final service he attends at Lundy's Lane United Church.

"I was baptized there," the 70-year-old recalled.

Due to a dwindling congregation as well as costs associated with maintaining the 24,000-square-foot facility, the Lundy's Lane church will officially close on Sunday.

"When I was a young lad, we had 600 families attend the church," Anderson said.

Today, there are less than 50 active members.

While he expects it will be a sad occasion, Anderson also sees it as a new beginning as the church is amalgamating with Stamford United Church.

On Sunday, the two congregations will officially become one with a joint service.

The first part of the service will be held at Lundy's Lane United, then members will travel to Stamford United for the remainder of the service.

Also on Sunday, the St. Peter Ave. church will officially be re-named Stamford Lane United Church.

"We're excited," said Rev. Harvey Tobey, who has ministered at Stamford United Church since 1996.

"Neither congregation is ending. They will continue on as Stamford Lane United."

Originally a Methodist Church, Lundy's Lane United Church can trace its roots back to 1794 when a growing home-based worship and fellowship found a new home in a building at the corner of Lundy's Lane and Montrose Rd.

From there, a church was built on Lundy's Lane near the apex of Drummond Hill.

A second building was constructed on the site in 1888.

In 1961, the current building was completed with the construction of a new sanctuary.

The church sits on a part of the battlefield that made up the British lines in the Battle of Lundy’s Lane. Several British casualties were buried here and were found during church construction in the late 1800s.

Stamford United Church, meanwhile, was built in 1927.

"It's wonderful to be able to welcome everybody in," Tobey added. "We have about 130 people here on a Sunday and to add 30 or 40 new member will rejuvenate a lot of our programs."

The Lundy's Lane property is now up for sale and Anderson hopes it will be sold to another church.

Proceeds from the sale will be used to support the mission and ministry of Stamford Lane United Church.

alison.langley@sunmedia.ca

Twitter @nfallslangley

STAMFORD LANE UNITED CHURCH

Stamford United Church and Lundy's Lane United Church will officially amalgamate June 7

Service schedule

Shuttle bus loading from Stamford United - 9:15 & 9:30 a.m.

Worship at Lundy’s Lane United, 5825 Lowell Ave. - 10 am

Shuttle bus back to St. Peter Ave. - 11 a.m.

Worship & Congregational Meeting at Stamford Lane United - 11:30 a.m.

Lunch reception - noon