History of the Kaleden Community Church
Dreams, development and devotion were all very much a part of the vision that one James Ritchie brought to the Okanagan Valley from Pilot Mound, Manitoba in 1903. He dreamed of a settlement and planned to develop the benches above Skaha Lake.
His devotion found expression in the role he played in the founding of the Baptist Church in Kaleden’s early years.
At first, community worship services were held in homes.
Pastors from various Penticton church denominations drove out to provide services to the small congregation. After one such service at the Ritchie home, February 27, 1910, Kaleden Baptist Church was organized with 9 members.
During the early years Penticton Baptist Church ministers held services in Kaleden on Sunday afternoons, in a tent under the trees, or in the Cameron building until 1912, when the newly constructed school building was used. That fall, a building committee was appointed, the present Church lot was purchased, and with a fund raising drive that brought in pledges of $717.00, construction was begun. F.W. King directed the volunteers who labored to complete the church, and on April 6, 1913 the building was dedicated.
The original building consisted of the sanctuary and a tiny foyer. Later the Sunday School rooms, kitchen and entrance were added.
The bell tower was constructed in 1965 as a memorial to one of our local youth (Don Robertson ) killed in a highway accident.
The Church was Baptist, but welcomed and provided a center of worship in the community for individuals of many denominations. Unity of spirit was reflected as the church offered Sunday School, youth activities, and Sunday worship services.
On the left a photo-op of the early church in 1936 (Source:Fred King)
Click on picture for enlargement and names.
This stage of the Church’s development continued, until improved roads and faster automobiles gave more people options to attend the churches of their denominational choice in Penticton. Kaleden Church experienced a decline in attendance, and found it was at a crossroads as to whether to remain available to the community, or to close the Church and transfer memberships to Penticton. Reluctant to close its doors, the church sought other options. In 1973 the church called a retired doctor and lay pastor, Dr. Leslie Bendor-Samuel.
He served the Kaleden Church for the next seventeen years.
The Sunday School had gradually declined, and was no longer meeting, but the lack of Christian Education in the community left a definite void. To remedy this situation Dave and Mary Lacey of Penticton were offered the challenge of reviving the Sunday School.
A community-wide canvas affirmed the support for the reopening of the Sunday School, and on September 10, 1978 twelve children attended. From this beginning the Sunday School grew to over fifty, involving many children from the community in both the Sunday School and in summertime Daily Vacation Bible School projects.
With the faithful ministries provided by lay pastors, guest pastors, part-time associate pastors, and the long-term lay pastorate of Dr. Bendor-Samuel, Kaleden Community Church had provided spiritual guidance and worship opportunities for the residents of Kaleden for nearly 80 years. 
In January of 1992, the congregation called Reverend Les Clarke as full-time Pastor.
He and his family continue to serve the Church and the community. 
During this time the Church has purchased property that provides for additional Sunday School space, Church offices, and space for youth activities.
The property also will allow for future building plans as the Kaleden Community Church continues to serve Kaleden.
The main Church building has recently been renovated to provide enlarged library space, upgraded kitchen, and enhanced sanctuary to accommodate additional activities and growth.