HOWICK CHURCH

Maple Grove church, known as the Stone Church, was built in 1888. Before the church was built they had services in their homes. The first ministers were John Reichard, Nelson Kitely and John Wildfong. John Reichard was to preach German; Nelson Kitely in English and John Wildfong was Bishop or overseer. After his death John Reichard was chosen Bishop of the whole district, Waterloo and Howick. The first deacon was Edward Grabill. For some time there was a good sized congregation, until some of the older ones died and others moved away. Around 1890 they started their first Sunday School. The superintendent was Eri Srigley and next was John Reichard, who had it for a number of years. In 1906 his son, Jacob A. Reichard, was ordained to the ministry by Bishop Charles Baker of Nottawa. At the present time he is the oldest minister of the district. George Kitely was one of the first members. He later moved to Michigan and was there chosen as their minister. John Reichard married Mary Witmer from near the Rosebank church, Waterloo. They went to Nottawa for six years, then moved to Howick in 1875. He was Bishop for about twenty years. He stood four-square for the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the church believed and practiced and lived it, by precept and example, and he had a good influence in the community. J. W. Hoover held a successful revival in the Stone church in 1893 for four weeks, and also at the old Methodist church at Fordwich, with good results. At present they worship in a church which they bought from the United church people in 1947. At that time there were about twelve families moved to Howick from Markham district and some others from other districts, making the congregation too big for the old Stone church. The attraction was they could get farms with good buildings on them cheaper. The present ministers are Jacob A. Reichard, Cecil Cullen, Henry J. Heise and Sheldon Wilson. The deacons are John Reichard and Murray Sider. Bishop E. J. Swalm is overseer of Waterloo and Howick districts.