I do not know when the gospel first came to Parry Sound, or whom the Lord used to bring it, but by 1893 there was a small assembly meeting in Gluckstein’s store, which was located on James Street. The assembly met here until 1901.
In the summer of 1901, Fred G. Watson, Dave Miller, James McMullen, and Mr. Leonard Sheldrake came to preach the gospel. I understand that at that time they had tent meetings.
The tent meetings must have fruitful because from 1901 to 1913, the assembly, which consisted of 32 believers, met in Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester’s home until it moved to Orillia, Ontario, in 1913. From 1913 to 1918 the assembly met in Miss Kingston’s home on Church Street. From 1918 to 1920 they met in Mrs. William Draper’s home on McDougall Road. By this time, the assembly was down to about 10 souls in fellowship. Mrs. Draper went to be with the Lord in 1920, so the assembly moved for a short time to the Groves home on William Street, then to Robert Bruce’s home on Gibson Street. By this time there were about 18 Christians in fellowship. They met here until 1932.
In 1932, the assembly rented an empty store on Miller Street for $5.00 a month. The believers there until September 1960. During this time, the number in fellowship was around 15 to 20 believers.
The building fund for the hall was started August 21, 1952. The first donation was $30.00. By the spring of 1960, in the goodness of God, the believers had acquired sufficient funds to build a hall on a lot on River Street. This property had been given to the assembly by Mr. Bruce. The contract to build the hall was given to Ryder Construction Company of Parry Sound. The hall was completed by September, and the small company of saints had their first meeting in September 1960. The hall has been updated within the past 10 years with a new heating system and a new kitchen.
Although the assembly has never been large, as of October 2001, there are 29 believers in fellowship, and we still meet in the hall at 13 River Street.
The Draper family has been connected with the assembly since before 1918, and we still have Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Draper in fellowship. They have been a great encouragement to the assembly over the years. The Lord has preserved His assembly in Parry Sound for at least 108 years. Blessed be His name.