St. Paul's United Church History

The History of St. Paul’s United Church, Franktown
1816 – 1995

Compiled by Faith Kidd (1995)

The history of St. Paul’s Church is perhaps best understood if it is couched within the history of development of this region of Eastern Ontario and within the context of the times. There seems to have been forces of development and settlement from the south first and subsequently from the east.

“At the close of the war of 1812-1814, the British Government was faced with two major problems: unemployment and industrial depressions at home, and an uneasy peace with the Americans abroad. Upper Canada was still vulnerable to invasion and it was thought that the interior should be settled as a second line of defence against further hostilities. In Britain work had to be found for unemployed tradesmen and discharged soldiers.

An emigration scheme was put into action to settle the great wilderness north and west of the Rideau River, which flows into the Ottawa River. From Scotland came soldiers and their families in 1815 to found the Perth military settlement, followed by tradesmen and their families.”

“As early as 1813 while the war with America was still in progress, the British Government decided that too many of its emigrants had been settling in the United States. Further, it appeared desirable for purposes of the future defence of Canada, and to neutralise the Americans to the south of the St. Lawrence River, to have extensive settlement of loyal British subjects located to the north of that river. This would also ensure a safe line of communication between Montreal and western parts of Upper Canada. Many United Empire Loyalists had already located along the St. Lawrence River where surveys had begun as early as 1783, and some had pushed inland towards the Rideau River. Townships bordering that river, such as Montague, Marlboro, North Gower and Nepean, had already been surveyed in the early 1790’s to accommodate those settlers from across the border.

Two decisions made in 1815 became of immense importance to the Rideau area, of which the Derry was to form a part. First, the British government decided on a policy of assisted emigration to Canada; second, to accommodate these emigrants the government of upper Canada arranged for the opening of a new range of townships north and west of the Rideau River in the future District of Bathurst, which were named: Bathurst, Drummond, Beckwith and Goulbourne. Beckwith was named after Sir Sidney Beckwith, the Quartermaster-General of Upper Canada at this time.

1A Pioneer History of the County of Lanark, by Jean S. McGill
2The Story of the Derry, Chap. 2., by George Edward Kidd, MD
The units of land division were the District, the County and the Township. The District was at first purely judiciary in function. Four of these townships by 1791 each had its land registry office, school board, treasurer, and sheriff. It levied taxes for schools and local improvements. The District of Bathurst was begun in 1822 comprising almost all of the modern counties of Lanark and Renfrew and part of Carleton west of the Rideau River. Perth became the district seat in 1823.

The township was, at first, merely a surveyor’s convenience for the localization of lots and roads, etc. In some cases it’s settlers very early organized themselves for the; improvement of roads or the protection of their livestock. The Municipal act of 1841 gave each township its own local government.

The chief incentive to assisted emigration was a desire to have in Canada a dependable militia to help defend the colony against the United States, a potential enemy. Every man of military age, on leaving the British Isles was supplied with uniform and full military equipment. During the early days of Upper Canada every young man belonged to the militia. Once a year the men reported to their local rendezvous, dressed in scarlet tunics and carrying rifles. The role was called, a short speech by the commanding officer, a toast drunk to His Majesty, a few volleys fired, and; the men dispersed to their homes, to reassemble in a year’s time.”

In February 1816 sufficient land to form the new range of townships already mentioned, was purchased from the chiefs of the Chippewa and Mississawguay Nation of Indians, and surveys got underway at once. These surveys were not too accurate; they man have been done in a hurry, under pressure of the rapid influx of settlers. In Beckwith the distances between concession lines are scarcely ever equal while at points where these lines are cut by the side roads there is a break in the continuity of the latter; they being shifted for a hundred or more yards to the east or west. These jogs resulted probably from the surveyors having started at one side of the township and working in one concession and worked back to the side from which they started. Reading the end of the first concession surveyed, they had a strip of 50 acres left over, but when starting back they began with a full lot. This is a probable explanation, although the width of the jog varies and is sometimes absent altogether.

The side roads were about two miles apart, lying between lots 5 and 6, 10 and 11, 15 and 16, 20 and 21. A forced road, opened about 1910 runs through the east end of the Derry from the 9th to the 4th lines.

Each lot was 200 acres, but the settler was permitted to homestead only 100 acres. The pioneer usually built his home near the centre of his lot, facilitating the working of his farm. The first settlers moved into Beckwith as early as 1816-17, but by 1818 the land was taken up in quantity. The first ship bearing mainly Scottish and a few Irish

3The story of the Derry, p. 13,
immigrants arrived from the St. Laurence via Perth. Families named Lowe, Whiting, McKercher, Allen, Perry and Moss, settled in the vicinity of the future Franktown.

Colonel Francis Cockburn, Deputy Quartermaster General, had pressed Governor General Sir John Sherbrooke to order a road built from Perth inland to Richmond, and to set up a village in Concession three of Beckwith Township. Settlers had had great difficulties reaching their lots on foot carrying heavy loads. The 99th Foot Regiment was disbanded and ready to receive lands.

A group of Highlanders left Perhshire in the spring of 1818, crossed the ocean and sailed up the Ottawa River to the foot of the Chaudiere Falls. From there they walked overland to Beckwith: the Fergusons, McDiarmids and the MacLarens… They carried their worldly goods and any children too young to walk.”

“Colonel Francis (Frank) Cockburn was the moving spirit in the establishment of both Perth and Richmond settlements and the surveying of Franktown, names after him. His surveyors laid out a townsite between the 3rd and 4th concession lines, limited on the west by a side road (Highway 15). It extended east to cover lots 11, 12 and 13 with the Jock River cutting obliquely through it. The whole was divided into 20 acre lots. About the centre of the townsite an area was set aside for a cemetery, a gift from the government. It proved to be useless due to shallow ground; a man named Kilfoyle gave a piece of land farther to the east, now our present cemetery.”

“With the rapid influx of settlers in 1818 it was expedient to have a central storage space for tools such as picks, shovels, axes, to hand out to them as part of the agreement of emigration. A government storehouse of stone, known as the King’s Store, was put up for the purpose. It formed the foundation for the village, which Col Cockburn possibly expected to grow into a large centre.

The site of Franktown became a halfway point, a stopover for long lines of wagons or sleighs of supplies, for travellers, and mail. Taverns and tenant houses sprang up to provide accommodations.

Church of England newcomers, some from Prospect as well, sent for the Rev. Michael Harris, who had arrived in Perth from Dublin, to hold services in Franktown. The only place available was Pat Nowlan’s tavern, to which Mr. Harris agreed to come once a month. It was so unsuitable that permission was granted to use the King’s Store as a worship place. The Perth government store, now vacant was sold and the funds given to Mr Harris to build a Church of England in Franktown. By 1827 it was completed, and stands today with the distinction of being the oldest church in continuous use in Eastern Ontario.

The Rev. William Bell, a Presbyterian Clergyman, had arrived in Perth in 1817 with his wife and family, becoming the first resident minister in the area. He began an extensive missionary circuit that continued to his death, conducting services in homes wherever families could gather. He also held services in the King’s store in Franktown.

The village continued to grow, and reached it peak in the 1850’s. There were at least two hotels besides the taverns of Nowlan and Wickham, two large general stores, four blacksmiths, three shoemakers, a tannery, a cooperage, harness shops, cabinet and wagon makers, and a potash works. There were two resident doctors, postmaster, justice of the peace, and the Anglican rector previously mentioned.

The railway running north from Smiths Falls was put through in 1860 a mile west of the Village thus bypassing it. The result was that much of Franktown’s prosperity was lost. The Jock River was never large enough to supply power to generate additional industry. The dreams of some folk that their village might become; the nation’s capital were thwarted.

The first church was founded by Presbyterian descendants of the indomitable Scottish Highlanders who had emigrated from Perthshire in 1818 to claim and clear land in Beckwith Township’s virgin forests. The 7th line was the centre of the township and there the first Kirk was built. But the settlers of “the Derry” located in the 5th and 6th concessions were separated from the Kirk by swamps. Some 50 years later the Derry folk were able to build a church of their own in Franktown. It was a simple frame building raised in 1870 on Church Street, the first St. Paul’s.

The following section4 is an overview of the growth and perserverance of Prebyterianism through many generations, the building of the second St Paul’s, becoming part of the United Church of Canada in 1925, and the continuing faith and devotion to this day.

1816-17 Township of Beckwith of the District of Bathurst in Upper Canada was surveyed into concessions and two hundred acre lots, whereas the village of Franktown was divided into twenty acre lots. The work was done under the supervision of Col. Francis (Frank) Cockburn, D-Q. G.

1818 A great influx of emigrants mainly from Perthshire, Scotland, and Wexford, Ireland via the Ottawa River to take up lots in concessions 5, 6 and 7.

1819-22 A group of devout Church of Scotland settlers from these concessions sought pastoral care from the Rev. William Bell of Perth, who assisted them in writing to

4Minutes of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church and the Women’s Foreign Missionary Society (WFMS)

Scotland for a minister of their own.

1822 The Rev. Dr. George Buchanan answered the call, brought his family of ten, and settled on the seventh line.

1822-33 Dr. Buchanan served most of the settled township as minister, Gaelic preacher, teacher and medial doctor.

1833 A fine stone church, the “Auld Kirk” was erected on the seventh line. But Dr. Buchanan as refused entry due to his beliefs in a “Free Church” as opposed to a state-financed established Kirk.

1834 The Rev. John Smith (of Auld Kirk conviction) was called from Scotland. A stone manse was built for him in the glebe. Meanwhile Dr. Buchanan held services in his home for those who remained faithful to him.

1845 This group that believed in a Free Church was able to build a church of its own on the ninth line at Black’s Corners. It was named “Knox”.

1851 The Rev. John Smith died, leaving a very small congregation due to the split that had occurred. The Rev. D. Morrison carried on services. It is not clear if he lived in the Manse or in Carleton Place.

1856 The Rev. W. McHutcheson was next to preach in the Kirk. It is not certain how long he remained or where he lived.

1869 In the gap of thirteen years, some of Beckwith’s Presbyterians chose to go with the Presbyterian Church in Carleton Place. But in 1869 the latter began a larger church on Bridge Street, the still existing St Andrews. Back on the seventh line the Auld Kirk was abandoned. In the same year the Beckwith Presbyterians of the Derry (of the 5th and 6th concessions) wanted a meeting place closer to home. The St. Andrew’s pastor agreed to give them services at Franktown’s new schoolhouse.

1870 The newly formed Franktown congregation built a frame church, near the school, on Church Street, the first St. Paul’s.

1870-89 During this period a succession of St. Andrew’s pastors served at St. Paul’s as often as possible. According to a copy of the St. Paul’s Presbyterian congregational minutes dated May 31, 1882, a Manse building Committee was appointed to procure subscriptions “in this part of the congregation” to do whatever is required…to accomplish the objective. In December 1887 the minutes of the manse Committee record that Donald Ferguson moved and William Drummond seconded “that the managers dispose of the old stone church on seventh line of Beckwith…and pay the proceeds thereof into the Treasurer’s hands…to defray expenses connected with St. Paul’s.”
1889 A meeting between St. Paul’s and Knox of Black’s Corners denoted the end of the rift between Kirk and Free; union was discussed with Lanark-Renfrew Presbytery and a new charge was born. At once the Rev. A.H. Macfarlane, serving at Ashton nearby, was called to be minister of St. Paul’s and Knox. A large manse was built for him and his family at Franktown within the year.
The minutes of the Manse Committee over the ensuring years reveals sporadic progress:
December 1894 – Secretary was instructed to write to Knox congregation re the balance due by them on the Manse Building Fund.
December 1895 – All the Manse debt is now paid with a balance on hand of $3.46. An addition of 12 feet to be added to the stable at the manse.
January 1898 – Wall-papering of the manse to be left to the ladies of the congregation…”at a cost to church funds.”
December 1898 – A well to be sunk at the manse, provided that Knox Congregation bear one-half the expense.
December 1899 – Knox church willing to pay 40 percent (well).
January 15, 1917 – (Still talking about the well to be provided at manse) A committee composed of D. Ferguson, D. McLaren, R. Davis, E. Burrows, H. Ferguson, D. Carmichael is to attend their annual meeting on January 24, 1917 to confer with them on this matter. (It would appear the well was finally sunk).
January 1920 – Motion made that Rev. J.W. Lowry communicate with Knox in regard to the well fund.

1901 It must be observed here that other churches were being established in the district. Gillies Corner’s Methodist Church was built in 1901 with Rev. Paul Pergau its first minister. The pastoral charge included Zion Methodist in Drummond Tsp., Poole’s Methodist and Nolan’s Corners Methodist churches both in Montague Tsp. The parsonage was built beside Gillies Church. The church burned in 1925, and was rebuilt in 1928 as a United Church.

1901 Building of St Paul’s. In January subscriptions to the fund were called for. In April the committee was constituted: D. Ferguson, A. Cameron, J. McArthur, P. McLaren (with power to add to their number). In September Wm. Drummond was added to the committee. The majority voted for a brick building rather than stone. Site? In November the decision for stone and the site beside the Manse was reached. In December the architect Edey of Ottawa met with the committee to finalise the decision to raise the building on the north side of the Manse.

1902 In January the Treasurer reported $691.23 received on subscriptions to date. A motion was passed to take the subscription list around to the congregation members to sign pledges. In March the architectural plans and specifications were examined by committee; secretary to advertise in “both Carleton Place papers” for tenders. On April 9th tenders examined (1) James Wilson of Almonte $6,524.00; (2) Hopewell & McIntyre $7,500.00. Both were considered too high to warrant going ahead with the building on $3000.00 subscriptions. Architect Wilson was asked to modify plans. On April 16th the architect stated the plan could be modified to a lower cost but that it would be spoiled. The congregation voted to go on with the original plan and promised to raise $1000.00 more. Members of the Building committee pledged to double their own subscriptions. On April 30th James Wilson was called to a meeting to ask him to take the contract if he could reduce his tender price. Wilson offered to reduce his price to $6,100.00 with these changes; metallic tile on roof instead of dipped shingles; metallic tile on town roof; windows in rear of church to be without ornaments; cement floor in basement rather than wooden; 80% of contract price to be paid before work proceeded; and material to be laid on the ground.

1903 The new stone church was officially opened on the 3rd Sunday in January. Morning and evening services of dedication by visiting dignitaries were conducted.

The new church was said to be of Romanesque style, characterized by heavy masonry construction. ‘Scottish Baronial’ was the opinion of others. The entrance placed at the southeastern corner opened; into a vestibule, leading to the sanctuary by one of two wide doors. There, the pews were placed in a wide arc from wall to wall, divided by two carpeted aisles.
The pulpit platform, of typical Presbyterian distinction, with choir loft behind it, was directly opposite the vestibule. The manner in which the pews were positioned in a shallow arc afforded everyone a good view of the pulpit. The acoustic properties were considered of a high order.
Beautiful gifts to the Sanctuary included the ornately carved communion table and chairs, three upholstered pulpit chairs, and a wrought-iron chandelier overhead which held six oil lamps.
The basement was divided into three parts. The largest was the furnace room-cum-kitchen with space for a large supply of firewood. The immense furnace in the middle heated the whole building. A large kitchen range at one side was fired up for fall suppers. The other two parts were a vestry and a Sunday School or lecture room which doubled as a dining room.
Access to the curved stairway, lading to the vestibule above, was by a narrow hallway from the Sunday school room Originally there was a trap door in the vestibule which sealed off the stairway beneath, opened only for suppers. People came down the main stairs, had supper, then exited via the hallway, up the other stairs, and out the front door.
The building committee reported April 8, 1903 that the building proper had cost $6,100.00 without seats or other furniture. They had borrowed $2,000.00 on the church property. The contract price was paid to the contractor, save for $160.00. There was still a balance owing from the subscription list, which when paid would help to reduce the debt. Managers and trustees were given authority to dispose of the old church property.

1913 The Rev. Macfarlane retired after 24 years at Franktown. He eventually returned to Scotland and died there in 1927.

1913-26 The Rev J.W.S. Lowry was minister at St. Paul’s – Knox until 1922. The Rev. Robert Barbour followed, serving from 1923-26.

1925 On June 10th St. Paul’s and Knox churches became part of the United Church of Canada, as did the Gillies Corners and Zion Methodist charge on the Perth Road west of Franktown. In 1937 Gillies and Zion were added to the St. Paul’s – Knox pastoral charge.

1926-50 During this period the reverends McCord, Peebles, tiller and Rice ministered to the expanded charge. In 1942 Knox Church was closed (used for some years thereafter as a vault for local cemeteries), and St. Paul’s manse ceased to be a pastoral residence; it was rented out.

1950 A major change in the charge occurred when the Gillies church closed it doors; the congregation joined St. Paul’s. Zion Church closed also; the congregation went to a church in Perth. St. Paul’s alone remained open, henceforth to be served by Memorial Park United in Carleton Place. Gillies church and parsonage together were sold, and Zion was purchased by Seventh Day Adventists.

1953-63 The Rev. Harold Giffin replaced the Rev. D.C. Munro at Memorial Park and was pastor also to St. Paul’s.

1966 Another major change involved the closing of Zion United Church in Carleton Place to Amalgamate with Memorial Park and St. Paul’s. The new pastoral charge was named “Zion Memorial United” Church and included Boyd’s United which had been a satellite church of Zion, just as St. Paul’s was related to Memorial Park. Zion’s building became a Christian Education Centre until sold some years later.

1966-78 The Rev. Kenneth Murray became minister of the three-point pastoral charge with an assistant, the retired Rev. W. Henley. In 1972 layman Robert Bowker replaced Mr. Henley. Mr. Murray left in 1978, and Mr. Bowker in 1982.

1979 The Rev. Wesley Mitchell replaced Mr. Murray. The manse, which had been rented since 1942, was sold for $28,500.00.

1982 Mr Bowker resigned as lay assistant after 10 years. The pastoral charge did not fill the vacancy, as Zion – Memorial people made it known that they wished to revert to a single charge. St. Paul’s and Boyd’s were then ministered to by supply, the retired Rev. Lennox Paul.

1983 St. Paul’s and Boyd’s formed a new pastoral charge named Boyd’s-Franktown and Mr. Paul became their pastor.

1987 Mr. Paul resigned and Diaconal Minister Elizabeth Wilton was appointed, receiving a licence to administer the sacraments during her ministry with Boyd’s-Franktown.
1992 On July 12th St. Paul’s congregation observed three historic milestones at an impressive service commemorating (1) 90 years since the laying of the cornerstone of it’s present building, (2) 122 years since the building of the first St. Paul’s in Church Street, and (3) 175 years since its Scottish forebears formed the first congregation upon arriving from Scotland.
On October 18th the 90th anniversary of St. Paul’s, traditionally held in October, commemorated the life-work of the Rev. Alexander Macfarlane, the first resident minister of St. Paul’s. A memorial plaque placed on the south interior wall was dedicated, given by Audrey MacDonald of Ottawa in loving memory of her grandfather, “under whose influence the building of St. Paul’s was erected”. Mrs. MacDonald also presented a hand-crafted oak baptismal font in memory of her father, Calvin Macfarlane, the youngest son of Alexander and Anne, whose childhood was spent a the Franktown manse.

1994-95 Elizabeth Wilton resigned after seven years of ministry in the pastoral charge.

Robert Devenny, graduate of Queen’s Theological College, Kingston was pastor to the charge for the last three months of 1994 and the first eight months of 1995, before leaving for Scotland.

1892 The Franktown Auxiliary of the Women’s Foreign Mission Society was organized by Mrs. Macfarlane who held most of the meetings at the manse. The meeting format included worship, prayers, study of world mission’s reports, raising funds to send overseas.
A “Ladies Aid” was probably functioning from the early days of the frame church through the next several decades, but their work was but briefly mentioned in minutes of the church meetings, and their records have not been found. They packed bale3s of clothing for north-western Canada, served food at meetings, raised funds from suppers and quilts, painted and papered the manse rooms, and gave to the building fund.

1902 When the building of the second St. Paul’s got under way the whole congregations was zealous in its efforts to help, pledging generous subscriptions by instalments. While the women were raising funds in various ways, the men hauled stone and sand from local quarries and pits with teams, wagons and sleighs. The materials used were donated.
In July the convenors for the ceremony of the laying of the cornerstone made many preparations. Nine or more dignitaries were sent invitations to participate in the laying. A dais, constructed on the site of the future vestibule, was large enough to seat the invited guest speakers, the lectern, organ and choir. The picnic held later was organized with team sports, children’s sports, races and refreshments.

1903 In January even more plans were completed for the opening ceremonies of the handsome new church. Two distinguished persons spoke at morning and evening services. The next evening a social program brought out an overflow crowd for the musical and literary offerings and speeches by six clergymen of the area. The ladies served refreshments.
Form many years the women held a thank offering service each August, inviting other women’s groups as well as a guest speaker. This activity was a highlight of the year.

1905 Mrs. Macfarlane, treasurer of Ladies Aid, on April 8rh reported that the following moneys were raised: $216.75 from autographed guilt and social; $305 from subscriptions; $40.50 from membership fees; and that $600 was paid to the debt fund.

1914 The WRMS changed its name to simply Women’s Missionary Society. It helped the women at Black’s Corners to organize their own WMS. There was no mention in any minutes of meetings that an effort was made to send comforts overseas to Canadian troops during the 1914-18 war.

1918 Westminster Guild was organized for young adults; the agenda consisted of worship, social programs, and the raising of funds. The meetings were discontinued in 1940.

1930 No other meetings were recorded, but it is believed that the Ladies Aid continued quilting when they could, and the fall suppers also. It was during this decade, after Union, that the Ladies Aid name was changed to Women’s Association, absorbing the work of the WMS.

1939-45 Again, nothing was recorded of sending knitted articles or “care” packages to the war effort, but they probably did.

1954 “Franktown Friends” was a social group formed for all ages, to have worship, programs, and games. Funds were raised by collections for church improvements, and annual Christmas party with a tree, Santa, gifts and food, and an annual summer picnic. The group was successful and lasted until 1970.

1962 The United Church Women of Canada was constituted and the Franktown UCW organized. It proved to be active for many years. There were worship programs, guest speakers, films and fund raising events such as teas, bazaars, rummage and bade sales, church suppers. The group was dissolved in 1992.

1964 A committee of both men and women began a major renovation of the church basement. Old partitions and the wood-burning furnace were removed. The result was one large meeting-room with a new kitchen partitioned off along the south wall. A new oil furnace was installed and banquet tables and chairs purchased.

1966 In June a committee headed by Stanley Brunton arranged to have an historic plaque installed, in front of the church, by the Archaeological Historic Sites Board of Ontario. It was unveiled and dedicated to the life-work of the Rev. Dr. George Buchanan, the first resident minister of Beckwith. Dr. Stanley of the Royal Military College at Kingston officiated. The St. Paul’s site was chosen rather than the obscure site of the seventh line.
1972 In July the 70th Anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of St. Paul’s was marked by a special service at which were present several elderly persons who had witnessed as children the first cornerstone laying.

1974 A committee of choir members chose a Conn electric organ to replace the Doherty reed organ. The new instrument was dedicated to the memory of the servicemen of Beckwith and Montague townships who gave their lives in World War II. A work committee installed a water system, kitchen sink and washroom. In the winter of 1974-75 a Local Initiative Program federal grant was received to restore this now-historic church. The stone was re-pointed, the tower was repaired, and the vestibule and basement walls painted.

1977 On July 10 and impressive service was organized to observe the 75th Anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone. Many invitations had been extended to couples who were married in the church or manse. Numerous photographs, taken during the service as each ‘bride and groom’ were introduced, are filed in the album of St. Paul’s Story. Once more, the women provided a bountiful meal.

1985 Extensive redecorating of the sanctuary was done, including walls and ceiling being painted, woodwork grained, pews and floors refinished.

1989-93 In this period extensive renovations and repairs were required. The first was the need to drill a well and install the necessary plumbing. This work was precipitated by the owner of the manse next door having decided that he would no longer provide water to the church from the well at the manse. Additional repainting of the vestibule and portions of the sanctuary was caused by peeling of the paint used in 1985. In 1991 the Quilters paid for the purchase of two new electric stoves, and additional sink and counter top, and extensive re-wiring of the electrical system. In 1992 severe ice-damage to the stonework of the tower and other sports required immediate repairs to maintain the safety of the building and its users. In 1993 ice-damage and snow accumulation inside the tower roof required additional repairs.