Kingsview Free Methodist Church - A Brief History

The 1960’s saw considerable change in the Free Methodist Churches of the Toronto area. The 1961 Year Book lists the churches as follows:

  • Toronto, Broadview pastored by Rev. L. C. Ball
  • Toronto, Warden Avenue pastored by Rev. Lorne Casement
  • West Toronto and Lorne Park College pastored by Rev. R. E. Dargan

    • By 1970, the West Toronto and Broadview churches had been sold, Lorne Park College was closed, and Warden Avenue had been re-located. Several Free Methodist families residing in the western suburbs were traveling a considerable distance to attend the churches listed above. This gave birth in 1962 to the idea of establishing a church somewhere in the general area of Etobicoke. Over a period of several months, the concept was discussed informally by those who were interested.

    The West Toronto Society decided to sell their properties and join the project. This was important because the $33,000 thus realized provided the initial financial base to get started. Also in this connection the name of Miss Olive Hicks deserves mention. Years earlier she had personally purchased and donated the West Toronto parsonage, which was located a few doors from the church on Brad Street. The Broadview Society was still in existence until 1969 but their west end families also decided to participate. In consultation with Superintendent Stonehouse and the Canada East Conference a society was organized in January 1963, with Rev. Robert Dargan as the pastor. The founding families, with a total of 18 members, of Kingsview Free Methodist Church were: Ken and Marion Beckett from West Toronto; Sel and Evelyn Belsher from Warden Avenue; Dave and Gertrude Campbell from Broadview; Francis and Grace DeMille from Broadview; Alex and Margaret Hachey from West Toronto; Eldon and Mildred Kay from Lorne Park College; Ellis and Olive Snider from West Toronto; Clarence and Ruth Spence from West Toronto; George and Reta Stephenson from West Toronto; Roy and Ruth Taylor from Broadview.

    During construction of the church, Sunday morning services were held in the Kingsview Village Public School. Ken and Marion Beckett volunteered their home for Sunday evening services. Committee meetings, social events etc. were held in homes as well.

    As to suitable property, which was becoming expensive and scarce in the area, we were fortunate to get the help of Frank Barkey. Frank was a Toronto businessman and a member of the Broadview church. He succeeded in finding a parcel of land at 11-15 Kingsview Boulevard owned by Mrs. Evelyn Byworth. The lots were deep enough to provide room for the church and parsonage plus considerable parking space. The purchase price was $25,000. Through the years Mrs. Byworth was a generous supporter of Kingsview.

    Frank Barkey and Selwyn Belsher, who chaired the building committee, secured the services of a building contractor in the person of Mr. Gordon Hurlburt. Construction began on June 3, 1963. Ken Bray and David Campbell supervised construction which was completed by December. The official opening and dedication by Bishop E. C. John took place on December 8, 1963. The total cost of the church and parsonage was $128,000.

    Other Free Methodist churches, including Warden Avenue and Fifth Avenue, Ottawa, gave nominal financial assistance. However, a more comprehensive plan had to be devised to finance the project. This was achieved by the sale of Gold Seal Bonds, which were advertised in the Light and Life Magazine. Within a relatively short time we were able to borrow enough money to cover the needed total. For instance, one Free Methodist family bought $20,000 in bonds.

    In 1969 when the Broadview Church property was sold, some of the money, about $44,000, came to Kingsview Church and was used to build the Broadview Education Centre. This provided space for a nursery and youth room in the basement as well as a library, secretary’s office and a spacious lounge on the main floor. In return for the Broadview money we were asked to pay Richmond Hill a total of about $16,000 over a period of five years to help build their new church. Mrs. Byworth gave a generous donation used towards the lounge furnishings, carpet, piano and two oil paintings.

    In 1982 the small house immediately to the west of the church was up for sale at a price of $121,000. The Board decided to purchase it for future additional parking and possible building expansion.

    Rev. Robert Dargan and his wife, Edna, enthusiastically faced the problems of a church planting through our first four years, 1963-1967. The church was constructed. The Society consisting of 18 members was formed. Mrs. Dargan worked in order to supplement the small income that the fledgling church was able to provide. The community was canvassed. Several local families responded and began attending. A Sunday School was organized and soon numbered well over a hundred in attendance. In 1967 the Dargans were appointed to the Arlington Woods church in Ottawa.

    In the same year Lorne Park College closed. Rev. Claude Horton, president of the college responded to the invitation to become our second pastor. During his tenure, which lasted until 1971, significant growth took place. It was an exciting time. We sponsored the construction of a church in Dessalines, Haiti, a project that really caught the imagination of the Kingsview congregation. Our Sunday School bus ministry brought in more children than we could adequately care for. One Rally Day Sunday saw an attendance of over 300. The C.Y.C. (Christian Youth Crusaders), led by Mrs. Eva Horton also saw phenomenal growth. In 1971 Rev. Horton became Secretary of World Missions and Communications at the Free Methodist Church Headquarters in Winona Lake Indiana.

    Rev. David Gyertson, Dean of Students at Spring Arbor College came then as our third pastor. He and his wife, Nancy, were with us until 1973. David hired Mrs. Mary Clarke, our church secretary for many years. During this time, Grant Walsh came to serve as the church’s first youth pastor. The Sunday School bus ministry led by Dr. Mead Killion and his wife, Marion, and Ivan and Marguerite Simmonds was continued successfully. The tenure of David and Nancy Gyertson ended when they returned to Spring Arbor College in 1973.

    The next pastor Rev. Robert Buchanan and his wife, Elaine came to us from pastoring the Smith’s Falls Church. Pastor Buchanan’s pulpit ministry could be characterized as a teaching ministry – solidly Methodist. There was steady growth, the Sunday morning congregation averaging almost 150 by 1975. In 1980 Rev. Buchanan was elected superintendent of the Canada East Conference.

    From 1972 to 1974 Rev. Chris Walker and his wife, Marie, assisted in the areas of youth and music. Also Victor and Carol Parachin gave capable assistance in many areas of ministry during the mid 1970’s.

    In 1980 Rev. Donald Hodgins and his wife, Diana, came to Kingsview. They faced the challenge of urban ministry with enthusiasm and optimism and perhaps more of an emphasis on evangelism and outreach. In 1985 Rev. Hodgins was appointed Director of Conference Ministries for the Canada East Conference.

    Rev. Gordon Hammond and his wife, Morna, came to Kingsview after a period of ministry at the Kingston, Polson Park Church. They continued until retirement in 1991. Pastor Hammond was a quiet, godly man with a sure Wesleyan emphasis in his preaching. David McMaster came in 1985 and served for two years as assistant in youth ministry. Also serving as assistant pastors during the Hammond tenure were Joseph Schaefer and Terry Gibson in that order.

    The ministry of Miss Ethel Clark at Kingsview Church deserves special mention. Her work as minister of visitation was appreciated by Sunday School families and especially the shut-ins.

    She held a weekly service at Highbourne Lodge for many years. She has been greatly missed since her passing in May 1999.

    Rev. John Vlainic with his wife, Ruth, served Kingsview as pastor from 1991 to 1999. He came with a vision to provide a ministry to the several different nationalities worshipping in our congregation. Stimulating an interest in and responsive approach to worship became a major aim. A second contemporary style morning worship service was attempted as an alternative to the more traditional service. After a year, one service with a blended worship style seemed more suitable to the people. More ethnic groups were being involved and assuming responsible positions in the Church. Rev. Bill Lippman served as assistant pastor for one year during this time, greatly assisting in the pastoral duties.

    During the period of the year 1999 – 2000, Rev. Ron Ashton ably served on an interim basis. He and his wife, Ruth, had a productive ministry and were well accepted by the worshipping congregation.

    Our present pastor, Dr. Howard Olver and his wife, Linda, came to Kingsview in 2000. Because of his experience serving in urban and inner city churches, he was definitely qualified to minister to the many nationalities making up the Kingsview congregation. His sermons, biblically based, are making good use of technology with visual images on screen. We anticipate many years of Pastor Olver’s ministry.

    Working with him as Associate is Pastor Walter McIntyre whose special interest is ministering to the local community, including the Somali families in the local school and in their homes. Much is also being done through visitation and caring that continues to be characteristic of Kingsview.

    During the forty years of our history Kingsview has been served not only by our senior pastors and their assistants but also by a capable group of young pastoral interns. These include: Victor Stonehouse, Lloyd Eyre, David McMaster, Michael Hogeboom, Andre Korstanje, Jay Mowchenko, Sabrina D’Rosario, Grant Wolfe and Peter Isaac. Many of the assistants and interns have gone on to become effective pastors.

    As we look to the future and its challenges, we trust in God’s wisdom and vision, praying that we may face the opportunities in a fully devoted way. Thank God for leaders, pastoral and lay, who are intent on carrying out our mission, “to make more and better disciples of Jesus Christ.”