The "Then" photo was taken circa 1950s.
The church's name,
Gordon Memorial, came about as the result of the murder of its Reverend, George N. Gordon, and his wife and his brother Reverend James D. Gordon in the New Hebrides Islands in the South Pacific while doing missionary work. George and his wife were murdered by the natives in 1861, while James was murdered later, in 1872.
This church was built to replace the earlier Presbyterian Church, which burned. In 1927, two years after it became a United Church with Church Union in Canada, the church was moved 150 metres west while, at the same time, the Methodist church was moved 150 metres to the east, with, as I understand it, the two churches trading places. Though no longer a church, the Methodist church, now the Alberton Arts & Cultural Centre, still stands on this church's original location.
This church is one of six churches in the Alberton-Elmsdale Pastoral Charge of the Prince Edward Island Presbytery.
History of Gordon Memorial Church
In 1925, the Alberton Presbyterian Pastoral Charge became part of The United Church of Canada. The Methodist church was moved to another lot and became the church home of the Presbyterians who did not enter union. The Old Dock Church was moved to the former site of the Methodist Church and became Alberton United Church.
In 1970, the congregations at Alberton, Montrose, and Cascumpec united to become Gordon Memorial. The Alberton Church is designated "Gordon Memorial" in honour of missionaries to New Hebrides (Erromanga) -- the Reverends George N., and wife Ellen, and James D. Gordon who were martyred.
From United Church Archives
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