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Trinity United ChurchIn the early years in this area, services were held at various locations. There was a Presbyterian Church at Old Taylorton, a small coal mining community, in 1902. That building was sold in the 1940’s. A cemetery had been established at Old Taylorton during this time. In 1911, a Board of Management was established at Bienfait, trustees were elected, and by 1923 a minister was ordained there. There was no formal building at this time and the church was known as the Union Church. In 1923 a building was begun, and dedicated in 1924 as Trinity Presbyterian Church. In 1925, with the formation of the United Church of Canada, this church became Trinity United Church.
This charge amalgamated with North Portal, SK in 1935. Indeed, the Bienfait Church has a rich history of welcoming into its congregation members from outlying congregations whose numbers had diminished over the years. Kingsford, Black Diamond, Roche Percee were numbered among these. In 1965, the charge was again altered and strengthened when the International Pastoral Charge was formed with the addition of the Portal and Flaxton, North Dakota, congregations. Since that time, the Flaxton congregation has closed. |
Trinity continued to use the church building that had been built in 1923. Improvements were constantly made and upkeep was maintained consistently. Attendance gradually dropped, but services continued to be held every Sunday throughout the year with the exception of a month in the summerThere was a dedicated choir, an active UCW. An atmosphere of warmth and fellowship prevailed within the church congregation and a good relationship existed between the church and other churches in the town. Times of worship changed twice a year to accommodate the time change on the American side (Portal, ND being affected).. Additional services have included Maundy Thursday (which has alternated within the International Pastoral Charge), Good Friday (yearly alternation with Bienfait Anglican Church), Christmas Eve service, and World Day of Prayer, which was celebrated alternately each year in the United, Anglican, and Roman Catholic churches in Bienfait, as is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Celebration of Holy Communion was offered at an open table and served approximately eight times a year.
The UCW continued to meet monthly , but were losing members gradually. Some moved to other communities, and some were forced to take a less active part because of age or health. It played an integral part in assisting the church financially, in its diligent work for Mission and Service , and outreach here and far afield. It was a visible and respected factor within the local and neighbouring communities. In 2006, Trinity United Church closed its doors, marking the end of an eighty-year presence in the community. |