“The Evangelicals in the Dashwood area were also first served by Rev. Bastian. They first worshipped in Jacob Weber’s carpenter shop and home, located on the Goshen Line. That original church, survives on the V.L. Becker property.”
extracted from “The History of Stephen Township”, by Susan Muriel Mack, 1992; pg. 257
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Calvary United Church Dashwood
“The early history of this former Evangelical Church is similar to that of Emmanuel United Church in Zurich. In 1855, the Huron Mission was changed into a circuit and became self sustaining. In 1857, the name was changed to Lake Circuit. In 1868, Crediton and McGillivray appointments were removed from the Lake Circuit. In 1890, McGillivray was removed from the Crediton Circuit and added to Dashwood. Before the division in 1868, the Lake Circuit embraced the following appointments: Goshen Line, Bronson Line, 14th Concession, Sauble Line [Highway 21], Lake School House, Blackbush, Crediton, Links and McGillivray, Colborne and Hullet Townships.
To acquire members, these congregations held camp meetings, in area woodlots, which sometimes lasted for a week. Revival meetings would also be held in various places of worship over the winter months. The Salem church, predecessor to this Dashwood church, was located on Lot 5, Con. 10 [southeast corner of MacDonald Road and Goshen Line]. It was built of brick in 1862, on one-fifth of an acre, purchased from John Krien by trustees Adam Gascho and Louis Gottschalk. before then, services were held in Jacob Weber’s carpenter shop on Lot 6 Con. 10 [northeast corner of MacDonald Road and Goshen Line], which was later moved to V.L. Becker’s property in Dashwood. After the closure of Salem Church in the 1870’s, the local Evangelical [Association] congregation worshipped in the former Methodist (Bible Christian) church, moved into Dashwood from the Town Line (Dashwood Road east of Sarepta] in 1883.
In 1891, the congregation decided to build a parsonage and a shed behind the church. In 1895, a decision was made to build a new brick church, with a basement for Sunday School classes. Benches from the Salem church were transferred to the new Sunday School room. The cornerstone was laid in May 1895 by Bishop Esher of Cleveland, Ohio, assisted by the local minister, Rev. Elias Eby. The official opening took place in late December. In 1896, the trustees decided to sell Dashwood’s first Evangelical church by public auction. It was purchased by Henry Guenther and converted to an implement shed.
The first musical instrument in the church was a tuning fork, used by Reinhart Cook and Carl Miller. The first organ, a gift of Dr. and Mrs. Clarence Yager of Bright’s Grove, was installed by John Hall. It was used until replaced by an electric organ in 1962. In 1934, Rev. W.S. Henrick organized a mixed band of men and women, later named the Henrick Memorial Band. This band, with about 40 members, was later re-organized under the leadership of Harry Hoffman. The Sunday School, the Young People’s groups and the women’s organizations have all played an important role in the church and in its mission programs. A large Vacation Bible School was held here every summer.
After union with the United Brethren in 1946, the church was renamed Calvary Evangelical United Brethren Church, Dashwood. The name changed again in 1968, when these churches joined the United Church of Canada. Now the church is called Calvary United Church. Zurich Emmanuel United Church became part of the Dashwood charge, with the ministry of Rev. Barbara Laing in 1979. Calvary United celebrated its 75th anniversary in October 1970, taking into account only the years since the present church building was erected.”
extracted from “Hay Township Highlights: 150 years of Diversified Progress, 1846 – 1996”, published by the Hay Township Book Committee under the auspices of Hay Township Council, Alice Gibb ed.; pgs. 166-167 ISBN : 0-919939-43-0
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Dashwood-Calvary United Church Cemetery
“This cemetery opened in connection with the Salem Evangelical Church, built in 1862 on Lot 5, Con. 10, on land purchased from John Krein. From stone inscriptions, the earliest burials in this cemetery are Frederick Haist, 24, in 1864 and Mary Haist, aged 23, in 1865. A large red stone marks the loss of five members of the Winkenweder family (including the father) from typhoid fever. Many of the older stones, inscribed in German, rest on a cement base at the back of this cemetery, which is still in use. The longtime secretary-treasurer and cemetery caretaker is Harry Hoffman and family of Dashwood, who have served since 1940.”
extracted from “Hay Township Highlights: 150 years of Diversified Progress, 1846 – 1996”, published by the Hay Township Book Committee under the auspices of Hay Township Council, Alice Gibb ed.; pg. 167 ISBN : 0-919939-43-0