Rev. Ray Smith joined with us in 1986 to help with pastoral visitation and Stewardship. Rev. Saunders was called to Knox United, in Edmonton, in 1988 and Rev. Smith retired in 1989.

Growth in the Sunday school and several other factors led to a $340,000 addition and renovation project in l984. The addition included 2 front offices, 1 office on the east side, meeting and choir room, handicap washroom as well as the nursery, storage area and large class room in the lower hall. The loft was changed to include two offices and a storage area.

In 1980 Rev J. Clark Saunders was called to succeed Mr. Hughes. With the continued growth it meant not only increases in staff but expansion of the church’s program as well. In the fall of l980, it became necessary to add a second morning service.

Rev. O. T. Hughes was called to succeed Doug Lachlan in 1960. Growth meant the addition of a part time secretary, Dorothy Baird and a choir director, Verna Solmundson. These were years of steady growth in the church and especially in the Sunday School.

In 1957 a new building was begun at Roblin Boulevard and Dieppe Road. Much of the work was accomplished by volunteer labor. After holding services in the basement for two years, the sanctuary was finally completed and dedicated on January 31, 1960.

The limitations of the church building were being felt. When church suppers and social functions were held, the ladies had to manage in a little nook of a kitchen. The church had no running water, and two bucket brigades were required to bring hot clean water from across the street. When squirrels invaded it was time for the congregation to move.

In 1954 Dr. Philip Barker concluded an eleven year ministry and Winnipeg Presbytery constituted Charleswood as a one point charge, with an energetic young student, Doug Lachlan, as minister.

The community and church grew slowly until the end of the Second World War. With the influx of veterans and others at war’s end (especially in the Roblin Park area), the church building began to seem inadequate. In 1948, an addition, equal in size to the church itself, was added at the rear. When even the addition became too crowded, a branch Sunday school was opened at the old Varsity View community Hall on Roblin Boulevard. Both Charleswood and Sturgeon Creek were growing too quickly to share the services of one minister.