HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1968-10-31, Page 6111YRON EXPOSITOR, SEAFORTH, ptIT4 •Q
T. N. WA
urchs Contribute to Corn
By Miss Isabelle Campbell
With the commercial growth
Of the town, the social,
edUCational and religious life
kept Pate.
As early as January 27, 1859,
the Independent Order of Grand
Templars - Huron Temple 308
- was organized in Seaforth, and
other followed soorrafter.
The early settlers soon craved
for a place to worship, but
ministerial supply was not easy
for the churches to secure.
Because of this, church groups
of all denominations were served
by travelling inis,sionz..les -
priests, presbyters and circuit
riders, who served ,large areas
through Huron and other
counties. These missionaries,
trudging along the lonely trails
through the forest, never failed
to wirswer a call to serve.
PRESBYTERIAN
In the early 1830's, two
Presbyterian groups - the
Church of --Scotland and the
United Secession Church of
Scotland - were actively
engaged in missionary work in
Upper Canada, and both sent
men to the Huron Tract to make
a thorough canvass of the area.
The Scottish settlers who had
come to Roxboro in 1833
became very anxious to establish
a church for themselves. Word
came to them from a relation at
Galt that some young men had
been sent out from Scotland as
missionaries to preach in needy
areas and they might have a
chance to get one. of these.
Robert Scott and John
Govenfock were the ones chosen
to go to Galt on the Toronto
Presbytery meeting. Willingly
they set out on foot, with the
petition, on the 60 -mile journey
through ,the bush.
This was the first step taken
to get a Ptesbyterian Church in
the Seaforth district. As a result
of their efforts, Rev. William
Proudfoot- and Rev. Thomas
Christie met, with the
Presbyterians in Tuckermsith
and McKillop on their second
missionary journey in 1835. The
gathering was held at the home
of Colonel Anthqn W. 0-
VanEgniondi on the Huron
Road. After remaining four days
in the community, arrangements
were completed for setting up a
eongregation. Later in the year
Rev. Alexander MacKenzie
arrived and took over three
charges in „ the district -
HarpurheY, nondon Road and
Goderich.
However, it was not till 1847
that the Harpurhey Church, for
which they had waited long, was
erected. There was also a
graveyard around it, where few
interments are made now. In
18 5 3, Rev. A. MacKenzie
retired, and, after being ordained
in 1854, Rev. Matthew Barr
became their minister. This
church continued to prosper till
the middle sixties. AS Seaforth
grew, everything changed
drastically, and the church here
did not escape.
In the late 1850's and early
1860's, Presbyterians in Seaforth
attended either the 1-larpurhey
or Egmondville Church. Later,
either Rev. M. Barr or .Rev.
Williarn Graham, of
Egmondiille, conducted services
Sunday afternoon in Seaforth
Temp„erance Hall. After many,
meetings and much discussion', a
lot was bought on Goderich St.
West in '1867, and by the end of
the year the walls of the church
were up and the basement
corn pleted for the opening
ceremony on the 16th of
December. The auditorium was
finished as soon as 'money was
available. The contractors were
William Shaw, Hugh Grant and
David Duncan. Rev, Thomas
Goldsmith was inducted in 1870
as the first permanent minister
of First Presbyterian Church,
and he remained till 1877.
Harpurhey united with First
Church in 1879.
Major changes' have been
made in the church at different
. times through theycws. Perhaps
the greatest of thesanges was
in 1904, when the large "Nevi
Ontario" addition was erected at •
the west side of the church. At
this time the interior was
completely changed. There have
been also innovations in the
order of the service. The
precentor and his tuning fork by
1886 were replaced by the
Org, an„ organist and choir leader.
Hymns were introduced also
into the service of praise. About
the same time the congregation
decided to stand while they sang
and to sit during the prayer.
Previously the reverse had been
the custom.
•Before .the congregation
owned a lftnv,-, Rev. Goldsmith
lived in two honses on High St.,
now occupied by Peter Malcolm
and R. S. Box. The rust manse, a
frame cottage, was purchased
from James Darling in the fall of
1875. just west of the present
manse. The brick manse was
erected in 1879. Rev. A. D.
McDonald and family moved
into it in 1880. He remained till
1 8 99. Others who have
*ministered to the congregation
and lived in the manse since Rev.
Mc Donald have been Rev,
Frederick H. Larkin, 1900-1928;
Revjrvine B. Kaine, 1928-1934;
Rev. Harord C, Feast,
'1935-1937; Rev. Hugh Jack,
1938-1944; Rev. Richard H.
Williams, 1944-1948; Rev. D.
Glenn Campbell, 1948-1958;
Rev. D. L. Elder, 1958-1961.
Rev. D. 0. Fry was inducted in,
1962 and still ministers 'to this '
congregation.
Roman Catholic
It was at St, Columban the
early settlers of the Roman
Catholic faith gathered for their
first religious service. The first
Mass was said in Arthur
McCann's tavern, and later ones
in Dennis-4)owney's home. As
early as November, 1835, Rev.
Father J. B. Werrie, a German
priest from Waterlob,-.0dC, vYas
making missionary trips through
to Goderich, and he was the one
who organized this first group at
St. Columban. •From 1837 till
1842, Rev. Thomas Gibney, of
Guelph, visited the mission
periodically and preached in the
homes till the log church was
bu ilt, where a room- was
furnished for visiting priests who
first made the trip on fookfrom
Stratford to Goderich, but later
on horseback. Rev. Peter
Schneider for the journey used a
white horse. He was known to
all as the "Apostle of the Huron
Tract".
In 1865 Rev. Dean James
Murphy followed Father
Schneider in this parent church.
Under his supervision he
founded and built churches in
Wineham. Blv di. Brussels.
Zurich, Drysdale and Seaforth.
The first Mass said around
Seaforth nearer than St.
Coltunban was in the home of
Michael Donovan, not far from
Egmondville.
It was in 1869 the spacious
and dignified white brick St.
James' Roman Catholic Church
was built on Victoria St. under
Father Murphy's supervision, on
a lot bought by him from Dr. T.
T. Coleman. The dedication
service was conducted by Rt.'
Rev. Bishop Walsh on July 17,
1870. •
From 1870 till 1880 the
parish was attended by Rev.
Dean Murphy, or one of his
many valued assistants, till the
first resident priest was
appointed on January 29,
1880. lie was Rev. Father
O'Shea. Others who followed
and served faithfully were
„Father Cooke, Father Kennedy,
Father McCabe, Father P.
Corcoran, Father E. F. Goetz,
Father T. P. Hussey, Father E. P.
Weber, Father ,Charles E.
Sullivan, and the present pastor,
Father Harry J. Laragh.
Until a pastors residence was
secured, Father O'Shea boarded
in a local hotel. In July, 1880, it
was planned to build a residence
on the lot at the rear of the
church. However, in September
that same year, the large frame
home of Thomas Coventry was
purchased. The price paid was
$2,600. This was the home of
the 'priests till the present white
brick was built by 1900, during
the pastorate of Father McCabe.
The first rectory is now th'e
home of Mrs. Scott Habkirk:
It was Father Kennedy who
bought a -plot and had St. James'
cemetery opened at the eastend
of the town. The first interment
was John Duncan, who died in
1893.
akes
}le Difference0-
Long before there was a Seaforth, milk was
recognizecl for the contribution it made to
a. -healthy diet. - Today,. more, than ever,
there is nothing like wholesome fresh milk
7 7 so rich in needed vitamins and minerals.
It really builds strong bodies.
We Congratulate
The Town of Seaforth
• on ifs 10011, Birthday
.MAPLE LEAF
DAIRY
Anglican
In 1849 when Rev. E. Is.
Elwood succeeded 'Rev. R.
Francis Campbell, the rust
Anglican missionary at
Goderich, Elwood became the
rector of all Huron, and among
his many appointments,
Harpurhey and Seaforth were
included. In 1855 Rev. William
• Cresswell arrived with a license
from the Bishon of Toronto to
officiate here. Services were held
by him in Knox Hall,
Harpurhey, and Sacraments were
administered. That year an
enthiniastic, group planned to
build a church, but for .some
reason this plan did not
'materialize.
In 1859, when Seaforth
continued to show more and
more to be a place of
importance, these church people
again looked forward to having a
Sanctuary of their own in which
to worship. However, before
their dream was achieved, they
encountered many difficulties;
among them was a scarcity of
money. About this time Rev.
William Cresswell, Rev. 'James
Carmichael, rector at Clinton,
and Rev. J. C. Des Barries, used
their influence and came to their
rescue to enable them to hold a
service in Downey's Hall or
Carmichaers Hotel every Sunday
afternoon. These three carried
on for almost three years, when
they were relieved by Rev. John
Ridley, Mitchell rector, who was
assisted occasionally by
Archdeacon Ellwood, of
Goderich. At this time services
were , held in the winter in
Carmichael's Hotel, and in the
summer in Thomas Adams' barn
on Goderich St. West.
The First Church .
Again, in. 1862, a group of
men met with a deterni
ined
purpose that at least the ave,
the central part of the buil, ing,
be built and completed. At this
time the church site was donated
by Edgar Jarvis on the corner of
St. John and Jarvis St. In 1863
the present frame St. Thomas'
Anglican Church was erected
with tower and spire. This was
the first permanent place of
worship in the village. The first
seating consisted of plain boards
on blocks, and the material tame
from the bush of Thomas
Adams. The bell in the tower
was the only one in, the place
and it was rung five times a day
for public convenience. Rev. C.
C. Johnston was appointed the
• first Permanent Minister in
4864.. If was not till 1872 that
the chancel was' built, and the
wrings were not added till around
'4878. .
-A pleasing incident of the
early days wag the coming of a
company of the Six Nation
Indians, who, . under the
leadership of -Chief, Johnston,
gave a very excellent concertfor
the benefit of the church. While
here they were' entertained by
Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Meyer at
Thornton Hall.
In the year 1885 the Methodist
Episcopal Church was purchased
and Was moved later ' to the
present site for a parish hall.
On March 13, 1921, while an
eight-day mission was being
held, the tower of the church
was struck by lightning as the
bell was just about to be rung
for tbe evening service. While the
tower was damaged badly, no
one was hurt, and after a prayer
of thanksgiving was offered by
Rev. T. H. Brown, the service
continued as had been planned.
Rectors who have served the
been: Rel./. C. C. Johnston,
yedasltiveodf
' he
parisohr anitnthcehluarrcgeh rrhamavee
rectory
1864-1870; Rev. Reginald Star,
1871-1874; Rev. W. L. Mills,
1674-1875; Rev. William Craig,
1 8 7 5-1877; Rev. W. F.
Campbell, 1877-1878; Rev. J. F:
Pinard, 1879-1880; Rev. Jeffrey
Hill, 1880-1883; Rev. J.
Edmonds, 1883-1888; Rev. T.
W. Magahy, 1888-1889; Rev. J.
W. Hodgins, 1889-1905; Rev.
John gerry, 1905-1912; Rev.
Thomas H. Brown, 1912-1930;
Rev. J. F. Meyers, 1930-1632;
Rev. ' Canon Appleyar
1932-1937; Rev. R. P. •tL
"Hurford, 1938-1944; Rev. C. E.
L. Gilbert, 1944-1.948; Rev. T.
Dale Jones, 1949-1951; Rev.
William A. Jones, 1651-1953;
Rev. J. 11. James, 1953-1959;
Reir—TrarrY Donaldson,
1959-1967; and Rev. S. Sharpies
1967 to,the present.
Methodist
The Episcopal Methodist
Church was organized in 1863
under the labors of Rev. S. Card.
A neat frame church was erected
on St. John Street in 1864, with
a seating capacity of two
hundred. The location was on
the lot where William McCurdy
now lives. Shortly after the
Union in 1884 of the three
existing Methodist Churches -
Episcopal, Bible Christian and
Wesleyan - this church was sold
to the congregation of St.
Thomas' Anglican Church for a
Parish Hall. In 1884 the trustees
of the Episcopal Church were
John Modeland, John Hargan,
William Hargan, Amandus Mem
and Jenus Beam. '
No , Bible Christian Church
services were • ever held in
Beaforth, but a• Bible Christian
Church. Was moved, in from
IVIcifillop and is part of William
Brugger's home on James Street.
It was in 1856 the Wesleyan
Methodist Church had its origin,
First Seaforth Resident
Mrs. Andrew Steene
Streets but which in 1830
community which was to
occupied a log cabin at what is now the corner of Goderich and Main
'wat known as "Guide Board Swamp". She was the 'rst resident of the
become Seaforth.
That year a little group gathered
for worship in an unfinished
upper room in the home of
James Sperling in McKillop. It
was here Rev. George H. Cornish
preached the first sermon to the
group. James Sparling---was a
local preacher and assisted with
some of the services. This group,
in, 1859, built a church on the
second concession of McKillop,
opposite the present
Maitlandbank Cemetery. At that
time this congregation was
connected with the Clinton
circuit, but ' became an
independent charge 1.1.864.
In 1865 a move was made to
change...their- location and -that
year a frame church, 50' x 36',
was built on the site of the
present church on Goderich
Street in Seaforth. The cost was
$1,000„011 It had a capacity to
seat three hundred. Late in
1866, ' when Rev. William
Hayhurst was the minister, the
church was remodelled and
enlargedto almost double its
Seating capacity. A gallery was
added at the sides and front. .1V
choir loft was provided and a
melodeon was furnished. The
building was refloored and new
pews were installed. A
Communion railing was erected
and an elaborate pulpit was
added. The cost of these
improvements amounted to
almost $1,300.00. This building
then served the congregation
another ten yew's. But in the
middle 1870's, because of the
rapidly increasing population, it
was felt more accommodation
was necesarry. This frame
church was torn down and the
material was taken to' Winthrop
end was rebuilt into a barn on
the farm owned by William M.
Gray and later by' Melvin
Blanchard. The present briek
church was erected on the same
site in 1877. Walter Mullins, of
Wingham, was the contractor.
Rev. George Buggins was the
minister at this time.
In 1919, during the pastorate
of Rev. H. D. Moyer, a
memorable event took place. It
was the burning by Mr. and Mrs.
James Beattie, of the last of a
long series of mortgages attached
to the bond Of 1877, when the
brick church was built. After the
mortgage was consumed by the
fire, the congregation arose and
sang, most heartily, .the
Doxology.
Since the Union of the
Presbyterian, Methodist and
Congregational Churches in
Canada took place in June,
1925., this church has -been
knOwn as Northside United
Church.
In 1868, on,4,th,e lot..ehst of
the church, a fine, parsonage was
btillt, also a stable for horse
accommodation. Both lots were
enclosed by a substantial fence.
This was the home Of the
ministers till Rev. A. K.- Birks
arrived'i'n the early 1900's:
During his pastorate the present
white brick parsonage was built.
While it was being erected in
1904, Ftev. Birks lived directly
across from his church, where
Ikter the Brine family resided for
litany'Year' s, but is owned now
by W. Arthur Wright. After
being, rented for a time,
the old
pttriteritge was moved to High
Street, and was occupied by
Georgd" McGavin when it was
burned during the Ball &
Macaulay. Lumber Supplies' fire
on March 12, 1957.
The ministers who gave
spiritual inspiration to these
peOple from 1856 till 1877 were
FteV, O. H. Cotnsh,1tv. Asakel
Halburt, Rev. William Hayhurst,
Rev. William Price, Rev. D.
Kennedy,Rev. Tavell and ;Rev.
George,Buggin.
Since the present church was •
built -in 1877, the E,ninisters have
been: - Rev. George Buggin,
1877-8; Rev. James Graham,
1878-80; Rev. Thomas Cobb,
1 8 8 0 - 8 2 ; Rev. John Mills,
1882-4; Rev. Jetties Broley,
1884-6; Rev. J. E. Howell,
1886-90; Rev. Wesley Casson,
1 8 9 0 - 2 ; Rev. J. Galloway,
1892-5; Rev. Stephen Bond,
1895-8; Rev. A. L. Russell,
1898-1901; Rev. L B. Welwyn,
1901-04; Rev. A. K. Birks,
=1 9 0 4 -0 7 ; Rev.. Dr --Rogers,
1907-11; Rev. A. W. Baker,
1911-15; Rev. George McKinley,
1915-18; Rev. H. D. Moyer,
1918-19; Rev. E. W. Edwards,
1919-22; Rev. R. F. Irwin,
1922-26; Rev. W. P. Lane,
1926-34; Rev. T. A. Carmichael,
1934-38; Rev. H. V. Workman,
1938-49; Rev. D. A. McMillan,
19 4 9-5 2; Rev. J. Stinson -
1952 -5; Rev. B. Hall, 1956-8,
and Rev. J. C. Britton, 1958 till
the present time.
Cemeteries
The first Methodist cemetery
was -opened on the same plot as
the church, on Concession 2,
McKillop. After the new one
opened, most of the bodies were
lifted and reinterred. Some time
after when the few remaining
markers were lifted and the plot
was plowed over, there was a
wave of indignation among those
who had loved ones there, and
others as well. '
On December 4, 1874, a
company composed of
gentlemen of Seaforth purchased
ten -acres for a new cemetery
from Thomas E. Hays, on
Concession 3, McKillop, across'
from the original one on
Concession 2. From October,
1875, this cemetery was held by
trustees of Seaforth Wesleyan
Methodist Church. This_ is the
present Maitlanba'nk
Cemetery.
Since mausoleurns in recent
years seem to have become a
necessity, it was necessary for
residents of this area to use,
during the winter months, the
mausoleums in Clinton or
Mitchell. Because of this, plans
were made 'in 1964 to have an
inter -denominational mausoleum
erected in the Seaforth area. In'
September a site was donated,
across form Harpurhey
cemetery, by Mrs. Robert B.
Scott, in memory of Robert
Scott, an 1833 pioneer settler,
and all other area pioneers. John
Lansink erected the red brick
structure, new known as the
Pioneer Memorial- Mausoleum.
The oervide 4,Aedicatign took
place on Sunday, December 5,
1965, and the first temporary
entombment was made on
December 23. '
Baptist
The Baptist Church was
organized lin 1866 by Rev.
Charles Northorp, with services
held in the Masonic Hall till the
church was built in 1869. it' was
a rough east building;30! x 50',
,built at a cost of $2,000.00,. on
the corner of lames and West
William St. It had a seating
capacity of three hundred. Rev.
- Alexander D. McDonald was the
mfnister When the church was
built. Rev. Dyall, a Baptist
minister, was still in town in
1875. By October, 1880, D. D.
Wilson and W. S. Robertson
Were using this •building as an
evapeitatOr.
An old church marriage
register was handed to the -town
clerk, William Elliott, in 1872 by
a Baptist minister, who was
leaving Seaforth. It has marriages
recorded in it 'from 1865 till
'1870., Judging by the
handwriting, five ministers could
have served during those five
years, Whether, or not there is a
connection with the church on
James St. is not known,
One well-known couple
registered October 11, 1865, was
Alexander Stewart, Seaforth,
and Mary McCulloch,
Harpurhey, with James Todd
and George Tovell, both of
•liarpurheyrus
Gaelic services in the early
days were held for the Scotch
Highlanders in the home of Mrs_ ,
McLeod, in Little Scotian:),
south of the railway; track.
Salvation Ai -my • .
It was not till March 29,
1884, that the Salvation Army
arrived in•Seaforth. The first few
weeks 'the meetings were held in
the TownHall at the Market
Square, with a small group of
five men and four women. Later
they moved to Cardno's Hall,
where they remained till the new
barracks was ready for
occupancy. Captain Gage was
the leader at this time. This
barracks was built on North
Main St. on a lot formerly
occupied by Sam Stark. Their
meetings wery held at the front
of the building, and the officers
living quarters .were at the rear.
The building was dedicated on
January 9, 1887. In July, 1914,
tenders were called for a new
Citadel to replace the old, one.
Here the local corps carried on
till 1955..
During the first year or two,
boys and young men several
times caused disturbances at the
Army meetings and paraded on
Main St. at night singing
parodies of the hymns used .by
the Army. This was offensive to
many citizens, and also to the
• constable, Ebenezer Lusby.
When these problems were
brought to the magistrate, the
young men pleaded for leniency
and promised to behave. Soon
peace was resumed.
Prominent in Army work
were Mrs. Robert 'Army' Smith,
Brigadier "John Habldrk, Mr. and
Mrs. John McLennan, Miss Ida
McTaggaret, Mr. and Mrs. John
Ligtowler, Miss Elizabeth
Thompson and Mrs. Robert
Ritchie. A memory of their
work still lingers singing , and
Erpeaking on the lingers,
corners,
and their sincere 'Thank You'
and 'God' Bless Yon' 'na you
dropped a donation on their
plate,or piirchaSed a "War Cry"
from them at your door.
The Army Barracks was sold
In 1957 to the Seaforth Orange
Lodge - L.O.L. 793. Lodge
meetings of both the men and
women's groups are held here,
and also other social gatherings.
Since Bethel Bible Church'
was' organized, in September,
1964, CR' services conducted
have been held in this building.
Still another church group,
this one of the Pentecostal faith,
in 1956 built a small white
studccied place of Wroship on
East William St., •where John
Peters In the early days had his
"Pleasure Oarden' The &web
was Wilt under the simervisiovn
of Rev. H. T., Kendrick, and the
pastor now , is Rev. B L.
Morrison. His home is on the
adjoining lot.
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