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FREDERICKSBURGH CHURCH So
far as we can now learn the Fredericksburgh church was not built until about
1834 or 1835. John Murdoch, one of the early settlers, is said to have drawed the first stick of timber with his oxen. No doubt
many of the others in the locality also supplied their share towards it, as
timber and other building materials were much more plentiful in those days
than money, and such as each one had was generously given. All the members
turned in and helped so far as their labor and skill would go. The late
Nicholas Murdoch, a son of John, was a carpenter, and besides doing his share
of work from time to time, he generously supplied free of charge the pulpit,
purchasing the lumber for a fat steer and doing the work with his own hands.
The same pulpit is yet used, having since been cut down some feet to adapt it
to more modern ideas. It is still a good specimen of skill and good taste in
carpentry of over sixty years ago. The Murdochs,
father and son, and many members of their families, lie buried in that church
yard. Among the early Presbyterian families in that locality were the Clutes, Youngs, Murphies, Armstrongs, Sloans, Murdochs, and others
whose names we have not got. Nearly all of the, no doubt, and many others
cheerfully lent a hand in the erection of the then much needed Presbyterian
Church, probably the second one erected in the county. It was for years the
gathering place of the worshippers of that denomination for many miles round.
It was a plain substantial frame building about thirty by forty feet, with a
gallery in one end. Years after the death of Mr. McDowall it became less used
and got quite dilapidated, the old stand-bys dying
out or moving elsewhere. THE MEMORIAL CHURCH
About 1886 the Rev. Jas. Cumberland, of Amherst Island, and some of
the old members made a strong effort to renovate and enlarge the old church
and transform it into a "McDowall Memorial" edifice. This work has
been well accomplished. All the defective material was removed and replaced
by new. The former building was veneered with brick. A neat and substantial
square tower was erected in front, and a small vestry room in the rear,
giving to the whole a neat and modern appearance. The seats are all new; the
former windows were taken out and in their places eight neat colored glass
memorial windows have been put in. These were all the gifts of well known men
who were interested in helping perpetuate the memory of the Pioneer
Missionary. Among those contributors were Sir John Macdonald, Sir Oliver
Mowat, Sir Richard Cartwright, John D. Murphy, Mr. Sloan and others. The
gallery was also removed. The building is now among the neat and comfortable
ones of its class in this county. On the front of the tower is a white marble
tablet with the inscription, McDOWALL MEMORIAL 1798-1887 referring to the date of the Missionary's arrival and of the
transformation of the building.
Inside, on the wall just east of the pulpit, is a very neat brass
memorial tablet inscribed;
Rev.
ROBERT McDOWALL Ordained by the Dutch Reformed Church at Albany. Came to Upper Canada, 1798 to minister to the U.E. Loyalists. As pioneer Missionary his labors were of pre-eminent importance in establishing the church in this province. He was elected first Moderator of the Canadas
in 1820. He was a founder of Queen's University. He organized this congregation in 1800 and remained its faithful pastor till his
death. His remains were interred in this church yard. The engraving accompanying this gives
a good impression of the church as it now stands.
who was 43 years Minister of the Presbyterian church, who died August 3d, 1841, aged 73 years."
who departed this life Dec 1st, 1852, aged 69 years."
who was born Dec. 28th 1817, and died March 4th 1842." There are also small headstones for
James and Eliza, two children who died in their infancy. It would seem now a fitting time to
take some steps for the erection of a more suitable and lasting monument over
the grave of one who took such a prominent part in laying the foundation of
the Presbyterian church in this Province, and occupied such an important position
as the First Moderator, as well as in connection with the founding of Queen’s
University. Doubtless the intelligent membership throughout the Province
would cheerfully contribute to this object, if fairly presented with an
opportunity. Napanee May 28th 1898. [Later commentary from the Napanee
Beaver] In view of the
changes on the Bay front, whereby the new highway cuts a small section from
the McDowall Memorial cemetery, we are reprinting an account of the McDowall
Memorial Church, written by Mr. T.W. Casey and published in The Beaver on May
28th, 1898. Since this article
was written, the old historic church was burned [in 1921], but the tower was
preserved and made into a memorial tower standing now about twenty feet from
the north edge of the new highway. Rev. Robert McDowall
after whom the church was named, was the first Presbyterian missionary sent
to Upper Canada. He reached this country in 1798. At first there were no
churches and the farmers' log houses were used as preaching places. Later on
school houses were erected and nearly every school house was used as a
preaching place. In the summer the barns were used when large congregations
were expected. Before Mr. McDowall's death, however, several very comfortable
Presbyterian churches had been erected in this county, including those at
Sandhurst, McIntyre's Corners, Wilton and possibly one or two other points. |
