À propos

Seventh-day Adventists are the fastest growing Protestant denomination in North America, with over 9,466 members in Quebec June 30, 2023. Seventh-day Adventism began in this area in the 1850s with ministers coming from Vermont, therefore, the churches that were organized were predominately English with American-style services. Most of them were international churches as the congregations were about one-half Canadian and one-half USA members. There was a church organized June 10, 1862 as the Troy-Potton Church; the Richford-Sutton Church organized December 27, 1862 and was built in 1869 in East Richford, VT; the Sutton-Dunham Church was organized July 2, 1865, and 8-10 others formed in the Eastern Townships in the next 35 years with a church organized in Abercorn May 13, 1900. The church was located on Church Street West and was in use until around 1912. It was sold and moved to be the summer kitchen and woodshed for the Lahue family across the street from the present Abercorn Bakery until it burned in 1990. After the church closed in Abercorn, members met in the Sutton Mountain schoolhouse and it was called the Sutton Church. 

In 1929 meetings were held in Abercorn and Sutton by Elders Cyr and Passebois resulting in several new members joining the Sutton Church, but they were now meeting in homes in Abercorn. In the fall of 1930, about 1.5 kilometers north of the Canada/USA border in the town of Abercorn, land was donated by Brother Tom and Sister Jessie Biggs to build a church which at that time was on the road to the United States. In 1931, a 24×36 foot church with a dark brown shingle exterior and a metal roof was erected. Entry to the front was via two sets of cement stairs constructed parallel to the building until the late seventies when it was replaced by a single stairway perpendicular to the building. Parking was to the side and a hitching post was available for those traveling with a horse. 

Inside the church were slatted benches until pews were acquired to seat about 100 worshippers.  A pump organ provided the music and a piano was later added. In November 1931, the name was changed from Sutton Church to Abercorn Seventh-day Adventist church. 

Through the years many physical improvements to the building have been made. A noticeable change was made in 1949 when he exterior was painted white. One of the most extensive projects was in the later 1960s when a full basement was excavated by hand to make room for more Sabbath School classes. A bathroom was installed in the former woodshed and an oil furnace replaced the wood stove. In 1978, the exterior was covered with vinyl siding. About 1984 the house on the upper side of the church burned, and the following year the church purchased the land for additional parking. 

More recently, the building underwent further renovations with the installation of a full kitchen with hot/cold water, insulation throughout, new oil furnace and outer windows while carefully preserving the building’s original character. 

Over the years, the church has experienced an ebb and flow of its membership. Sadly, our last charter member, Brother Edward Gladden passed away on July 10, 2010, two months before his 99th birthday. 

In the past, the church engaged in various community service activities. The Dorcas Society sent children to summer camp, gave assistance to fire victims, provided food boxes to the needy, and Vacation Bible Schools were held. Recent community outreach programs include Christmas caroling to the town’s people, music programs to nursing homes, vegetarian cooking classes, regular donations to the food bank, and 75th anniversary celebration of the town of Abercorn as a hay-wagon stop for vegetarian food-tasting. In July 2010, about 100 participants experienced a successful Health Expo. Twenty-five health professionals were available to monitor and assess participant’s health conditions and lifestyles while providing simple, realistic measures for improvement. New initiatives include health seminars, weight loss classes and walking groups, stress management and spiritual coaching.