2nd West Gwillimbury Presbyterian Church

 

1819    

In the early part of the year fourteen Scottish families came from the Red River to what is known as the Scotch  Settlement in West Gwillimbury.

1844    

 The Auld Kirk split was partly as a result of events in Scotland and also because some members wishes to incorporate the use of an organ during the services.  Thus the birth of the 2nd West Gwillimbury Presbyterian Church transpired.  It was a protracted birth taking some 30 years before the new congregation had a permanent church building.

1865    

It is thought that the congregation of the 2nd West Gwillimbury Presbyterian Church held services in the barn of Mr. Bannerman who donated land for the new church building.  There is documentation of this first 1865 meeting.

1875   

The new church was dedicated.  It is located on the 5th Line of the Township of West Gwillimbury.  Over time, the church became better known as The Scotch Settlement Church.

1875    

The several strands of the Presbyterian Church amalgamated to form the Presbyterian Church in Canada.

1904    

A new pulpit was installed; original seats were refinished; a new choir platform was built, as was a wooden platform outside the church to accommodate those arriving by buggy or sleigh.  A new furnace was installed.

1911      

 Church union with the Methodists and Congregationalists was the issue.  At that time, 2nd West Gwillimbury Presbyterian Church had 93 members.  The vote was 37 in favour of union with 17 against.

1925     

Church union to form the United Church was again the issue.  2nd West Gwillimbury elected to remain Presbyterian.

 1984    

The total congregation of the 2nd West Gwillimbury Presbyterian Church chose to join St. John’s Bradford Presbyterian Church.  In the agreement the amalgamated congregation was to be known as St. John’s Presbyterian Church.

        

The reasons for closing the 2nd West Gwillimbury Presbyterian Church were similar to those outlined for St. John’s at Coulson Hill – attendance down, revenues harder to come by – costs ever increasing – and a neighbouring Presbyterian Church was only three or four miles away.  Automobiles made the Sunday trip to worship in Bradford possible.