Lot 16 United Church Manse prior to 1952.

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Manse

Many of the early ministers who served the Richmond Bay Charge owned farms in order to support themselves and their families; thus, church-sponsored housing was not an issue. Early ministers, such as Rev. W R. Frame, who broached the subject of a manse were refused. However, the home of Hugh McIntosh, which was located close to the Lot 14 Presbyterian Church, was purchased by the Trustees of the Lot 14 Church in 1903. The house served as the manse

for the Richmond Bay Presbyterian Charge from 1903 to 1927. The ministers who occupied the manse were: Rev. WA. Mason (1903 to 1911), Rev. Joseph McKay (1911 to 1915), Rev. Roland Davidson (1915 to 1923), and Rev]. C. Martin (1923 to 1926).9 Then came church union and the Presbyterian manse was sold in 1928.10

Oral tradition relates that it was the young Rev. Aitken and his wife, who came to serve the Lot 14 and Lot 16 United Church Congregations in 1927, who successfully influenced the building of a manse in Lot 16. Rev. Aitken, upon his arrival, was required to rent a house in Central; he began to lobby for a manse. The annual meeting ofJanuary 20, 1929, saw the Lot 16 United Church Congregation make the decision to build a manse on the church property. A committee was appointed. A subscription list was circu- lated to the congregation and the sum of $2,766.90 was sub- scribed. The sum of $650 was received from other sources; a loan of $3000 was taken with the Bank of Nova Scotia.11

CHURCH PROPERTY: PAST AND PRESENT