HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1972-06-28, Page 26PreSqterlanisM has, been. an
101.11Q114e fQr goo a In. Brussels;
almost: 4inc.e it, vas was founded in 1853, fnr, a few years, occasional'
services were held in private
homes and during, the summelr
season, in. the .040, .4t first, 8e3194.4 worked side by side until
there were two. provernuO. May 1895 when tney united and
churcnek. one known. as 1<11Qx became knOwp. as Melville
and the .other as Melville. "Both were named for eminent
ministers,. JohnKim And-Andrew
Melville., TheSe two congre...
Church.
Knox Church was built in
1856 or 57 in the vil!age of
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CONGRATULATIONS
to
BRUSSELS
On its 100th Birthday
and GREETINGS to
Both. CITIZENS' and VISITORS.
MARY and JACK 'BRYAN
and FAMILY
Topnotch Feeds Limited .mill •at Brussels, one of 14 branch plahts throughout
Ontario, which provides feed, seed and fertiliZer to area farmers. •
OPNOTCH
TOPNOTCH FEEDS LIMITED •
On the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of
BRUSSELS
We . Here at Topnotch are proud of our
association with the village during the
12 'years we have been located here and
of the contribution we have been able
to make to 'the community
2a—THE BRUSSELS POST; JUNE 28; 1972
Presbyterianism long time influence in... .Bto.siels
Ainleyville (now BruSsels) on
an acre of land on John. Street.
a 23' • x 40' building which was
the first church in PrOssels.
For a few bears _ Services
were conducted by probationers
and students', In 1861 or '62,
Rev, W. C. Young, who came *
from Orono was inducted as
the first minister of the church.
'Ill-health caused•him to resign
in 1866.
In 1865, the old church was
replaced by a new one 40 x 60
feet, Thomas Walker, being the
contractor. The first elders of
the congregation were Robert
Taylor, ' William Grant and
Thomas strachan. In 1867 Rev. ,
Samuel Jones was inducted into
the pastoral charge, and for
twenty years he worked zeal-
ously as Minister of the church.
In 1888, Goshen B. Howie, a'
' native of Palestine was called
and laboured for three years'when
he returned to his native land.
Rev. D. Miller. followed ' and
worked in the congregation for
three years.
During these early years,
Knox Church followed the old
Presbyterian cus tam of having
• the Praise Service led by a
Precentor, without organ or
choir, and aided only by his
trusty tuning-fork. The. first
precentor was • the late Dugald
Strachan, followed by J.
Coutts, Duncen Taylor,
J.
Johnston. and Alex Strachan.
The first preacher of
Melville Church was a student
from Knox college, named .Don-
ald McLean about 1854 folTowed
by several other students. In
1857 an acre of land on Queen .
and Turnberry was purchased
from Thomas Halliday for $5.00
and, a 30 feet x 40 'feet church
was erected. They' had no set-
tled minister *until the begin-
ning of 1865 when Rev. John
Ferguson (later Dr. Ferguson)
from Glengarry County was in-
ducted and spent 14 years as
minister. Mr. Ferguson also
conducted services at Walton
and Cranbrook in 'both Gaelic
and English. In 1872, a new
larger church was needed and
the present site was secured
from T. McMichael for $130.
and a 40' x 60' building was a
erected, the contractor being ,
Thoma's Brown of. Cranbrook.
(This building was closedon
March 15, 1914)'. The brick
for it was made by Thonias
Ainley.
In October 1879, Rev. John
Ross, B.A. (later Dr. Ross) was.
ordained and inducted into Mel-'
vine Church and for 26 years,
gave the best of satisfaction.
For many years the singing
was led by James Mitchell. He
was followed by Daniel Stewart
who was assisted by a choir.
Acting elders at the time the 111
two churches joined were Gil-
bert McCallum, Alex. Stewart
Sr., James Mitchell, • Hugh
Forsyth, Alexander Stewart, An-
gus McKay and Duncan McLau-
chlin.
Dr. Ross continued as
minister of the united congre-
gation until 1906 when he
accepted a call to Port Dal-
housie.
Other ministers who followed
were: -
Rev. A. C. Wishart, August
1906 - October 1912. Rev. A.
J. Mann, March 1.913 - Feb.
1921. During Mr. Mann's pas=
torate, the •church was damaged,
by a severe wind storm and the
congregation decided to replace
it with a larger church and on
May 24, 1914, the corner stone
of the present church was laid
by Dr. J. A. McDonald of
Toronto. The first service of
worship was held on the first
Sunday in April, 1915. A new
pipe organ was installed shortly
and has contributed to the
praise service of the church
for many years.
World War I brought sad-
ness and anxiety to Melville
Church as it did to every one
but Mr. Mann carried the con-
gregation through those desper-
ate years. He preached his
farewell sermon in February
1921. •
(Continued on Page 26A)
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