Pauline Haga has written a wonderful article on the Whitby Church. She was kind enough to provide the following information within an article she wrote for the Coal Chronicle in December 1992 titled "Miners, company funded small church." Please note that the portions of the article below are used with permission.
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"In 1936, the coal miners at Whitby asked the coal company to take a small sum from their pay envelopes each pay period and put the money in a church building fund.
The Operating Coal Company at the time offered to match dollar for dollar with the miners.
It took a couple of years, but by October 1938 the congregation was ready to move in…"
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It was constructed by Byus Mankin Lumber Co. in Beckley with an investment of about $4,000. Gray asbestos was its first covering. Today its exterior is white.
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The Mines bookkeeper, W.J. Tully was head of the committee to solicit outside funds for the church.
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The building committee was headed by P.Q. Warden, superintendant of the Whitby Co. Others on the committee were Rev. C.G. Roark, Methodist Pastor, N.W. Thompson, C.H. Graham and G.W. Nichols.
Credit was also given to the women of the community…The Womens Missionary Society, with Mrs. G.W. Nichols as head, gave dinners and socials to raise funds.
When the first hymn was sung in November 1938, the money in the collection plate was free and clear."
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