Armdale Bible Chapel, Halifax, NS

From BrethrenPedia

[edit] History

In 1955, seventeen people in fellowship at the Halifax Gospel Hall decided to form a new assembly in the capital city of Halifax. These were the Cleveland, Leadbeater, Havill, Miller, King, Thompson, Harvie, Lennox, and Laidlaw families. They met at first at the YMCA on South Park Street, but soon purchased the former Bethany United Church building near the Armdale Rotary and renamed it Armdale Bible Chapel. Svend Christensen was the first full-time resident worker at the new assembly.

The work grew, and in 1959 these Christians purchased a lot at the corner of Frederick and Willett Streets in Halifax for the erection of a new chapel. Fairview Bible Chapel was opened in 1960, having a seating capacity of 150. In 1975, the assembly first recognized elders; these were Ron Harris, Harry Thompson, and Allan Adamson. Fairview called Hal Threadcraft in 1985 to be a full-time pastor, and Bruce Boyce in 1986 to be the youth pastor.

Fairview Bible Chapel continued to grow, and in the early 1980s, two ‘sister’ assemblies were begun in the adjacent city of Dartmouth and in Fall River, a town a little further north. With the blessings of Fairview, 40 adults with their 33 children left to form Colby Drive Bible Chapel in Dartmouth. When Fairview filled up once more, believers living in Fall River area decided to form the Fall River Assembly; 22 adults and 20 children left to form the new church.

The Fairview assembly continued to grow, and two acres were purchased at Rockingham Ridge. Grace Chapel was erected and opened in 1986. John Munro became the full-time pastor in 1992.

Grace Chapel and its predecessors have commended numerous people to the Lord’s work. Attendance grew to 400 adults and children at one time.