The CCFMC began as an outreach ministry in 1896 by a pastor named C.H. Reads. He was minister to the charge known then as the Kimbo-Attercliffe point. Services were held in local homes until around 1903 when it seems that a church building was needed after revival broke out under the shepherding of Rev. David Allen around 1901-1902.

Believe it or not, churches were closed and demolished or repurposed even back then. Under the leadership of Rev. D. Allen the CCFMC was built out of the frame of a Methodist church that was torn down in Caistorville. This was placed on a small square of land to the west of our existing building. The land was donated at that time by A. Lounsbury. 

Attercliffe is not mentioned again as the charge becomes Caistor-Kimbo. About 1923-24 revival again came to the Caistor-Kimbo circuit while Rev. J.R. Lambert had the charge. Several families came to know the Lord during that time. You may recognize names like Street, Lymburner, Packham and Shirton.

By 1948 the once-thriving little Caistor congregation was discouraged and down to around 4 members. Thinking him not being capable of the ministry, the conference appointed a first-time pastor W. N. Teal to the charge. As he puts it, they figured he couldn’t do any harm there!

Despite the discouraging remarks and jokes made about Caistor, Wilbur and his wife took the unenviable job. Shortly after his arrival, God began to move again in Caistor as He had done before and the church began to grow; despite the fact that the structure was falling in around their ears. It is said that revival, fresh paint and enthusiasm helped it to flourish again. That is until 1950 when fire destroyed the building. It should have destroyed the new congregation as well but God wasn’t done yet. 

Just over a year, later a two-storey building was standing where ashes had once been, and the church continued to grow. Names Waite, Bristo, Fossey and Lampman were added to the number of those already serving the Lord. Families that had drifted away from the lord over the last decade or so were also brought back into the fold.

The church was still not large enough to have its own pastor, however, and it remained a multi-point charge sharing a pastor with the Kimbo Free Methodist Church. This was not to be the case forever though and God began to grow His church again under the leadership of a young pastor named John Knoll. 

John had been mentored – or at least encouraged – by Rev. Teal and when he took the Caistor-Kimbo charge God placed on him an anointing just like he had done for Rev. Teal. Revival broke out again! J. Knoll began in 1962 and in 1966 a vote was taken by the church to purchase the property we presently reside on. In 1967 another big decision was made by the Kimbo church which would see them amalgamate with Caistor rather than make extensive repairs to the building they were meeting in. The parsonage had already been moved to Caistor in the 1930s after the one located in Kimbo had burned down. This decision would make Caistor a stand-alone charge. 

In 1968 the church was moved across the road into a newly prepared basement. Additions were built on either end to make the building we see today. The new building was dedicated in 1970. This was a high point that some in the congregation will still recall. 

God continued to work and the church filled to capacity and then some, seeing over 200 people attending Sunday School – the largest in the conference at that time. Names added to the roll that you may recognize are Bervoets, Lane, Smith, Merritt, Cain and Yent. 

Since that last revival time in the 70’s the CCFMC has been in slow but steady decline. But with the turn of the century God again began to work. God’s not done with CCFMC yet. He has a specific purpose for us if we are willing to obey. When this church was established in 1903 there were about eight other churches active just in what was then Caistor Township. Today there are only two, yet the CCFMC is still here. We could say that it’s because of the sacrifice of a few faithful people, but that would be misguided. We could say it’s because we are better at what we do, but that would be a lie. All we can say is Christ will build His Church and for no other reason than His own divine purpose, we are still here. God has humbled us – but as you can see from this short history, each time He does, when we follow Him, He brings us back stronger.