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Churches and Cemeteries

Chelsea United Church, Chelsea

Chelsea United Church

The first Protestant preacher in Chelsea was the famous Asa Meech, a Congregational Minister with many other accomplishments. A few years after his ministry, in 1846 Chelsea had an organized Methodist congregation. Twelve years later the Presbyterians had not only a congregation, but a small church to which the dwindling Methodists came: it was at the riverend of Mill Road. Then came a Methodist revival. Gardner Church gave land for a church which was first used in 1875. It survived until 1955 when it burned down.

Meanwhile the Presbyterians dwindled. In 1914 they joined the Methodists. Eleven years later, the new United Church brought together Presbyterians, Methodists and Congregationalists across Canada. The Presbyterian Church and Manse were demolished not long afterwards.

In 1938 the United Church was extensively altered to bring it to its present appearance. It was raised on cement blocks to permit construction of a basement hall, and was given a new kitchen and furnace. Pews from the closed Ironsides Church were installed. Those pews were replaced in 1962 by pews from Glebe United Church in Ottawa.

Chelsea United Church
Chelsea United Church

La Fab

In July 2021, the artist’s coop, La Fab Sur Mill (LFSM), established a permanent home for the performing and visual arts through their purchase of the 150-year-old United Church building on Mill Road. The coop embarked on an ambitious renovation project to upgrade the church sanctuary and stage to a professional performance and multi-purpose space, create a gallery space and construct an artists’ village space on the lower floor, with 7 studio spaces, a boutique, a workshop room, and a classroom.

Additional resources:

A Tale of Two Chelseas - part 3 by Patrick M.O. Evans
Touring the Two Chelseas by R.A.J. Phillips


List of Gatineau Valley Churches.