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The McDowall Memorial Cemetery |
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. W. Casey and published in The Beaver on May
28th, 1898.
Since this article
was written, the old historic church was burned, 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.
"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 carpentary 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......................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. 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 former windows were
taken out and in their places eight foot colored glass memorial windows were
put in. These were all the gifts of well known men who were interested in 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. 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;
IN MEMORIAM
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.
In the burial ground beside the church are the last resting places of the
Missionary, his devoted wife and several of their children. On the plain white
marble headstones, side by side, are these inscriptions:
"Sacred to the Memory of the Rev. Robert McDowall,
who
as 43 years Minister of the Presbyterian church,
who
died August 3d, 1841, aged 73 years."
"Hannah, wife of Rev. Robert McDowall,
who
departed this life Dec 1st, 1852,
aged
69 years."
"Sacred to the memory of Daniel S. McDowall,
who
was born Dec. 28th 1817,
and
died March 4th 1842."
Napanee
May 28th 1898.