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Historical Back To The Bible Hour Radio Documents
in PDF format.
(Large files necessary to preserve the original clarity of the documents. Be patient for the download to take place.)

Download Prophesy Chart in
11 x 17 inch format for Printing - pdf
( Includes Legend Notes from William Aberhart )

Aberhart's Pioneer Use Of Radio
Effective in Power and Hours - pdf.
In 1937 - Aberhart Programs on CFCN totaled
four hours each Sunday!

Samples Of Aberhart's Handwritten Radio
Programs from 1933. -pdf
(Given to Ian F. Smith
in 1982 by Mrs. Muriel Manning.)

Our Glory Train Song
was Often the Closing Theme of the Broadcast
- pdf

Back to the Bible Club Souvenir Treasure Chest
pdf.

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The Ernest Manning led
Years of the Broadcast
June 1943 - 1990 ?

The Program Was eventually renamed to Canada's National Bible Hour
and remains as such on the half-hour
broadcasts today.
(In Calgary Area on AM1140 Radio High River
Alberta at 8:30 am each Sunday )
The first Sunday of Each Month stills has a recorded Ernest Manning giving the message.

ernest Manning radio pamplets
Why Did He Come?

Captital Punishment

economic security
Ernest focuses in on the story of
Joseph Administering the
famine of 7 years and compares it
to what happens to people when
all their security is dependent on the State. ( written during the time
of Anwar Sadat in Eygpt when he made peace with Israel . 1979-81 )

Middle East Conflict
December 1973 - pdf

Manning View of Second
coming - pdf

Ernest and Muriel Speakers
at the Aug. 4th, 1951 Dinner
of the Christian Business Men's
Committee at the Vancouver Hotel.
-Pdf

Radio Ministry

National Back To The
Bible Hour
65th Anniversary
Booklet
1925-1990
&Founder's Club
Brochure
(PDF 31 pages)

50th Bible Hour
Anniversary
Program
& News Clip
Jan. 3 - 1976
pdf.

25th Anniversary
Sourvenir Song
Sheet (1950)

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Muriel Manning As Musical director
of Back to the Bible Hour

Muriel Manning's Music Teacher was the renowned
Annie Glen Broder who also taught Bible Hour violinist
Mary Shortt. ( see below ) The quality of music
on the broadcasts was always of a high standard.
Annie Glen Broder was instrumental in bringing the
prestigious Associated Board of Royal Schools to establish a musical examination branch in Calgary as a branch to Calgary.

Annie Glen Broder

See Jennifer Hamblin's Article on the Associated Board
in the Summer 2009 edition of Alberta History.
( Vol. 57, No. 3 )

In the 1934 Annual Meeting Booklet of the
Canadian Medical Associaton, which met in Calgary that year,
Annie Glen Broder wrote the article
Calgary as a Centre of Musical Culture. - pdf.
Training from such British trained professionals was responsible for the high quality of musical talent that the Bible Hour had to draw upon in Calgary after the start in 1925.

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These Original Aberhart
Lessons are still ministrying in updated form
by UB David
& I'll B Johnathan
mailing from Calgary
"God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh." Hebrews 11:4 KJV

Radio Sunday School
workers

Radio Sunday School Workers ca. 1930
Top Row (Standing) George Walker, Mrs. Walker, Dean Aberhart,
Mrs. Randall, Charles Pearce (Superindendent)
Bottom Row (Sitting) Mrs. Capocci, Mrs. Hodgkinson, Miss Way,
Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Pearce

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Mass Rallies of
Canada Nation-Wide
Back To the bible hour
In Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Vancouver
from June to August 1951

Ernest Manning Speaks at Winnipeg Rally while Mary Shortt Plays Violin in Background - June 10th, 1951
Winnepeg Municipal Auditorium
(Click Here to See Larger Picture Size)

Rally Souvenir Program & Winnipeg Poster - pdf

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Mary Lesingham Shortt
Violinist On Canada's
National Bible Hour
Jan. 22, 1918 - Oct. 23rd, 2009

mARY'S Selected rADIO vIOLIN sOLOS (Mp3)

The Lord's Prayer

He Always Say, I Forgive

Peace In The Valley

Mary's Promo for 1951 Back to the
Bible Hour Mass Radio Rallies - pdf

Mary Shortt performs during one of her many
summers with the Jean Cotton string trio at the
Banff Springs Hotel
(Jean Cotton's name is in the Westbourne baptist
youth group list in the Cheer Up in 1925, where
Muriel Preston and Ernest Manning attended.)

Mary Shortt Funeral - Order of Service - pdf

Mary Shortt - News Clippings of
Early Life, Training In England
Teaching, Students, & Performance
in Calgary - pdf

Mary Shortt began her musical education in piano at home
under her mother, Mrs. Lesingham Shortt, then under
Annie Glen Broder ( see above ) and also with
the guidance of Grigori Garbovitsky, Founder and first
Conductor of the Calgary Symphony Orchestra.
Her earliest appearance on the Back to the Bible Hour
is still being researched.

Grigori Garbovitsky

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AUDIO ACCOUNTS
OF ABERHART'S INFLUENCE
ON RADIO

Olive Sproule mp3- as recounted
by her son Winston Sproule Of
Strathmore area

Herb Miller of Wetaskwin -mp3
as recounted by Winston Sproule



Esther Siemens (Crayford) of Cowley -mp3
Esther remembers the family trip
to the neighbours who had a radio


Premier Ernest Charles Manning mp3
1965 - 30th Anniversary of Social Credit Government - Ernest shares
about his conversion as a Saskatchewan
farm boy under Aberhart's preaching
and the lifelong friedship they shared

Ernest Manning on his estimation
of Aberhart's Bible Teaching mp3

Ron & Margaret Underwood
of Red Deer Remember
the Closing Song of the Broadcast in Aberhart's
Time and Eva Underwood who was a
bridesmaid to Muriel Manning. - mp3

Aberhart Clear Public Testimony
Even During the Controversy of
Introducing Social Credit
during his broadcasts
Convinces one lady of her need to become a Christian. (pdf 1 p )

Why Politics On A Bible Radio Show? -mp3
William Aberhart explains why on a
Sept. 12th,1937 Broadcast

Criticism of Aberhart Mixing Politics with Religion
recounted by Ron Underwood - mp3

For Aberhart Legacy Series (18 hours)hosted by Larry Heather on Gospel Road on AM1140
Click Here!

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On CFCN "The Voice Of The Prairies"
The Jack Benny Radio Show
Followed Aberhart's
Back To The Bible Hour ( 2 hour show )
But Aberhart drew more listeners that the popular comedian on CFCN Radio 'The Voice Of The Prairies'
The Bible Hour at it's peak drew a listening Audience
of up to 350,000 from four provinces and at least 3 nothern States. Such a powerful undirected transmission
pattern as CFCN had, is restricted now by regulation.

Jack Benny on Radio

CFCN RADIO CALgary
' the voice of the Prairies'

w.w. Grant
1919
W.W. Grant, a decorated veteran from the 1st World War for his accomplishments in wartime radio, sets up what was likely Canada's first regular broadcast from a station he constructed in Halifax. 1921
Grant constructed a 50 watt station at High River, Alberta, over which Western Canadians heard their first broadcast concerts. As few people actually owned radio receivers, Grant built his own labeled battery powered
receivers sets and distributed them to listeners in the broadcasting area. ( See Picture Below )




1922
In the spring, Grant moved the station from High River to Calgary and the call sign was changed to CFCN. The government issued a commercial licence to Grant, after The Herald's CFAC received its licence. CFCN had the distinction of being the first station in Canada to receive compensation for commercial broadcasting. CFCN broadcast over a frequency of 1010 kHz with a power of 750 watts and shared time with station CKCX.
1923
The station increased power to 1,000 watts, and shared 410 metres, splitting airtime with CKCX and CHBC.
1924
Studios were at 708 Crescent Road N.W., and CFCN was now sharing time with CFHC, CHCM, CKCX, CNRC.
1925
CFCN moved to 690 kHz which it shared with CFAC, and power was reduced to 750 watts.
Aberhart began broadcasting on CFCN in the fall from the Palace Theatre in Calgary.
1926
CFCN increased power to 1,800 watts.

W.W. (Bill) Grant History Escerpt by Jack Peach
(pdf)

CFCN Radio History Document ( pdf )

More CFCN History
in Discovering Antiques, May/June 2009
by Fred Hauck & W.W. Grant's Radio Giveaways.
-pdf

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Palace THeatre


(Allen's) Palace Theatre 219-8th Avenue S.W. Calgary
Built: 1921
Currently, a historically designated building, but
used as the Calgary Flames Central Sportsclub.
The plaque supplied by the Province
has not been installed on the front of the
building however, for reasons unknown.
However, The Heritage Canada Plaque is Installed
Below the West Ticket Window and give a brief
Reference to Willilam Aberhart's Broadcasts.

It is a suggestion that the two old Ticket
windows be used as historical signs as well, one outlining the entertainment history of the building and one detailing the Aberhart broadcasts
which began in the building, be placed there as well. Unauthorized alterations done to the original signboard by the installation of the Flames central sign is a sore point
with the Calgary Heritage Authority.

See Public Library Cornerstones
Project History on Allen ( Palace ) Theatre


Aberhart Addresses His Vast Radio Audience

Radio History Made From this stage of the Palace Theatre in the fall of 1925.

The Calgary Prophetic Bible Conference established by Aberhart to share Prophecy Lectures in 1918 led to increasingly larger crowds when it was moved to Sunday Afternoons and came finally to rest at the spacious 2,200 seat theatre of the Palace in 1923. In addition to a seating capacity of 2,200, this theatre had better facilities for musical programs and was closer to street-car transportation.

Palace Theatre Stage
Aberhart's overflowing audiences
heard Prophecy Letures with music
from 3 to 5 pm every Sunday Afternoon.

"When William Aberhart took the rostrum, the personality and voice combined with all their compelling power….There would be music, and he in contemplative mood, seeming remote from its surroundings. Next a hymn and he would join, heart and soul with the singing. Then the pause of expectancy, the quiet that waited for his voice. A clear pleasant voice which, having naturally a great range of volume, was trained in the manipulation of its deeper undertones for dramatic effects. There he would preach… Bible in hand, with
audience in rapt attention.

"The early days of radio were momentous days in Canada. A new medium of communication. An unheard-of outreach of sound, carrying the human voice into the silence of remote outposts. Almost overnight, it became possible for a single man to speak to, and influence his fellowman in their thousands on the prairies.
It was inevitable that William Aberhart, master orator that he was, would also master this new medium of mass communication. W. W. Grant, owner of the pioneer Calgary radio station C.F.C.N., "The Voice of the Prairies" proposed to put Aberhart on the air to broadcast the existing meeting of the Prophetic Conference that had been packing in capacity crowds there since 1923.

On Sunday October 11th , 1925, Aberhart watched the radio crew stringing wires about the stage of this Palace Theatre. There was a telephone connection to the studio, and at this end a gadget called a microphone. At 2:30 , a quartet sang a hymn in a close cluster around this bug-eyed contraption., and as they departed, Aberhart trembled with temporary "mike fright." He soon warmed to the on air presence reassured by the accents of his voice, and he never looked back. It was a fateful moment for the history of Alberta.
The first broadcast was successful beyond all expectations. There was a flood of letters, many with contributions of money. A few Sundays later, the paying members of the new radio club passed the 500 mark. The amazing radio appeal of William Aberhart had become a demonstrated fact. The momentum established by the radio broadcast from the stage of this theatre brought in it's wake , a massive listening audience (over 300 hundred thousand out-drawing the Jack Benny show which followed after), the building of the Prophetic Bible Institute a few block east on this same 8th Avenue. And from that center the launch of the Social Credit movement which was to sweep to power in the mid depression election of 1935.

The Prophetic Voice
Bible Conference Edition
Jan. 1925
PDF 45p.
(first published
October 1924)

The Forerunner
to the later
Calgary Prophetic Bible Insttute
The Prophetic
Voice
Restarted Publication
in July 1943 and continued until early 1960's

gods great prophecies series

Listing of Pre Wesbourne & Westbourne
Prophetic Bible Conference Board Members
with Listings of God's Great Prophecies ( Mid - 20's version and Post Aberhart Passing Printing.)

Their appears to be at least 3 different publications
of God's Great Prophecies which have some differences
in Lecture Numbers and Titles:
1. Early Prophetic Conference Edition(s)
2. Westbourne Era Edition(s)
3. Post Passing of Aberhart Edition
published by the Prophetic Bible Inst. - 1943 or after.

Aberhart's Prophetic Series
(Earliest Edition )

God's Great
Prophecies
Sect. 3:
Lectures 7,8,9
18 pp, pdf
(Note: Numbering Scheme changes here - Lectures
5, 6 have maybe not have been printed or reassigned.)

Lecture Seven:
The AntiChrist:
Individual or System?

Lecture
Eight:
The AntiChrist
Man or Demon?

Lecture Nine:
The Battle of Armageddon, or Climax of Battles.

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churches where the
Preacher
William aberhart
presided AT
or which derive from his legacy

Save The Old Westbourne
Baptist for an Aberhart
museum !!
See Op-Ed Article published
in Jan.22nd, 2009 of the Calgary Herald
and February 2009Ed of the
City Light News - pdf

westbourne baptist
Aberhart Lay Preacher from
Dec. 5th, 1915 - 1929

After preaching for Bible classes around Churches in Calgary, William Aberhart preaced his first sermon to a struggling Baptist mission church in Victora Park. It had
been planted by Dr. Willard Litch of First Baptist Church
back in 1905, after starting as a Sunday School outpost 2 blocks to the east on 13th Ave.
( SeeBuilding Permit pdf below. )
While Aberhart maintained his principalship at Crescent Heights High School, he became a unpaid lay preacher
at the Westbourne Baptist Church. Not being ordained, Aberhart called in others to do official duties. In 1922 a
fulltime pastor, Rev. Ernest Hansell was called
to assist Aberhart in the work and perform the official pastoral duties.


This Church is still a historically preserved
building with later additions build after the
time of this photo
It is rumored to be moved to the Youth Campus by the Elbow River by the Stampede Board.. a move we hope will not happen
as much of the Historical value derives from
the history that took place in this location.
And the loss of the basement and annex will
greatly reduce the floor space.

Recent Window Inserts on the Old Westbourne
indicate it's future use as a performing
arts rehearsal space. Does this really
preserve the history of what happened within
that changed Alberta history?

We are hoping that a Foundation museum
dedicated to Aberhart- Social Credit - and Church History may be established here.
(Patrons to support this are welcome.)

The Old Westbourne Below as it looked in 1944

See Interior Shots of Buiding During
Stampede Construction All Around the Block

See Slide Show of Additional Interior Pictures
of the Old Westbourne Baptist Church - Feb.2007

Document History of Westbourne and Mother
Church 1st Baptist (PDF)

Flash
Building Permit Tag Discover after 100 year concealment !
In 2011, Heritage Architect Lorne Simpson
removed bricks from the SE corner of the
building to discover the interior build.
Lo and Behold, Calgary City Builting Permit
BuildingTag
#2167
was discovered nailed where it wasplace one years
ago in 1911!
( See The Story of the Permit pdf. )

Original Certificate of Alberta Incorporation
June 21st, 1923
After Aberhart's move to withdraw from
the Baptist Union to become Independent Baptist

Westbourne Baptistry
BackDrop-Hall era

This Painting of Mount Rundle in the Canadaina Rockies, which hung in the home of Deacon John & Annie Dick
( she was a Prophetic Bible Life of Christ Teacher who had a young Ernest Manning in her class) became the model from which a visiting Scandinavian Evangelist
painted the backdrop on the wall behind the Baptistry.

Early Communion Set of Westbourne's
1915 - 1920's??



No Tipping Head Back Communion Cup Ad
Methodist Year Book 1918 USA

Calgary Prophetic Bible Conference
Launched From Westbourne

It was from this location at 13th Ave. and 4th St. East that the popular evening lectures series by Aberhart on Prophecy, led to the formation of the Weekly Prophetic Bible Conference. It soon outgrew a number of venues
ending up in the 2,000 seat Palace Theatre, where
Aberhart started the Back to the Bible radio ministry and Radio Sunday School Club in the fall of 1925. He also
gained among his listeners a huge response to
start a Bible Training School to train students
in an atmosphere free from the prevailing modernism of the times.
For a brief period from 1927 to 1929, the Westbourne
Baptist congregation changed homes and followed
William Aberhart to the Prophetic Bible Institute Building where the congregation then held it's meetings. In 1929, a division over doctrinal and governance (ie. rent) issues caused many of the Westbourne congregation to return to the old location in Victoria Park.

Harry Scrimgeour led a group of Westbournites
back to the old building, to restart Sunday School and
services in the old location. In the previous interval, students
from the Prophetic Bible Institute had their first experiences
preaching from the old building with those attending from the area.
At the Insitute Building, the remaining church members under William Aberhart established a new entity, naming it the Bible Institute Baptist Church (later Bethel Baptist), the start of a new denomination which would come to be known as the Gospel Missionary Association.
As is the case it seems, even groups which split off
from the Aberhart work, continued to do well. And
we see here 3 developments which mirrored
Aberhart's pattern.
In February of 1930, the old Westbourne Church
used to a high standard in preaching, hired another dynamic new Pastor from Ontario, the Rev. Morley Hall.

Early Westbourne Congregation under Morley Hall - 1930's

Morly Hall, like Aberhart, also began a new radio ministry, (a.) The Back Home Gospel Hour, which
reached out into the city and far into the country
on the same station as Aberhart, CFCN.
Requests from listeners in Drumheller
Brooks, Benalto, Crossfield, Edmonton Norwood, Northwood in Therien, and Bellevue,
led to the establishment of a new group of Regular
Baptist Churches which became the Alberta core of the current Fellowship of Evangelical Baptists.
A mission point was also started in Edson.

See Regular Baptist NewsLetter of April 1944 - pdf

Board of Management For the Radio Program Initiated Regular Baptists of Alberta.

Dr. Morley R. Hall
(1893-1965)
Morley Hall, amidst a congregation that had
already supported the start of a Bible School
soon realized the need for another Bible School
for like-minded fellowships being established. The
Rev. George Dawe came to assist him in this work.
Below on the left is Morley Hall leading the very
first class of (c.)The Western Baptist Bible College with the first students on October 4th, 1934.

See March 1965 Tribute to Morley Hall
in the Evangelical Baptist Magazine - pdf

First Class in 1934
It was in this era that the back annex was added to the Church
for the College offices and perhaps an extention of the front foyer entrance

Freshmen Class Lists of the Western Baptist
Bible College at the old Westbourne - pdf

Student Body and Faculty 1936 or37?

The first graduating class came in the spring of 1937.

Western Baptist Bible College
Graduation Class of 1937.
Men L-R - David Milligan, Ceil Birch, Don Hills,
Bill MacDonald, Albert Phillips
Ladies L-R - Eileen Clarke, Jean Dougan
Ruebena Hurd, Kathleen Ashely

This College was closed in the Second World War years as the young men went off to do their patriotic duty and women
filled their spots. It was later reopened after the war
in Port Coquitlam BC as the NorthWest Baptist Bible College.
( Surviving currently as a denominational seminary in Langley BC)

Morley Hall Family, Calgary 1942


Westbourne Building Sign
This Gives an idea of the active congregational life of the church
Note that the Pastor's residential address has been blacked
out on the sign, perhaps due to unexpected visitors.

Stylish Faculty & Grad Program Momento from
1937 Gives Faculty Positions Below


1938 Faculty and Grads

See an account of Morley Hall's ministry
written in 1998 by his son Raymond Hall. - pdf
(Note: date of Aberhart's first preaching in
Westbourne was Dec. 5th, 1915 not 1920 as recollected
by Raymond Hall.)

A Short History of the Western Baptist Bible College
by the Rev. George Dawe
1998 - pdf

Another Brief History Of Western-Northwest Bible
College by Merle Pierce in relation to
Fairview Baptist in Calgary - pdf

Meeting of Westbourne Congregation and
a Southern Baptist Delegation.
(The proposed merger was rejected bymost of Westbourne)
A good period shot to study the interior of the back part
of the Westbourne Sanctuary of that time.
Note Alfred Girling's Pulpit woodwork in foreground
with embedded letters "We Preach Christ Crucified"
and SignBoards on Wall At Back ( See Alfred J. Girling Below )
'Keep Thyself Pure' & 'Preach The Word'
also Girling's work. (see below on missing signboards)
The unseen Platform Motto Board overlooking the Pulpit read:
"Christ Died For Our Sins According To The Scriptures" -ICor 15:3b

Link to
Larger Whole Page Image to Identify Audience.
Additional Names to Match the Faces are welcomed.

Alfred J. Girling

Talented Wood Craftsman and Westbourne
Deacon lends his skills to adorn Westbourne Church
and the lives of those he loved. He may have attended during the time of William Aberhart before
the Morley Hall era.


Alfred J. Girling and wife Elizabeth - 1932
Deacon Girling was a CabinetMaker who added stylish
woodcasings and shelfs. on the railcar interiors of dining and other cars
at theOgden Shops of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Alfred Girling Built this Pulpit (pictured in original setting above, date unkown) and a Matching Communion Table for the
Westbourne Congregation. Front is adorned
with 'God Is Love' and Canadian Maple Leaves.
Top of lecturn has embedded wood of another kind
reminded the preacher that, "We Preach Christ
Crucified" A warning of earlier struggles with
modernism and the Social Gospel replacements.

Girling Communion Table (text on 3 sides)
Flash - Missing SignBoards
Alfred Girling had also made signboards one of which
crossed the front of the platform and said
"Christ Died For Our Sins According To The Scriptures"
Two others at the back wall read
"Preach the Word" & "Keep Thyself Pure"
The signs were taken up to the new Church meeting area
in Thorncliffe but have not been seen since.
On a trip to Crossfield, Aberhart Foundation researcher Larry Heather
was informed that a similiar set of pulpit, communion table,
and signs were there. And when examined, It is no doubt more of Girlings work and the same scripture message is on the two boards found there.

The Girling SignBoards at Crossfield Baptist
(Inlaid letters of a different wood)

Girling also liked to remember his family
and special anniversary with his own
special creations in mixed woods.
( A manager he knew from Eau Claire Lumber
would give him scraps of exotic woods.)
MarQuetry - A Girling Tradition

Marquetry (also spelled as marqueterie) is the art and craft of applying pieces of veneer to a structure to form decorative patterns, designs or pictures. The technique may be applied to case furniture or even seat furniture, to decorative small objects with smooth, veneerable surfaces or to free-standing pictorial panels appreciated in their own right. Parquetry is very similar in technique to marquetry: in parquetry the pieces of veneer are of simple repeating geometric shapes, forming tiling patterns such as would cover a floor (parquet), or forming basketweave or brickwork patterns, trelliswork and the like.
Marquetry (and parquetry too) differs from the more ancient craft of inlay, in which a solid body of one material is cut out to receive sections of another to form the surface pattern. The word derives from a Middle French word meaning "inlaid work". See Full Wikipedia Definition

See the Woodwork of Alfred J. Girling - large pdf

westbourne Young People's Society
Cheer Up NewsPaper
aberhart era

The Cheer Up Newspaper is preserved in existing copies
so far from May 1924 to 1931 and covers parts of both Aberhart and Pastor Morley Hall's times at Westbourne.
In 1924 the editor is Rev. Ernest G. Hansell who began
as official acting Pastor in 1922, while Aberhart remained
the lay preacher. Hansell took his training at the
Bible Institute of Los Angeles, but had earlier worked
as a cartoonist for a Calgary newspaper. This talent
can be seen in the Cheer Up Ilustrations until
Hansell left as Pastor in Oct. 1926.

The Assistant editor was young
Cyril Hutchison and he likely did most of the writing and leg-work. His Brother Noel Hutchinson was the President of Young People's for some time before and after his marriage. Cyril in 1926 becomes President, but in April of that year, Aberhart
himself seems to be writing and editing the paper.
References to the Radio Ministry and Upcoming Bible
Institute began to appear in the Cheer Up. See
the following, likely written in Aberhart's own hand
in the Mon. May 23rd, 1926 edition.

Radio Theme Banner
& Poem. The Sunday Afternoon Radio Broadcasts on CFCN
from the Palace Theatre on Stephen Ave. Calgary
had just begun seven months earlier.

The humour and variety of the 'Cheer Up'
does not at all fit the dour sour fundamenalism
that the Media often portrayed Aberhart's work as
being. Below Cyril Hutchinson likely sketching himself,
refers to the Youth drive to contribute by sacrifice, to the
Gull Lake Bible Camp Assembly Hall project.

Service Program of 75th and Related Histories - pdf

Letters Of Members To 75th Organizers - pdf

Westbourne Baptist 100th Anniversary
of Founding (1905) Sept. 10,11 - 2005
Under Pastor Dennis Burriss (1978-93)

Albert Stewart, Allan Tuck, ........Emma & Avre Wilkinson

See 100th Anniversary Anniversary
History 'Footprints' - pdf

Wesbourne History to 2007 - pdf
Note: Aberhart actually first started
preaching at Westbourne in 1915

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bible Institute baptist church
April 18th, 1929 - 1950

Dr. Andrew Imrie was called to be
Pastor in 1930, leaving William
Aberhart to continue as Board
Chairman and the Main Radio Preacher.
Dr. Imrie also participated in the Broadcasts.



Church Choir Below Also Sang on Broadcasts
Zoom in By Browser Page control to see names

The Bible Institute Building Served As the Buiding
for the Bible Institute Baptist Church and was formed
after a group left to return to the original
Westbourne Baptist in theVictoria Park District

One Member of the Choir was Also Head Usher
and the Farmer Character on the Social Credit Broadcasts
Charles Underwood

His Grandson Ron Underwood of Red Deer,
tells us of his memories of Charles Underwood
and the Animal mimic sounds he would do on the Broadcast. - mp3

Charles & Elizabeth Underwood
Kathleen Irwin (Whiteside) remembers that
they resided in the back apartment on the lower floor of the Bible Institute where they served perhaps as caretakers as well, and the students had nick named him" Daddy Underwood."


The Bible Institute Baptist Church met in
Prophetic Bible Institute Building
516 Eight Ave. West Calgary


1947-48 Church Board and Staff Photo


After earlier Pastors, in the late 1930's as Aberhart Moved
to Edmonton as Premier, Bill Laing and Arthur
Cornell shared pastoral duties. In 1941 the
congregation selected Bill Laing as the senior
pastor and Arthur Cornell took the position
of Church Chairman.
(Both also served on Bible Institute staff.)
The extention & home mission work of the Bible Institute
led by Arthur Cornell and others, was instrumental
in establishing numerous branch churches which under Aberhart's time had become associated as the
Gospel Missionary Union.

Bible Institute Baptist ( Bethel ) 40th Annivereary
April 1969 news account

Bethel was one of 17 Alberta Churches to have it's roots
in Aberhart's Prophetic Bible Institute.

Bible Institute Baptist (Bethel ) Church 50th
Anniversary ( Newspaper Account )

Gospel Chimes
Jan. 1943
PDF

The Official
Bible
Institute
Baptist Church
Publication
(Note last
page with
Board Members List)

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NORTHWEST BAPTIST SEMINARY
WILLIAM ABERHART BURSARY PROGRAM
Established from Aberhart Era
Radio Funds held in trust.

In 1974, Khona Louise Cooper (nee Aberhart) donated a dedicated radio proceeds fund to the Northwest Baptist Seminary, now of Langley , BC , in the memory of her father
William Aberhart
for the purpose of Bursaries to be awarded annually to qualifying students who were training for the pastoral and preaching ministry.
The funds had come from proceeds left over from the Radio Fund gathered during the time of William Aberhart's Ministry on the Back to the Bible Hour.
In this way, the legacy of the radio ministry and William Aberhart's love of Biblical, Expository preaching continues to encourage new ministry students in the upcoming generations.
Below are the audio testimonies of two of the students who have recieved the Bursaries in recent years, and a background on the busary fund. Seminary President Dr. Larry Perkins also speaks about the background of the fund and how it encourages students to pursue the call of God to the ministry.

hear the students speak
Click on their picture to start the audio mp3 file. Click Back Button to Return to this page

Keith Ikoma


Andre Van Wouden

Dr. Larry Perkins - Seminary President
2007

Link to Northwest Baptist Seminary Website

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aberhart & other extracts from
the Prophetic Voice

The following is an extract from the Clippings section
of the Prophetic Voice magazine of the Calgary Prophetic Bible Conference.(Jan, 1925 , pp. 9, 10) It explains how the public should evaluate the scriptural teachings of both himself (Aberhart as teacher and editor) and of other teachers. (in this case a quote from Our Hope.)