Historical Documents
Congregational Church - Middleville, Ontario.
supplied by Christine M. Spencer of Northwestern University, Evanston, Il., USA.
Perth Courier, September 5, 1902
50th Anniversary of the
Congregational Church of Middleville
The members and friends of the
Congregational Church of Middleville, Hopetown and Rosetta, celebrated the 50th
anniversary of their church on August 24 and 25.
The Sunday services were conducted by Rev.
R. K. Black of Granby, Que., who organized the church in 1852 and for 11
years was its pastor. Large
congregations greeted him at all three services.
The people were delighted with his excellent discourses, which were
delivered with clearness and vigor.
Monday, a Jubilee picnic was held in John
Mather’s beautiful grove near Middleville.
Notwithstanding the busy harvest season, a large company gathered to
celebrate the occasion.
Rev.
J. Lambert Alexander, pastor of the church,
presided. The chairman also read a
letter of greeting from Rev. Mr. Douglas,
of Portage-la-Prairie. These
reverend gentlemen were former pastors of the church.
Rev. Mr. Black’s review of the early
history of the church was listened to with much interest.
He stated that in 1851 he had been asked to preach in Middleville to 50
or 60 families who had seceded from the Presbyterian Church.
Through some neglect, no arrangement had been made to meet him and convey
him from the boat at Oliver’s Ferry to Middleville; he therefore had to walk,
a distance of thirty miles. On his
way out he was taken for a Millerite and then a Mormon.
Finally, he succeeded in making it plain that he was a Congregationalist.
When he arrived in Middleville, some sixty families were awaiting his
coming and he began preaching in the old log church.
The summer’s work was gratifying but Mr. Black had to leave as he
wished to complete his college work. The
following Spring (1852) the people invited him to return and form a
Congregational Church. The
invitation was accepted. Mr. Black
formed the church with 15 charter members all of whom are not promoted to the
church triumphant. These covenented
to live as the children of God and worship according to the Congregational
Church’s policy. Selecting the 15
from the 60 caused jealousy on the part of those who were not asked to unite
with the church. Mr. Black
endeavored to make it plain to them that all who would pledge thus to live would
be accepted as members. This did
not settle the difficulty. The
preacher, however, did not spend time in controversy but during the summer and
fall preached frequently in what constituted a child of God and eligible for
church membership. The seed sown
bore fruit in the not distant future.
Mr. Black had, Congregational minister
at Belleville, Ontario, preach for him one Sabbath. During the evening service at Rosetta, the people seemed to
be greatly moved and Mr. Clemie asked all those who wished prayers to stand up.
A large company stood. Mr.
Climie announced a meeting for Monday evening.
Rev. Mr. Black was home for the Monday night meeting.
Again a large company requested prayers.
A series of revival meetings now begun Rev. Mr. Clemie assisting Rev. Mr.
Black. The meetings lasted for
months during which time it is estimated about 400 were converted.
Forty members were received into the Rosetta Church at one communion.
This gave the church strength numerically and spiritually and Mr. Black
continued to be its pastor until 1863(?) during which time many united with the
church. Rev. Mr. Douglas succeeded
Rev. Mr. Black. Then came Rev. Robert Brown, then Rev.
McCall, then Rev. Alexander McAulay,
who was succeeded by the present pastor Rev. J. Lambert Alexander.
The first year of Rev. Mr. Black’s work embraced Middleville, Hopetown and Rosetta and Lanark. In 1853 eight members were given off to form the church in Lanark Village. Now we have in the township four Congregational churches: a stone building in Middleville, a frame building in Hopetown and Rosetta; and a beautiful stone building in Lanark Village.
Posted: 07 April, 2005