Bryants Corner Assembly, NB

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[edit] History

In 1914, Miss Margaret Betts from Kent County was nursing in Boston and was concerned that no Gospel preachers had come to the area of her home. She made her concern known to the Christians in Boston. They contacted W. N. Brennan and Robert Milnes, then working in Nova Scotia, and a short time later these preachers came to Main River. The preachers traveled the dusty country roads on their bicycles inquiring if any Christians lived nearby. They were told to go and see Mrs. Charity MacPherson in Smiths Corner, which they did and invited the family to Gospel meetings in the tent in Main River. During 1914 and 1915, several were saved, including four of the MacPherson family. At intervals from 1917 to 1921, Messrs. Brennan, Milnes, and Goodwin preached in the Main River area.

Early in the spring of 1921, Isaac McMullen arrived in Bryants Corner near Moncton and got permission to preach the Gospel in the schoolhouse even though there was some opposition. He labored alone for weeks with the schoolhouse filled to capacity each night, and still no one got saved. He wondered at times if God had really called him to this work as there seemed no strength to bring forth new birth. He went to the meeting on Easter Sunday, and had the thought in his mind that if no one got saved that night, he would go back to Toronto to the shoemaking business. But that night, a number were saved, and at the close of the series of meetings, 26 souls had been saved.

During the summer of 1921, others preached the Gospel in the area and more souls were saved. Through their preaching, the Bryants Corner Assembly, NB was planted that summer, with 22 being gathered to His name. The new Christians started a Sunday School and a prayer meeting. Later that year, Mr. McMullen and co-workers baptized twenty at one time in the river, with 500 people observing.

The Christians were exercised about buying land on which a building was to be erected for the preaching of the Gospel and for a burying ground. The land was purchased but a building was not erected. The Christians met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ward for their Rembrance Meetings. The deed for the land was registered in August 1921. The trustees were Joseph Ward, Sylvanus Chapman, Wilkinson Ward, and Robert Lynds.

Several of the younger Christians saved during the early years left the area around Bryants Corner to work in Moncton and joined the fellowship in the Moncton assembly. Mr. Fred Ward, Mrs. Angus MacPherson and Robert and Ella Lynds all moved to Moncton and were in the assembly there for many years.

In 1935, only seven persons were left. The assembly in Bryants Corner continued until shortly before Joseph Ward died in November 1937.