Welcome to Bethel St. Andrew's United Church

FITZROY HARBOUR – Bethel-St. Andrew’s United Church has done a lot of things for its community over many, many years. But yesterday (Feb. 21) was the first time in flipped pancakes for them.

Last night (Feb. 21), the volunteers of Bethel-St. Andrew’s organized the church’s first Shrove Tuesday pancake supper in its history and the first pancake supper in West Carleton since 2020.

A full hall of pancake lovers sat down and enjoyed fellowship on Shrove Tuesday. Photo by Jake Davies

During that pre-COVID time, West Carleton Online visited three different pancake suppers (and not just because we love breakfast for dinner) on one night in 2020. They were held in Woodlawn (St. Thomas), Constance Bay (St. Gabriel) and Carp (St. James).

None of those churches, or any other in West Carleton for that matter, have held a pancake supper since. That’s part of the reason Bethel-St. Andrew’s volunteers decided to host the church’s first Shrove Tuesday celebration.

“This church has never done Shrove Tuesday before,” church volunteer Walter Veenstra told West Carleton Online in between checking on the satisfaction of the night’s guests. “Normally we would have gone to St. Thomas in Woodlawn, however they decided not to do it this year. So, to provide that opportunity to the community, we decided we would take that on. So, this is our first time.”

The church’s hall is surprisingly roomy. West Carleton Online arrived right around 6 p.m. and the hall was full.

“There’s seating for 60,” Veenstra said. “We’re happy with the turnout for the first time. Who knows, with the weather? Yeah, we’re happy.”

Veenstra says Bethel-St. Andrew’s United Church is beginning to become a community hub again after a quiet couple of years.

“So, it’s getting quite active now,” he said. “Lots of things on the go. People are enthusiastic. COVID is not as scary as it once was. Yeah, we’re getting some people back in the church.”

A number of volunteers helped put on the Shrove Tuesday dinner, but of note, was several of those volunteers came from the church’s new youth group, which re-formed last summer.

“We have a full house of youth,” Veenstra said. “They’re doing everything. They started at 3 p.m. today to help set up. They served. And we actually had entertainment here a half-hour ago. They sang, but suddenly they got hungry and left. But we had singing and music and they’re getting involved.”

Credit: Article and photos from: West Carleton Online - Jake Davies