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CHURCH HISTORY before 1971
THE BROADER PICTURE |
In 1836 Chief Justice Jarvis requested of the Deputy Sheriff that the Rev. Mr. Lloyd, an Anglican clergyman then stationed in Milton, be allowed to use the Georgetown Court House, for his services. Rev. MacAulay, a Presbyterian minister, demanded equal rights, resulting in conflicts over who would have access to the court house at what time. In hopes of ending the ill will, Governor Fitzroy granted to the Rev. MacAulay lots on which to erect a church. However, shortly thereafter MacAulay left the ministry to become a politician. The records state, “He seemed to have been a pugnacious, domineering man more suited for the hurly burly of politics than to the ministry of the gospel.”
In 1850 the congregation appears to have separated, with a Mr. Bethune being the preacher at Murray Harbour. Then in 1856 a Rev. Andrew Lochead was settled at Georgetown. During his ministry the first church was built in Cardigan, probably by volunteer labor.
In 1861 Lower Montague was included in the Georgetown ministry and during the years that the Rev. Peter Melville preached, Montague and Cardigan were also included, the only church in Montague at that time being Methodist.
In 1877 the Cardigan congregation, formerly under the jurisdiction of the Valleyfield congregation, joined with Georgetown.
Central Kings:
In 1845 the first church was constructed in Albion Cross, then nine years later the Bridgetown Methodists were founded.
Dundas separated from the Valleyfield congregation in 1859. In 1862 the Rev. Allan MacLean was inducted into ministry at Dundas and remained there for fifteen years.
In 1898 Annandale Presbyterian united with Dundas to become Dundas Presbyterian Church. Then in the year of Church Union, Bridgetown Methodist and Dundas Presbyterian Churches joined to become Dundas United Church.
In 1965 Dundas United and St. David's United, Georgetown amalgamated to form the Central Kings Pastoral Charge.
Kilmuir:
Kilmuir, also referred to as the Whim Road Cross, had their first services in 1875. Then in 1888 the Valleyfield congregation purchased the building in Kilmuir at a cost of $138 and organized the first and largest Sunday School of the Valleyfield congregation. Prayer meetings were held in Kilmuir on the first and third Sundays of each month at 3pm. 1950 saw the celebration of the75th Anniversary of the congregation. In 1965, since worship services were no longer being held there, the congregation returned the building to the community. It became the Kilmuir Hall.
Unions Prior to 1925:
METHODIST
1884 The Methodist Episcopal Church and one other church formed the Methodist Church in Canada.
1874 Five branches of the Methodist Church joined to form one of two which then merged in 1884.
PRESBYTERIAN
SUMMARY
There were 15 different groups which joined between 1817 and 1925 to form the United Church of Canada. Eight of those were Methodist, six were Presbyterians and the fifteenth was the Congregational Church.
In 1850 the congregation appears to have separated, with a Mr. Bethune being the preacher at Murray Harbour. Then in 1856 a Rev. Andrew Lochead was settled at Georgetown. During his ministry the first church was built in Cardigan, probably by volunteer labor.
In 1861 Lower Montague was included in the Georgetown ministry and during the years that the Rev. Peter Melville preached, Montague and Cardigan were also included, the only church in Montague at that time being Methodist.
In 1877 the Cardigan congregation, formerly under the jurisdiction of the Valleyfield congregation, joined with Georgetown.
Central Kings:
In 1845 the first church was constructed in Albion Cross, then nine years later the Bridgetown Methodists were founded.
Dundas separated from the Valleyfield congregation in 1859. In 1862 the Rev. Allan MacLean was inducted into ministry at Dundas and remained there for fifteen years.
In 1898 Annandale Presbyterian united with Dundas to become Dundas Presbyterian Church. Then in the year of Church Union, Bridgetown Methodist and Dundas Presbyterian Churches joined to become Dundas United Church.
In 1965 Dundas United and St. David's United, Georgetown amalgamated to form the Central Kings Pastoral Charge.
Kilmuir:
Kilmuir, also referred to as the Whim Road Cross, had their first services in 1875. Then in 1888 the Valleyfield congregation purchased the building in Kilmuir at a cost of $138 and organized the first and largest Sunday School of the Valleyfield congregation. Prayer meetings were held in Kilmuir on the first and third Sundays of each month at 3pm. 1950 saw the celebration of the75th Anniversary of the congregation. In 1965, since worship services were no longer being held there, the congregation returned the building to the community. It became the Kilmuir Hall.
Unions Prior to 1925:
METHODIST
1884 The Methodist Episcopal Church and one other church formed the Methodist Church in Canada.
1874 Five branches of the Methodist Church joined to form one of two which then merged in 1884.
- 1854 The Eastern Canadian Conference and the Western Canadian Conference of the Methodist Church joined to form one of the five who joined in 1874
- 1847 The Ryersons and the Wesleyans of the Methodist Church joined to form one of the five groups which joined in 1874
PRESBYTERIAN
- 1875 Four Wings of the Presbyterian Church formed the Presbyterian Church of Canada.
- 1840 The United Synod of Upper Canada and “The Kirk” of the Presbyterian Church joined to form one of the four who joined in 1875.
- 1817 The Burgers and the Anti Burgers of the Presbyterian Church joined to form one of the four groups who joined in 1840
SUMMARY
There were 15 different groups which joined between 1817 and 1925 to form the United Church of Canada. Eight of those were Methodist, six were Presbyterians and the fifteenth was the Congregational Church.