Rev. William J. Rolston

The Rolstons were both born in Ulster, Northern Ireland, in Protestant families. In 1912 Sadie Rolston came to Canada. She belonged to the Salvation Army, and later received the Holy Ghost in a Trinitarian Pentecostal church. William J. Rolston lived in Ireland and went to France as a volunteer soldier in World War I. He returned to Ireland because he had been hit by shrapnel in his shoulder. He came to Toronto in 1919 and worked as a manager of the Dominion Chain, Ltd. in various cities. He drifted west and ended up in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he became severely ill and was hospitalized for fifty-one days.

Sadie Rolston had been visiting the hospitals for about six years as a volunteer worker. She witnessed to the patients, read the Bible to them, prayed with them, and wrote letters for them. She was becoming a bit weary of this work, and decided not to do it anymore. A friend of hers, Sister Hynes, told her of an Irish patient who had no one to visit him and asked Sadie to go to see him.

William and Sadie met, and she told him about the Lord and left a Bible with him. William attended the Pentecostal church with her one night. In the meeting he became very ill, and the preacher was called to pray for him. When the preacher prayed, it was a like an electric shock going from the fingertips of both hands right through his body. He was healed instantly, and the illness never returned. In time he proposed, and they were married.

William Rolston began studying God's Word earnestly. One morning as he slipped out of bed and fell on his knees for a short time in prayer, the Lord met him there. He could not speak a word of English. Finally, in English, the name Woodstock was spoken three times, and the word go three times. Shortly after they received a letter from the minister that had baptized them, and he told them the pastor had died in Woodstock, New Brunswick, and that the congregation there needed a pastor. The Rolstons sold their possessions, paid for their fare to Woodstock, New Brunswick, and went in Jesus' name. There was a wonderful revival in Woodstock.

From Woodstock the Lord impressed them to go to Westfield, Maine. They had no money for the head tax, but one night just before they were to leave, a woman shook hands with Sadie and put a fifty-dollar bill in her hand. This was just the amount they needed. From Woodstock, they went to Tilley, New Brunswick.

One man in Tilley said, "I never have heard such preaching. Everyone should hear this man preach." So he arranged for the Rolstons to preach in the church there. It had been occupied by Baptists, but most of the former Baptists were now Jesus Name Pentecostals, as they had come in under the ministry of William Rolston.

Other pioneer works and cottage meetings were at Burnt Land Book, Rowena, Arthurette, and Davis Mills, each place planting this message in the hearts and lives of hungry souls.

On July 27, 1931, the first convention was held at Plaster Rock. The Rolstons planned it to be the first year anniversary service, but the saints wanted it to last longer than one day. The original convention was housed in the tent and somehow the food stretched for all the folks that attended from near and far. For thirty-two years these conventions have continued. Each year fine men of God have come to teach and minister to the people. Most of them confirmed the excellent teaching Brother Rolston had previously given.

William Rolston pastored at Plaster Rock, Tilley, and New Denmark. He was a presbyter of the Maritime District and is also served on the Global Missions board of the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI). Many have gone on to glory that never would have heard the message, perhaps, unless the Rolstons had followed the leadings of the Lord and come to this area.

He passed from this life on January 2, 1976.