HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1976-06-24, Page 68FADE HO—CLINTON liEiS-RECORD, THURSDAY, JUNE 24,1976
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Andrew's Unitd Ciurc
The =foTiowTng TiTSty►-•--was-
taken from a booiri t- cotnpeoed
by .the late Mrs.. Robert Scot-
chm►er.
The Bayfield Presbyterian
congregation was organized
Ander the ministry of Rev.
Alexander MacKid of Goderich in
th e year 1857; with a Kirk Session
of two elders. Charles Tough and
Malcolm Smith. With . the
assistance of these elders. Mr.
MacKid dispensed the first
communion for the congregation
in Mr. Gardner's warehouse. the
following numbers partaking of
the Lord's Supper; Mr. and Mrs.
D.H. Richie. Mr. and Mrs.
Donald Cameron. Mr. and Mrs.
• James Gairdner. Dr. Gairdner,
Alexander Cameron. Mr. and
Mrs. Thos. Elliot. and Mrs.
James MacDonald.
In 1860. the first Presbyterian
Church in Bayfield was built at
the end of Howard. St..
overlooking the Bayfield• -River.
This was a solid brick building
and was considered a very
handsome church at the time.
It served the congregation wail
1902 until a sudden influx of
members made it necessary to
enlarge. This increase occurred
• when ' the 'congregation of the
Front . Road church decided to
.-move to Varna and dismantled
their building in August. 1900— a
group of cemetery headstones
marks the location still.
When this was done. nearly half
the congregation united - with' the
Bayfield church, filling it to
overflowing. At first it was
decided to enlarge the existing
building and some collecting was
- done fol. this purpose. but at a
congregational meeting held
September 30. 1901. it was
decided to build a new church.
During the following winter.
many -bees" were held, getting
the material in readiness for the
work of building. Stones for the
foundation were brought from the
Bayfield River and lime was
burned in the lime -kiln on George
Lindsay's farm. Brick for the
walls was obtained at St. Joseph
and, in February. the contract
was let to Buchanan and Lawson
of Goderich for $1.923.
On May. 19. 1902. a great
number of people assembled for
the laying. of the cornerstone. a
ceremony which was "new in
these parts-. Rev'. John McNeil.
the minister of the congregation
presided. and the programme
was opened by the choir. led by
Miss Minnie . Armstrong with
- Miss Anna Whiddon at the organ
Rev. Dr. Stewart. Willis
Church, Clinton read the
Scripture and Rev. F. Sawers.
Brucefield. led in prayer. Miss
Kate Gibson topped the cor-
nerstone with a silver travel and
declared it "well and truly laid".
Then followed addresses by Dr.
Stewart. Rev. E.C. Jennings of
Trinity Church: Rev. Thos.
Davidson of Varna: Rev. E.
Sowers of Brucefield and Rev.
James Hamilton of Goderich.
Mrs. Baldwin of Seaforth. ac-
companied 'by Miss Addie Rath -
welt. sang a solo.
In a cavity of the stone were
deposited several newspapers of
the time and a record of the
congregation which , was read
aloud by Mr. McNeil. On Sunday.
August 24th, the church was
opened and de iientPd
public worship of God. The kirk
session at that time was sOlo posed of six members:. Dr.
- Richard Stanbury. Reeve of
Bayfield; John Fraser: John
Whiddon: James Campbell:
James Donaldson: and Donald
MacKenzie.
Up to 1925. this Was St.
Andrews Presbyterian Church.
Then church union came about
and -this congregation, by a small
'majo'rity. declared for union. The
Bayfield Methodist Church was
closed and their members united
• with the Presbyterian majority to
form St. Andrew's United
--Church. Bayfield. The Methodists
contributed the parsonage and
the Presbyterians the church.
The Rev. H.F. Kennedy. pastor of
the Methodist congregation,
continued as minister for two
years and was- followed by Rev.
R.M. Gale.
When hydro tame to 'Bayfield
in 1423. the Delco system that had
Iseen-lostall4 in St. Andrew's
church years before gave way to
electricity from Niagara Falls.
A new shed built in 1930 to
shelter the horses and cutters
became obsolete in this
mechanical age and was sold to
.lir. Mote who used it as a factory
for making furniture. Later Mr.
Gozzard built boats under its roof
and now it is Steve Argyle's
Implement Shop.
In 1952, with Rev. Peter C.
Renner as minister. the
congregation celebrated. -not only
its fiftieth anniversary. in that
building. but also the
redecoration of the church in-
terior. Rev. W.J. Maines of
Brucefield was the guest speaker
and Mr.. and Mrs. J. Whiteside of
Stratford assisted the choir.
Improvements since then are
an electric organ installed in
1954. re -decoration of the Sunday -
School room. new washrooms. oil
furnace. and a sound system.
Today. St. Andrew's is
flourishing under the able
leadership of Reverend and Mrs.
James Reddoch. May it long
continue.
The St. Andrew's United Church in Bayfield has seen many
years of faithful attendance and hopes to see many more.
A Salute To Our Good Neighbours
BEST mums TO
BAYFIELD
CENTENNIAL
"PIONEERA'7
911
1976
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47 years of service to Bayfield, Goderich , Clinton and District
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