About GBCC

A Glimpse of the Past 

It was in the 1870's that George McAllister and Helen Gowdy met at a Christian Conference just a few miles west of Guelph. They married and sawmilling became their business. George and his wife moved to Guelph in 1907. A little later they moved to the property now known as the Guelph Bible Conference Grounds.

George McAllister was always looking for ways to keep Christians together and growing in the Lord, for he sincerely loved the fellowship of the saints. Out of this desire came the thought of calling a three day conference to be hold over the July first holiday and this continued from about 1918 to 1931.

Two large tents were erected on the grounds: one for dining and one for the preaching of the Word. Hundreds gathered and they were fed and billeted by the Lord's people who met at the Eramosa Road Gospel Hall.

Some of the early preachers at these conferences were B. C. Greenman, H. A. Ironside, George McCandless, Samuel Ridout and Alex Stewart. George McAllister went to be with the Lord in January 1932. The story of all that was done and accomplished during those years will only be told in eternity.

Remembrances of those times can be seen at the Conference Centre - a picture of a 1930 gathering with the Tent in the background. Also the black cherry trim in the Fellowship Lounge was from a tree felled where the gymnasium is now located.

Permanent Conference Centre Established

Following the death of George McAllister, a young preacher, C. Earnest Tatham, who was born and also "born again" in Guelph, approached George's son, John McAllister, with the idea of using the Grounds and homestead as a permanent conference site to be administered by a committee of brethren from various assemblies in Ontario and adjacent U.S. cities.  John, having the same heart as his father, purchased the estate and made it available for the blessing of the Lord's people.  Some early committee members were Stuart Burnham, R. W. Farnworth, Ezra Frey, F. Q. Guthrie, Amos Hoffman, R. F. Hogan, Fred Kyle, H. G. Lockett, J. A,. McAllister, R. G. Mitchell, Stuart Peterson, C. E. Tatham, E. G. Taylor, Don Wilson, R. M. Winslow and many others.

The opening day conference at the Guelph Bible Conference Grounds was May 24, 1934. H. A. Ironside of Chicago and C. E. Tatham were the speakers and there were in excess of 500 people present. 

During that decade and into the 1940's, the Guelph Bible Summer School became a vibrant work and many attendees continue to this day serving the Lord because of this effective ministry. H. G. Lockett was the principal and among his competent staff were A. P. Gibbs, Harold Mackay, John Smart, C. E. Tatham and Ernest Woodhouse.

Before John McAllister passed into the presence of his Lord in 1957, he deeded the property to Christian Missions in Many Lands Inc. to be used for the continued blessing of the Lord's people.

Statement of Faith

  1. There is one God eternally existent in Three Persons. The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.

  2. The Bible is the inspired, inerrant and authoritative revelation of God.

  3. The Lord Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, is truly God and truly Man, sinless and perfect.

    • He died as a sacrifice for sinners
    • He rose from the dead
    • He ascended bodily to Heaven
    • He shall return for His Church

  4. Each member of the human race is separated from God because of sin. Redemption is possible only through acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

  5. The good news from God is that ALL may have salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

  6. God instituted marriage between one man and one woman, no exceptions.