Methodist Church (Canada) Arcola District
- SCAA-UCCS-0041
- Corporate body
- ca.1904–1925
Methodist Church (Canada) Arcola District
Melville Pastoral Charge was formed as a new United Church charge in 1925, containing First United Church, in Melville. This congregation is generally considered the first Local Union formed in Canada, dating back to 1908 and coinciding with the Basis of Union, which eventually lead to the creation of the United Church of Canada. Original members included Methodists, Baptists, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians.
Melfort Pastoral Charge was formed as a new United Church charge in 1925, containing the preaching points at Melfort and Beatty. On July 1, 1995, the charge became part of a new Melfort-Ethelton Pastoral Charge, after the division of the former Kinistino-Ethelton Pastoral Charge (other points became part of Birch Hills - Kinistino Pastoral Charge). Ethelton United Church closed November 15, 2011.
Meadow Lake Pastoral Charge was formed as a new United Church charge in 1925, containing preaching points at Meadow Lake (Grace United Church), Pegasus and Bridge Creek. Dorintosh was later added and it eventually amalgamated with Grace United Church.
Hugh Alexander McLeod (1894-1992) was a Presbyterian/United Church minister and Moderator of the United Church. He was born in Owen Sound, Ontario. Originally planning to pursue a career in law, he worked his way through university as a helmsman on the Great Lakes' steamboats. He served as a quartermaster aboard barges crossing the English Channel with ammunition during World War I. In 1921, he married Doreen Taggart. He was ordained a Presbyterian minister in Luseland, Saskatchewan, in 1920 and served various charges in Western Canada. In 1960, he was elected Moderator of the United Church.
McLean Bethel Pastoral Charge was initially created as a United Church mission field in 1925, part of Regina Presbytery. By 1926, it was listed as an aid-receiving pastoral charge, with additional points at Bethel and Davin. As of 1940, the charge only consisted of McLean, Bethel and Fairview, with Avonhurst added in 1951 or earlier. By 1962, McLean and Avonhurst were listed alongside Qu'Appelle and Edgeley, as part of Qu'Appelle Pastoral Charge.
On April 1, 1989, Edgeley and McLean formed separate pastoral charges (again). On June 30, 2000, McLean Bethel amalgamated with Balgonie Pastoral Charge to form Balgonie-McLean Pastoral Charge.
John McLachlan was a Methodist and later United Church minister in Saskatchewan and Ontario. He was born and raised in the fishing village of Tarbet, Scotland. He immigrated to Canada, and was a probationer in Adanac, Saskatchewan, in 1909, before being ordained, in 1910. He studied at Wesley College, Winnipeg, 1911-1915, and served charges in Saskatchewan and Ontario until he retired in 1953.