Hillcrest Apostolic Church is turning 100, and to celebrate, it is holding a three-day birthday bash that includes a trolley tour focusing on its history throughout Moose Jaw.
The 100th anniversary weekend celebration occurs from Friday, Oct. 6 to Sunday, Oct. 8, at the church at 1550 Main Street North.
Friday night features time for socializing, a Thanksgiving service with guest speaker Gary Langerud and an ice cream bar.
Saturday includes a pancake breakfast, trolley tours, family activities, a food truck from Déjà Vu, pre-service fellowship, an evening service with guest speaker and former pastor Rob Chartrand, and another socializer.
Sunday features pre-service fellowship time, a celebration service with guest speaker Rod Barks, and a birthday cake.
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Event organizers Karen MacNaughton, Daycee Richardson and Pastor Steve Atkins spoke with the Moose Jaw Express about the upcoming party and the church’s history.
A century to remember
“We’re thrilled to celebrate 100 years,” Atkins said.
“It’s pretty amazing,” agreed MacNaughton. “Looking back through old pictures and you see all the different people who contributed to a 100-year history here (and sacrificed their time, talent and money to keep the church going) … it’s pretty humbling to be a part of something like that.”
Putting together this event was challenging since they had more ideas than they could pursue, she continued. However, they focused on the important parts, such as hosting former pastors and having a pancake breakfast and trolley tour.
The tour will highlight how the church has met at seven locations since its founding in 1923.
Those locations included the Sherman Theatre at 11 Main Street North, My Addictions (Heaman’s Ladies Wear) at 304 Main Street North, the Savoy Theatre (later the Mini) at 24 High Street East, 29 High Street West (Westland Insurance), 23 High Street East (Déjà Vu Café), 50 Hochelaga Street East (Church of God) and 1550 Main Street North (current location).
Hillcrest constructed its first building in 1957, where Church of God now stands, while it constructed its current building in 1984.
“(We were) in the heart of downtown for 60 years and then they moved up here in 1984,” said Richardson. “In that era, they called it ‘The church in the heart of Moose Jaw with a heart for Moose Jaw.’”
Hillcrest had a weekly radio program on CHAB 800 from the early 1920s to 1970s that was broadcast throughout Saskatchewan.
Meanwhile, it has had 14 total pastors; the first was Rev. Robert Dawson, who served from 1924 to 1948.
Hillcrest moved to its current location 39 years ago because it was “bursting at the seams” at the Hochelaga location, said Atkins, who has been pastor for eight years and on staff for 21 years.
For example, it had three to four buses pick up children for Sunday school and used every room in the building for that purpose. Furthermore, nearly 500 children attended other events that the organization held throughout the year.
All those children meant the church could not legally — or safely — hold any more people.
Said MacNaughton, “When they built this building (on 1550 Main Street North), they imagined people coming. And now that’s us. We’re the fulfillment of their dream and that’s humbling.”
Hillcrest has gone by three names, including the Apostolic Temple, the Apostolic Gospel Temple and then Hillcrest Apostolic Church.
What most people don’t know is Temple Towers at 750 First Avenue Northeast is named after the church — and not the spa — because that was a housing initiative the church undertook, said Atkins. Hillcrest then entered a partnership with Moose Jaw Housing Authority, with the latter eventually taking over permanently.
Besides its history, Hillcrest is also celebrating its community partnerships. Those include the Better Together Food Drive for 18 years, Joe’s Place Youth Centre’s New Year’s Eve Voltage party for more than 19 years and helping re-settle refugees with the Multicultural Council for over 10 years.
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