In 1901, Mr. L.J. King a converted Roman Catholic priest, held revival meetings in Springhill and Oxford, Nova Scotia. As a result of these meetings, Dr. Hiram F. Reynolds was invited to organize these groups into churches of the Pentecostal Association of America. In October, 1902, the Springhill "Wesley Pentecostal Church" and the following month the "Second Pentecostal Church" in Oxford was duly organized. Dr. Reynolds stayed with the Oxford work until its first pastor, Rev. George Noble of Haverhill, Massachusetts, arrived in late 1902. 
 
 

The yellowing pages of the Oxford Journal for May 9th, 1908, record the following interesting facts concerning the Oxford Church. "In the month of April, 1903, at the annual meeting of the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America, held in Brooklyn, New York, this church was voted into the association... and is known as the Second Pentecostal Church of Nova Scotia. It has been said that the church building in Oxford stands today not only as the oldest church of the Nazarene in continuous use by one congregation, but probably also the oldest structure occupied by any church in the denomination. "The building was erected in 1876."
 

Rev. and Mrs. George E. Noble, 1st pastor of Oxford Church, 1902

When the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene was formed in 1908, the Maritimes were set apart as the Northeast District with Evangelist Earnest Dearne as District Superintendent. The first District Assembly was held in St. John's Presbyterian Church in Oxford, April 15-18, 1909. The Announcement of the garthering read, "We expect this assembly to be a real old-fashioned Methodist 'Love-Feast' and if you are interested in the doctrine and experience of Bible  holiness, "Come for all things are now ready".

(Luke 14:17) Unfortunately this was the only assembly held, as the area was shortly merged with the New England District.  Nethertheless, a desire for a separate district remained through the years, until in 1943 the Maritime delegation to the New England District Assembly was instructed to petition for a Maritime District to be set apart. The Petition granted, the Board of General Superintendents appointed Rev. W.W. Tink (photo) as the District Superintendent. With 9 congregations and 247 members, the Maritime District was declared a functioning body at O'Leary, Prince Edward Island, on July 8th, 1943.  

We have already celebrated 100 years of the Lord's blessing in the original church building which has been renovated and added to in recent years. Not only are we the oldest Nazarene Church in Canada but we are also noted to have the longest pastorate with Reverend Bert Collins as former pastor. Reverend Collins who had retired over to O'Leary, PEI has accomplished much for the Lord during his years of ministry.  
 

In September of 2001, Pastor David Alley, became the interim successor to Rev. Bert Collins. Pastor Dave Alley, or PDA as he was best known, served with the Oxford Church of the Nazarene for two years before leaving for Fairmont, West Virginia in February of 2004. Pastor Dave was well known for his community outreach including the introduction of "What Next!!" antics like "Blue Hair Sundays" to our church. He was highly instrumental in breaking new ground for our next pastor.  
 

Pastor Alley's position was filled by Pastor Bob Barnes in the fall of 2004. Although Bob came to us from a church in British Columbia, he has long term roots in the surrounding communities of Oxford. Bob and his wife Charlotte have served in pastoral ministry in the Church of the Nazarene for the past 28 years. In that time they have served in P.E.I., Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia and B.C. They have four grown children and one grandchild. In the fall of 2005 Pastor Bob was asked to remain for another four years as the senior pastor. In 2005, he took us through a refocus exercise that identified potential need for a youth pastor.

Jon Lochbihler is our youth minister who started in July of 2006. In 2008, he has been given a third one year assignment with us as we seek further direction on our youth/teen program. Pastor Jon has been very busy working with our junior and senior high youth in Oxford and area. Jon Lochbihler and his wife Fran live in the church parsonage next to the church. In late 2006 he and Fran had the blessing of a new baby boy to their family. Since then they have had a second child; a beautiful baby girl on Jan 23rd of 2009.

In the fall of 2009, as our senior pastor has sought a one year break from ministry, we were pleased to be able to offer an interim pastoral position to Reverend Bert Collins . Im January of 2010 Reverend Collins, has come out of retirement and, will again lead us as Senior Pastor for a time as the church board prepares for the next chapter in the planning for the future of the Oxford Church of the Nazarene.