Our History - Martintown

Taken from ‘Our Heritage” – A history of old St Andrew’s the Stone Church in Martintown
By Jean McCuaig MacIntosh

The origin of the village of Martintown was in the Scottish Highlands. When in 1745 the followers of Bonnie Prince Charlie failed in their attempt to place him on the British throne, they found thereafter that life for them, as tenant farmers was most uncertain. Portions of the estates were being sold and they were homeless and destitute. Tales of the New World across the sea were reaching them, and they began to dream of a new and freer existence far from their native glens. In 1773 three brothers of the clan Macdonald organized an expedition to sail for America. More than 600 passengers were on board the ‘Pearl’. They initially settled in the Mohawk Valley of New York State, and for a few years they prospered. When the American Revolution broke out, the majority of the Scottish settlers remained loyal to the British crown, many of them fighting with the Loyalist army. During the war, and afterwards, the United Empire Loyalists as they were called, were once more the victims of a victorious army. They were deprived of their possessions and driven from their homes. They Loyalists made their way to different parts of Canada. It is believed that the first Loyalist settlements in the Martintown area began as early as 1779, with the area being surveyed and lots being measured and numbered n 1784. An official list of Loyalists contains many names that are still common to this area, including Campbell, Cameron, Clark, Ferguson, Fraser, Grant, Munro, McArthur, McCallum, McDougal, McDonald, McGregor, McIntyre, McIntosh, McLennan, McMartin, Ross and Scott. The village of Martintown, which was first known as McMartin Mills, was built on land that was once owned by the Grant and McMartin families.

The very early settlers attended church at Williamstown, and were under the care of Rev. Mr Bethune, a pioneer minister, who organized churches at Lancaster, Cornwall and Williamstown. The commute between these villages was a formidable challenge in those days when the river and the forest trails were the only routes of travel. In 1804, Mr Reid, a school teacher and licensed preacher arrived in Martintown. He directed the building of a small frame church which became the Congregationalist Church. At that time, there was a greater number of residents who belonged to the Church of Scotland who continued to worship with Mr Bethune in Williamstown.

The most momentous years in the church’s history were the eleven years between 1825 and 1836 when the Rev Archibald Connell was the minister. At that time the total congregation numbered about 1300 people. The little frame church could accommodate less than one half of the worshippers. Mr Connell’s first plan was to build a larger place of worship. Although the congregation was large, the people there were struggling pioneers and there was little money for building a new church. Mr Connell returned to his native Scotland in 1829 and successfully raised a substantial sum of money, which combined with a government grant, amounted to 415 pounds. The site for the beautiful stone structure was donated by Finley McMartin. Overlooking the river, and high above its banks they dug the basement and began the building of what was later to be known as the finest rural church in Canada. During the building of the church in Aug 1835, Mr Connell and his congregation were assembled in the church yard for worship when a severe storm broke. The congregation took shelter within the unfinished walls where they continued their worship and partook of the sacrament. This was the only occasion on which Mr Connell conducted worship in the new church. On Aug 31 of the following year, the much loved pastor passed on to his reward. Shortly afterwards, the congregation gathered in the newly finished church, their pride in achievement greatly clouded, because on that day of dedication they also joined in burial service for their minister. A large tablet in the entry of the present church gives a brief biography of Mr. Connell.

By the mid 1800s, the Gaelic language was still in use in the homes of many of the folk; and Gaelic services as well as English were common. In 1853 the session resolved that no minister would be called unless he could use both languages in the services. By the turn of the century, the language of the Highlander could be heard in but a few of the homes and was no longer used in church except on special occasions.

On March 20, 1906 the villagers were aroused to action by the cry “Fire”. The beautiful stone church which had served the congregation for over seventy years was ablaze. When the flames were finally extinguished, the church was almost completely destroyed. Many of the old records were destroyed that day. The tablet at the front of the church erected in memory of Rev Connell was rescued from the fire and is now in the entry of the present church. Although the walls were made of stone, the fire was so thorough, only a portion of them could be used in the new building. Four years later, on Sunday, March 6 1910, our church, much as we know it today was opened and dedicated to the worship of God.

Over its history, the congregation at Martintown has been a part of unions with other churches. The fire of 1906 paved the way for a union of the two Presbyterian churches, long known as the Old Kirk and the Free Church. In the early 1920s the movement to unite Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational churches in Canada became more progressive. In June 1925 the general vote on union took place and St Andrew's Martintown gave a majority in favour of union. Those who opposed the change withdrew and formed another congregation, continuing as Presbyterians. In June 1962, the amalgamation of the Williamstown and Martintown congregations took place. The Rev Douglas McKay was the first minister of the amalgamated churches. It was part of the agreement that the minister should live at Williamstown, where a new manse was prepared during the winter of 1962-63. The same manse is now occupied by the current minister, the Rev Andrea Harrison, who became the minister of this pastoral charge in August of 1997.

Our History - Williamstown

Extract from “The History of St Andrew’s Williamstown 1787-1987”
by Mary J. Wilson

During the American Revolution, the land along the north shore of the St Lawrence River, called ‘The Front’, as well as the land along the Raisin River, was settled by Loyalists who were forced to give up their land and many of their possessions and endure many hardships on their way to Glengarry. Among the arrivals in 1784 from the Mohawk Valley was Sir John Johnson, a prominent landowner in the Colonies and commander of two battalions of the King’s Royal Regiment of New York, which fought for the Loyalist cause in the Revolution. Williamstown was named for his father, Sir William Johnson. Loyalists were soon joined by emigrants from Scotland, eager to establish new homes and provide a better life for their families. They were attracted to the Glengarry settlement where their compatriots were already settled and where they could worship and bring up their children in the faith of their fathers and provide them with a sound education as well.

The Rev John Bethune, who was the first minister of the Kirk of Scotland to come to Upper Canada, founded the first Presbyterian Church in Upper Canada in 1787 at Williamstown. The church of 1787 was built of logs. Its furnishings were primitive, the seats being planks resting on cedar blocks. During the week, it served as a school, thus beginning a tradition of religious and educational instruction in the community. After the founding of the Williamstown congregation, Mr Bethune established churches at Lancaster, Martintown, Summerstown and Cornwall and, as the records state, he baptized 2576 persons, several of them formerly black slaves. The second church was built of stone in 1804, making it the first stone Presbyterian church in Canada. That church collapsed in 1809, although the church bell, which was donated by the great explorer Sir Alexander MacKenzie, is still in use in the present church. Construction on the current church began in 1812. The original interior layout of the church was based on that of St Nicholas East Kirk, Aberdeen, a church much admired by Mr Bethune. Skilled French stone masons were brought in from Lower Canada where they had over a century of experience. Work on the church slowed considerably in 1813 and 1814 due to the war. The church was completed in 1818. Unfortunately, Mr Bethune never lived to see his church completed, as he died in 1815. It was three years before his replacement, Rev John McKenzie succeeded him.

The Rev Peter Watson was inducted in 1856. As did his two predecessors, he preached in both English and Gaelic, but was educated at Queen’s College, Kingston, which was established in 1842 for the purpose of providing students with theological training in Canada without having to rely on the mother church in Scotland. When the union of the four Canadian branches of the Presbyterian Church took place in 1875 to form the new Presbyterian Church in Canada, Mr Watson left to minister to those in the congregation who wished to maintain their connection with the Church of Scotland. But his relations with the members of St Andrew's Church were always friendly.

Almost 100 years after the founding of the church, the congregation felt that, while the old-fashioned, high pulpit, square pews with stiff formal backs, venerable book boards and clattering pew doors had served their purpose, it was time to modernize the interior. With the active encouragement of the Rev Alexander MacGillivray, the decision was taken to transform the church into a modern, graceful place of worship.

By the end of 1924, there were many meetings being held regarding church union. In 1925, the congregation of St. Andrew's voted to join the newly formed United Church of Canada, which was made up of Presbyterian, Congregationalist and Methodist congregations.

The church hall, which was built in 1880, was the centre of the social life of the congregation for many years. The hall was a two storied building with sheds underneath to shelter the horses – the only means of transportation at the time of its construction. After years of climbing the long stairs to the top storey with baskets of food and heavy cans of water, a change was required. In 1957, Mrs Irvine, the minister’s wife contacted one of the contractors of the St Lawrence Seaway who had been involved with moving buildings for its construction. For a price of $2200, he was able to bring the old hall down to earth. He told the women of the church that they could leave the dishes in the cupboard without fear of breakage. He was true to his word, as not a single dish was even cracked.

In 1962 there was a major change in the congregation. At that time, a number of smaller churches in the Presbytery had been considering the advisability of reorganization. On June 30, 1962 the pastoral charge of Williamstown-Martintown was organized. About this time, St. Andrew's manse (Williamstown) was sold and a smaller modern manse was built adjacent to the church, to serve the two congregations.

In July 1997, the Williamstown congregation celebrated its 210th anniversary. A total of 13 ministers had served this community over its long and vibrant history. On August 1, 1997, the Rev Andrea Harrison became the 14th minister. She looks forward to continuing the proud traditions of St Andrew's United Church.

Williamstown Church Officers - 2010

Session: Thelma Dupuis, Sandra French, Pat Larkin, Jay Woollven, Shelley MacNaughton, Susan Edwards, Bruce Overbury, Jon Oxley, Alan Rose, Jocelyn Overbury, Donald J. McDonald, Rev. Andrea Harrison

Committee of Stewards: Kerry McKay, Yvette MacNaughton, Innis Jenkins, Pat Larkin, Donald J. McDonald, Ian Cumming, Iris Swerdfeger, Jennifer Lafave, James Dennis, Sandra French, Rob Moncrieff

Trustees: Jay Woollven, Tony Durin, Bill MacNaughton, Cathy McKay, Lynn Lafave, Robert McDonell, Mike Seguin

Cemetery Committee: same as above

Young People’s Ministry: Cathy McKay, Susan Edwards, Edwina Billyk, Jennifer Lafave, Rev. Andrea Harrison
Ministry and Personnel Committee: Donald J. McDonald, Shelley MacNaughton, Jon Oxley, Carol Edwards

Social Committee: Joyce Lewis, Sandra French, Shelley MacNaughton, Bev Craig, Nancy Woollven, Trudy Watt

Outreach: Edna MacDougall, Jim Lewis, Joyce Lewis, Rita Buttle, Lorna McKendry

Waves, Ripples, and Hellos: Carol Edwards, Susan Edwards, Lorna McKendry, Nancy Woolven

Archives: Ralph Gordon, Kathi LeGault, Iris Swerdfeger

Presbytery Representative: Lorna Grant

Flowers in Sanctuary: Carol Edwards, Bev Craig

Pastoral Care Committee: Karen Paavila, Lorna McKendry, Rollande MacCrimmon, Neil MacCrimmon, Liz Clark, Bev Craig, Rev. Andrea Harrison, Mac Edwards (recordings secretary) Linda McDonell (card secretary)

Char-Lan Food Grains: Robert McDonell, Mac Edwards, Martin Lang