Churches and Places of Worship

St. Andrews United Church, Cantley Quebec
An Historical Sketch.

Establishment of a Methodist Mission

1876 - 1976

Original document in PDF format ^{4.6 MB}

By Eirene McClelland

When the first settler, David Blackburn, came to Cantley in 1827 a Methodist chapel was being built in Hull -- really in South Hull, as we have known it. This stone church, established in 1826, but built in 1827, was situated one mile east of the town limits of Aylmer. It is now the home of Mr. Rodrique Farley, a Hull lawyer, and has a sign on the gateway "Church House." From this mission chapel of 1827 ten churches were to be founded in the surrounding districts.¹

Many settlers quickly followed the Blackburn family. The first census of Hull township was taken in 1842 by Wm Hamilton, (The Cantley area was first called the Hamilton Neighbourhood.) The census lists thirty names, mostly "squatters" although a few are listed as farmers. Most had 100 acres of land. Some of the names are: Allen, Blackburn, Boone, Brown, Cooper, Davis, Farmer, Galley, Gilder, Gow, Jamieson, Kirk, Linet (Lynott?) Macquire, Mains, McLelland, McAlinden, Read, Rebain, Smith, Stevenson, Strachan, Thompson and some others we could not decipher.²

Their religious denominations were as follows: Church of England 45, Church of Scotland 27, Church of Rome 105, Weslyan Methodist 23, Presbyterian 14, Congregational 3, and Baptist 27. It was a country of young people. There was 1 man over 60 years of age, and 1 woman over 45 years of age.³ We presume the man was Andrew Blackburn, the father of Andrew, David and William, all of whom came to Cantley by 1830, Mr. Blackburn died in Cantley in 1855 in his 85 year.⁴

Apparently the ministers of the Anglican, Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian churches visited the area in those early years. No doubt services were held in the homes. Were there more circuit riders of the Methodist persuasion visiting the area, or were they more zealous? They were the first to organize, We read, "the Hull Circuit was divided in 1849 and the Aylmer Circuit took over the supervision of Aylmer, Chelsea and Cantley.⁵

The history of the Aylmer United Church, "Living Stones in a Spiritual Home," tells of the great missionary work of the early pioneers. The book was written by Rev. John Shearman for the 130th anniversary of the Aylmer church in 1956. It tells that in 1858, trustees were named for a new church to be built in the Hamilton neighbourhood in the township of Hull.

The trustees were Wm. Hamilton, Edward Thompson, Richard Barber Richmond McLatchie, John Meech, Charles Chamberlin and James Grimes.⁶

We know Messrs Hamilton and Thompson lived in Cantley; Messrs Barber and McLatchie were from West Templeton; and the other three men lived in Chelsea.

In 1857 this Hamilton neighbourhood was given its own post office and named "Cantley" in memory of an early settler Colonel Cantley. (Wm Hamilton was the first postmaster.) It was told that Colonel Cantley had fought in the war of 1812-14; had worked under Colonel By in the building of the Rideau Canal, and lived on Lot 9b, Range 14 in Hull township along with a Mr. Johnston, a blacksmith. Colonel Cantley is supposed to be buried in the orchard of the said Lot 9b, Range 14.

The chapel was built on land donated by the original settler, William Thompson, in the margin of a Deed of Sale of the lot to his son, Richard, and his wife, Catherine Derby, executed on October 6th, 1877 and registered at Hull, on April 27th, 1903 under 6393, in the following words: .... "Another acre to be taken off said lot at the south east end of the said lot at a place called church field; with reservation also of one acre of land out of the said lot hereby especially reserved for a burying ground."⁷ This was the south east corner of the farm, one acre for the church and one acre for a burying ground.

In 1860 the people of Templeton ... asked that a change be made in the circuit so that they might receive more regular pastoral attention. A church was built in West Templation⁸ at the corner of the third concession and the Brule Road (now St. Antoine Road) at the south east corner of Richmond McLatchie's farm. This church, along with the Cantley church were attached to the Gatineau mission.

A minute of the Gatineau Mission of August 22nd, 1868 states the charge was comprised of Wakefield, Neorth Wakefield, Rupert, Cascades, Templeton, Cantley and-McLelland. A further minute of Nov. 1871, -- Edward Thompson of Cantley was nominated a steward from November 1871 to November 1872.⁹

Meantime there was talk of the difficulty of the large circuit, and finally at the fourth quarterly meeting held at North Wakefield, May 3rd, 1873:

"No. 6, Resolved that in view of the great inconvenience of working this mission in its present form this Board does not recommend that it be divided that Templeton and Cantley choose to form a separate mission.”

Present at the meeting were Rev. R.M. Hammond, Rev. Thos Scharfe and Brothers Wm Johnston, Geo. Hall, Sam Chilcott, Seth Cates, Wm Rielly, John Woods and Thos. Pritchar.¹⁰

Financial matters were also discussed at this meeting. A grant of $400.00 was being given to the circuit as only $379.35 had been raised that year; of which $14.00 came from Cantley and $89.20 from Templeto.¹⁰

We cannot but wonder at the difficulty of the large mission; even the transportgtion. Mr. Gourley wrote in the 1890s; "The river is bridgeless to its source except the one bridge at Mr. Alonzo Wright's two miles this side of Chelsea." We have been unsuccessful in learning when the said bridge was built. We know there were many lives lost by drowning when trying to cross the river.

In 1873 Chelsea, Cantley, Templeton and Ironsides were organized by the London Conference as the Chelsea Methodist Mission, with the Rev. Peter Ker in charge. The first Quarterly Board meeting was held in the Templeton church on August 9th, 1873. Edward Thompson was appointed to the Board. Money received that day towards the Minister's maintenance was $21.50 - $2.00 from the Chelsea class, $11.50 from the Templeton class and $8.00 from the Cantley class.

Subscriptions were solicited at the December 1873 Quarterly Board meeting for furnishing the rented parsonage and $36.00 was donated. Purchases were:

1 bedstead and chest of drawers	$ 7.75
2 washstands at 0.75 each and 1 at 0.50	2.00
7 chairs at 0.75 each	2.00
1 cook stove with utensils	20.00
Kitchen furniture	.50
	$35.5011

In 1874-75 Rev. Wm H. Sparling of Aylmer was in charge of the circuit; there was no resident minister at Chelsea. In 1882 a Methodist parsonage was built in Chelsea.

We do not know how long services continued as part of the Chelsea mission. No doubt they did hold service in the Cantley chapel in the 1880s; but apparently by 1890 Cantley had become a separate mission as part of the Presbyterian church.¹²

Although the chapel was not used as a Methodist church it was used by visiting Anglican rectors from time to time, and possibly ministers of other denominations.

The little log church, the first building we know of to be built by the Protestant community served the community well as a church and as a school until it burned in the fall of 1899.

Presbyterian Church Established

We know the Presbyterian ministers from Ottawa, Chelsea and Wakefield visited Cantley from time to time. No doubt they held services in the homes, and later in the Methodist chapel. Frequently they were called on to baptize, marry and conduct funerals. From records in the Public Archives of Canada we learn the ministers of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Ottawa visited the Gatineau area. The first record we found was under Baptisms

Blackburn, Andrew, son of Andrew Blackburn of the township of Hull, farmer, and his wife, Margaret Pollock, born the 24th day of January, 1836, was baptized the 23rd of March in the same year. John Cruikshanks, minister ¹³

Other recorded baptisms we saw were of the Strachan, Stevenson and Thom families, and other Blackburn children.

In 1873 Cantley made its first appearance on the synod rolls of the Presbyterian Church of Canada in connection with the Church of Scotland. Listed simply as a mission station, Cantley was included in the Presbytery of Ottawa. Its status remained unchanged through 1874 and 1875; in 1876, along with Portland Cantley was placed under the responsibility of the Students' Missionary Society of the Presbyterian College, Montreal, Mr. J. Allen, a student, took charge of the station during the summer.¹⁴

We know that on April 7th, 1876, at 2 p.m. the deed (No. 3865) of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Cantley, in the county of Ottawa, was registered. The land was donated by James McClelland on the north-west corner of his farm. Jas Cooper, Sr., signed on behalf of the congregation.

Another minute -- Cantley and Portland -- This field is within the bounds of the Ottawa Presbytery and is situated between the Gatineau and Lievre Rivers. Our late lamented missionary, Mr, J.G. Donaldson laboured in this extensive district during last summer, with much acceptance. At Portland, the people were actively engaged in the erection of a church.

Mr. A. Anderson will continue the work this summer. Services were held at four stations, Upper Cantley average attendance 50, Lower Cantley 60, Wakefield 55, Portland 45. Amount collected $92.60 -- Mar 31st, 1878.¹⁵

We wonder if this was St. Pierre de Wakefield or East Wakefield? Wakefield village had a resident Presbyterian minister from 1846.

Neil Wilson told his mother frequently referred to the first service held in the church, before it was completely built. Her younger sister, Elizabeth Sarah Cooper, born May 1877, and her prother, Tom, born August 1874, were baptized that night, along with a third child. We have not heen able to trace the record so do not know who the third child was. The roof was not on the building, and as it was raining boards had been nailed above the alter to protect the minister and the children being baptized. Tom Cooper told his daughters that was his first memory of the church. He remembered looking at the minister as he was baptized, and then remembered he walked out of the building when the service had finished. How keen our forefathers were to use God's House!

We do not have records in regard to the building of the church, nor of its dedication. Robert Eckford told it was built by Messrs Storey, -- was it John, Anderson and William? No doubt others assisted. Mr. Eckford also told that when the church was to be dedicated the date and hour were set, and the people assembled but the minister failed to arrive. Later they heard the minister was sick, and his death followed. This confirms the presbytery minute re Mr. J.G. Donaldson.

There were many difficulties to be overcome, possibly the lack of communication and transportation contributed to them. We know David Blackburn and John Storey were the first elders and apparently David Blackburn went to Presbytery in Qttawa, -

Mr Blackburn, elder, was heard in regard to this field, and also Mr. Macquire under whose charge it was put at last meeting. It was moved by Mr. Armstrong, duly seconded, that Mr. Macquire and the elders of Wakefield be appointed to organize the mission station at Cantley and Portland into a congregation and take the necessary steps to secure the church property .... it was resolved that this recommendation be instructed to secure the services of an ordained missionary for that field. August 6th, 1878.¹⁶

Rev. H. Macquire was the minister of Wakefield church, 1877-80.

The followine year, - Mr. David Findlay had visited the field, had visited 90 families, of whom 70 attended church. He thought they would be willing to do everything in their power to raise funds for keeping a missionary among them. Amount raised $82.35. August 5th, 1878.¹⁷

Mr., David Findlay was taken on trial from Guelph, Ontario.

Then ... Members of Ottawa Presbytery journeyed to Cantley Church on Monday, December 22nd, 1879, for a meeting at 11 a.m. Rev, David Findlay was ordained, after having first been tested in Scriptures, Greek and Hebrew. Then at a service at 2 p.m. Rev. D. Findlay was inducted into the Cantley and Portland charge.¹⁸

Rev. David Findlay and his family lived in Mr. Herbert Smith's house, and stayed until 1889. He married a Mary Pritchard, and the baptism of four children is recorded in our church records. The records prove Mr. Findlay was kept very busy ministering to his large and scattered congregation. There were a great many baptisms. When he 1eft Cantley, Mr. Flndlay went to the Manotick charge.

There was no resident minister in 1800 or '91 when we joined with the Chelsea church. Rev. J.L. Gourley came in 1892 and stayed during 1893. Mr. Gourley is remembered for his book, "History of the Ottawa Valley", which was published in 1896.

About this time Miss Dinah McClelland and her brother, Alexander, presented the church with the square table which was our Communion Table for many years. Dinah was a very faithful Sunday School teacher untll her marrlage in March 1897.

Records show Rev. Alex. MacGregor was mlnlster in 1894, followed by Rev. A.E.N. Suckling in 1895 and Rev. R.V. McKibbon in 1896 and '97. Rev. Mr. McKibbon married a Miss Church of Chelsea.

Rev. Mr. McKibbon was followed by Rev. Alfred Logan in 1897, who stayed until the summer of 1903. Mr. Logan was interested in newspaper work and while here edited a paper, "The Gatineau Beacon" which gave the news of the Protestant churches from Aylmer to Buckingham. In the fall of 1946, the week Rev. and Mrs. Logan were celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary, they motored to Cantley along with their son and one daughter. They visited our church and some of the homes nearby, making inguiries of their friends of earlier days.

Since 1890 when Cantley became part of the Chelsea charge the ministers lived in the Chelsea Manse, now owned by Mrs. A.0. Clark. It was a long trip by horse via the brigge, and when possible the minister crossed the river by ice in winter, and by scow from Kirk's Ferry in summer. At this time Mrs. Thomas Brown furnished the vestry for the minister's comfort when he arrived at the church. A red carpet was put down, a comfortable red velour chair, a washstand, with a wash basin and jug for water, and a mirror were bought. The mirror is the only article of these furnishings remaining. The carpet lasted until the tile floor was laid in the 1950s.

At first the church was plastered inside but around this time Mr. Henry Easy superintended the covering of the plastered walls and ceiling of the V-joint it now has; this gives the building a character all its own. The pulpit was made by a Roman Catholic craftsman from St. Pierre de Wakefield, Louis Lavasseur. Heat was supplied by a large wood-burning stove in the southwest corner.

There were three large drivesheds at the back and left of the church, which had been erected jointly, each man supplying the lumber for the stall for his own horses. These were removed in 1940.

During the early years the music sung in the Presbyterian churchess was the Psalms in metrical version and the Scottish paraphrases. The music was led by the Precentor or Cantor, who struck his tuning-fork to get the pitch, or note, then he led the singing. We wonder if the first man to come to Cantley in 1827, David Blackburn was the Precentor. -- David Blackburn, the only surviving brother, is in wonderfully good health, considering his broken limbs and his difficulties of locomotion. .... When a boy preacher, we remember meeting him at Wakefield, to which he walked, or rode, and led the singing many a day. He is the only elder of the congregation at Cantley at the present time of writing.

Rev. Mr. Gourley was ordained in 1852, so it was previous to that time he first met David Blackburn at Wakefield. If Mr. Blackburn led the singing at Wakefield in the 1840s, no doubt he led it in Cantley when that congregation was founded.

By 1900 the city and town churches had bought organs and were using the Presbyterian Book of Praise, first published in 1880. Benjamin Storey was interested in buying an organ so he canvassed and collected $125.00 for an organ. Mr. Storey had Miss Effie Brown, who was an accomplished organist select the instrument. One minister's tribute was "Effie Brown always made the organ sing." Miss Brown had an enthusiastic choir to assist in the service. Other organists have been, Mrs. A.W. Wilson, Mrs. R. Eckford, Miss Margaret McClelland, Mrs. Cecil Easy, Miss Lola McClelland, Mrs. S.D. McClelland.

Rev. A. Logan was followed by Rev. Jas. Taylor in October 1903. Mr. Taylor stayed for 8 years. During his ministry the present pews were bought for about $250.00. They were a great improvement on the former pews which had a very narrow seat and a very straight back - an uncomfortable pew. Most of the cost of the pews was raised by the Ladies Aid; the women met in the afternoons in their homes to sew articles for sale. One of the chief items made was men's work shirts. One wonders what was the selling price?

In addition to the Sunday services in the fall and winter months there freguently was a mid-week prayer meeting. These were held in the homes and rotated from home to home - very often this was a service to the busy mother of the home who was not always able to attend church on Sunday because of her small children. Many of the children were baptized at the prayer meetings.

Rev. Robert Taggart became minister in October 1911, and was followed in 1913 by Rev. F. Ernest Miller. Mr. Miller had studied architecture, and it was he who drew the plans for S.D. McClelland's house, now Gerald Kavanagh's. At the close of Mr. Miller's pastorate Cantley was taken from the Chelsea charge and joined with Poltimore, and became a misgion field. Rev. H.C. Browne became minister in the fall of 1914.

The mission field needed a Manse, so an acre of land was bought from Benjamin Thompson. Wm and Joe Patterson supervised the building of an addition to the small house on the lot, and among other necessities installed a bathroom and furnace. Borden Patterson recalls his oldet brothers living in a tent on the Manse lawn, and he loved to join them after school hours, and if possible sleep in the tent. But John Patterson was too concerned with the daily progress his older sons were making on the Manse to neglect an evening visit. The result was that Borden was not allowed to sleep in the tent as many nights as he would have liked.

The story is told the men needed building materials but did not want to leave their work to go purchase them. However, Mrs. Bruce Gow, who enjoyed driving horses, drove her team and express to Ottawa and returned with the much needed materials. Mrs. C.C. Brown accompanied Mrs. Gow. This Manse involved a great deal of time, effort and money but the Cantley and Poltimore people worked willingly and well.

This house served as The Manse until Cantley was once more joined with Chelsea in 1946, and the property was sold to Harold and Lois McClelland. Harold had almost completed its renovation when he died as a result of an accident in July 1949.

During the first world war Sunday School was held in the day school on Sunday afternoons. John Patterson was superintendent and senior teacher; other teachers were Vivian McNeil and Robt Eckford. Mr. Patterson was an elder and during his time as elder he, and only he, prepared the Table for Communion. He made sure he arrived at the church in plenty of time to prepare for The Sacrament. Other elders, succeeding the original two, Messrs Blackburn and Storey, were Thomas Brown, John Stevenson, Robert Eckford, S.D. McClelland, Wm Boone, Howard Brown and H. Osler Easy.

Rev. Mr. Brown left in the fall of 1916 and was succeeded by Rev. J.W. Fulton, who stayed until 1918. One of the big events of the years previous to 1920 was the lawn social on the grounds of S.D. McClelland's home. Memories of lighted lanterns hung in the maple trees, and supper served from well-filled tables previous to a program of mostly local talent are dim but happy memories.

Rev. R.D. Smith was inducted in the spring of 1918 when Cantley and Poltimore became a self-sustaining charge. Mr. Smith taught school for part of one year and was well liked by the pupils. Mrs. Smith instituted a Hallowe'en party for the children in the Manse, this became a yearly event in the Orange Hall. Rev. and Mrs. Smith left in 1924.

United Church Of Canada

1925 saw St. Andrew's of Cantley enter the United Church of Canada without a vote being taken, The congregation was busy excavating a partial basement under their church to install a wood burning furnace. The stove was removed from the front corner of the church; it went to the Orange Hall and burned when the building burned in 1954.

Rev. P.D. and Mrs. Muir and their family came in 1924 and stayed for three years. Mr. Muir and his predecessors travelled the twenty miles to Poltimore church by horse. This meant much time was spent in travel between the appointments. Rev. R.D. Smith was the first minister to own a car, a Model T Ford, which he used only in summer.

Mr. Muir was succeeded by J.R. Ford, an Ottawa layman who stayed one year. Then followed many years of student supply from the Theological College of McGill University. (We are not sure if all were from McGill but many were.) Some of the students were Messrs. Berry, Bishop, Evans, Froats, Goth, Hallett, Kennedy, Knowles, Lister, Lovelace, Martln, McRae, Mowatt, Smith and Vowles. One memory of Mr. Lister is of his parrot which flew its cage, landing on a tall pine tree. It took a long ladder and considerable coaxing to get the bird out of the tree.

The 1930s saw a great many young men and women at home with little employment, or with much employment on the farms but little remuneration. A young peoples society, "The Cantley Glee Club" was organized which had ball games and weiner and corn roasts in summer, and ski hikes, plays and debates in winter. These, too, were the early days of radio and many hours were spent listening to favourite programs In homes which had radios with loud speakers. Our present Communion Set was a gift to the church from the young people at that time.

On a sunny day in the summer of '36 sparks from the Manse kitchen chimney ignited on the shingle roof, and had done congiderable damage when noticed. Neighbours rallied quickly to form a bucket brigade. Water was brought by truck in barrels from a nearby creck. There was a large hole in the roof and much water damage but the Manse was saved. Fortunately the building was covered by insurance.

The Ladies Aid, or Guild, as it was called during these years, deserves great credit for their activities. They continued to hold monthly meetings. Many special and moneymaking events were planned: the small fee charged for many gatherings was a pittance in comparison to today's charges, but every little bit helped. Also, in the 1930s a new roof was put on the church, and the exterior painted.

At this time, too, the Guild heard an Estey reed organ was for sale from the Poltimore Anglican church -- that congregation had been given a new organ in memory of a parishioner who had recently died. The ladies knew the Estey organ was a half-tone lower than their present organ, and had been chosen by Professor Workman, a well known Ottawa musican. The Estey organ was purchased for a relatively small sum and has been in constant use until recently.

1940 and '41 saw a great many young men, and some women, in uniform, and the women were working along with their neighbours of St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic church in the Red Cross.

1943 Rev. F. W. Mitchinson became minister of Alcove charge and was appointed supervisor of Cantley by the Ottawa Presbytery. Mr. Mitchinson had services at the Alcove and Rupert churches, and at Fairbairn and Farrellton schools. He became very much interested in our church, and with the missionary zeal he had exercised in his former Newfoundland charges, he received permission from Presbytery and from Alcove charge to conduct service in Cantley every second Sunday afternoon. Mr. Mitchinson was a highly dynamic personality and the church was filled most Sundays he held service. St. Andrews-on-the-Hill became alive. A number of adults, as well as young people became Communicants during his ministry.

Mrs. A. Barton, who was Guild president, will never forget that she had ordered twenty dozen rolls for the chicken supper; but Mr. Mitchinson was sure that was not enough and ordered an additional fifty dozen. There was an a-bun-dance of buns! But the sale of fifty dozen buns was a small detail for Mr. Mitchinson's salesmanship.

Our Honour Roll, and memorial to Eldon Storey, who paid the Supreme Sacrifice, were unveiled during Mr. Mitchinson's ministry. He started the yearly in Memoriam Service of our Cantley cemetery.

Joined Again With Chelsea

A change came on January 28th, 1946, when Chelsea, Cantley and Poltimore were brought together as the Chelsea Pastoral Charge. Mr. Mitchinson had left for Montreal in late 1945, Walter Frewen was the student minister for a few months, followed by Chas. R. Wood, Mr. and Mrs. C.R. Wood, - and their young son David, -- who is our present minister -- were here May to September 1946.

Because Chelsea was the largest of the 3 appointments, and because of its location, it was decided to buy a house there to serve as a Manse. The former Chelsea Manse had been sold in 1934. Cantley's first contribuiton to this cause was a cheque for $300,00. The house required many renovations and much work was involved, but it served as a Manse for 7 years.

Rev. W.A. Morris was inducted as our first resident minister in July 1947. The years following the Second World War saw an increase in population of this area, and particularly in Chelsea. There also was an increase in church attendance and participation. Poltimore had service in the morning, Cantley in the afternoon and Chelsea in the evening. For the first time in 20 years Cantley had year-round Sunday service. Many people walked to church a distance of two miles. As the churchyard was not snow ploughed in winter there were several cars parked on the west side of the highway. Quite a difference from today's Sunday traffic!

Chelsea charge was not a self-sustaining charge in 1947 but received a Home Mission Grant of $400.00. We started the duplex envelope system; and Graeme Smith of Cantley was the first central treasurer of the charge -- a position he filled faithfully for 8 years. 1948 saw our church wired for electricity, cost $205.00. The chimney was rebuilt. Finances were improving, or changing at least. In Mr. Mitchinson's first year, 1944, we paid stipend $390.93, in 1949 stipend was $688.45.

By July 1950 Rev. and Mrs. Morris and 3 children had left for a Toronto church, and Rev. J.S.L. Shearman was inducted. The next May we were happy to welcome John's bride, the former Helen Lamb of Ottawa. They travelled a great deal, had successful Daily Vacation Bible Schools and many events for young and old. In 1951, the ladies held their first Blossom Tea, which was a yearly event for 20 years. When Mr. and Mrs. Shearman left for Aylmer in January 1954, we were eagerly awaiting the arrival of Mr. and Mrs, Gordon Ballantyne and 2 children of Quyon. Mr. and Mrs. Ballantyne fitted well into our church life. They left for a charge near Kingston at the end of June in order that Mr. Ballantyne could attend Queen's University.

Rev. D.C. and Mrs. Lapp and family came in July 1954. Mr. Lapp's first service at Cantley was the dedication of the new Orange Hall, which replaced the building burned the previous February. Mr. Lapp at once became involved in boys' work, Sigma-C and Tyros, as well as other causes. Cantley was the first of the 3 churches to have a gowned choir. Later the Womans Assocation bought material for 6 white junior gowns and Mrs. Mary Scharfe, then in her 75 year, made them without charge. The fall of '54 the Womans Association catered to the Local ploughing match on W.J. Barton's farm, and the proceeds helped to purchase carpet for the church chancel and aisle. Eddie Chamberlin varnished the interior of the church and refinished the pulpit.

With a young family in the Manse the little house was a bit crowded; so members started looking around ... The purchase of a new and larger Manse was completed in 1955, the home of the late P.W. Currie, for $8000.00. The Currie family made a donation towards its purchase of $500.00; the Home Mission Board contributed $500.00 as a donation and made a loan for a further amount of $500.00. Mr. F.R. Crawley and Mr. W.M. Connor backed the note at the Bank of Montreal for $8,000.00; during the life of the note Mr. Connor paid practically all of the interest. In February 1955 the old manse was sold for $4,500.00 and this was applied to the Bank Loan. During the next five years the congregation had raised the funds for the necessary repairs to the new manse and on November 22nd, 1961 final payment was made on the Bank Note.²⁰

As Mr. Lapp was concluding his first year with us he was called to other duties in Western Ontario. We said good-bye to Mr. and Mrs. Lapp at Mr. and Mrs. Connor's spacious home to which they had moved the previous fall. Mr. Connor made the presentation.

We were fortunate to have Rev. Donald Bardwell appointed to succeed Mr. Lapp. Among other things, Mr. Bardwell instituted our Christmas Eve Services.

All of these were young men serving their first pastorate. It is well they were young for our highway was really not a highway but a dusty road with much wash-board, and an ever increasing traffic. Mr. Morris had told us in his farewell sermon that he would "never forget you, and never, never forget the roads!" We knew he spent every Monday merning repairing his car, a task he was quite capable of doing. Mr. Lapp had just left when the first few miles of pavement were laid beyond the Farmers Rapid power plant. Then the road through St. Pierre de Wakefield was widened and paved. This made quite a difference when travelling to Poltimore. But gradually year by year, it seemed to be only a mile or two at a time, the road was improved and that section was paved.

It is 11 miles from Chelsea church to the Cantley church and another 20 miles to Poltimore church -- for many years this charge was the one with the greatest travel allowance.

We said good-bye to Mr. and Mrs. Bardwell after only 2 years ministry. Mr. Bardwell was called to be an assistant at Rideau Park, Ottawa. During his time an oil furnace had replaced the wood-burning furnace in the church. Gone were the smokey stove pipes, which had been knocked down on one occasion when lightning struck the chimney a few hours before service.

The Chelsea charge welcomed back Rev. D.C. and Mrs. lapp at a social evening and pantry shower in the Orange Hall early in July. For the next 2 years when Mr. Bardwell and Mr. lapp met at Presbytery, etc. they had a happy time telling each was the other's predecessor, and each was the other's successoer.

One Sunday while preaching in a new church in a St. Lawrence seaway town Mr. Lapp saw a Baptismal Font which was not in use. It had been saved from one of the flooded churches, and was being stored in the new church. Mr. Lapp recognized the Font would fit in with our church's decor, so he made inguiries. The result was Cantley purchased the Font and Mr. Lapp dedicated it to former elders in June, 1959.

Once more Mr. Lapp was called to do special work, this time in the Hamilton Conference. He was succeeded by Rev. A.T. Masson in July 1959, who stayed for four active years.

By 1961 the rebuilding of our road had reached the church. The Board of Stewards bought a strip of land, twenty feet wide, at the rear of the chureh (to the east) from Oliver Drouin for $100.00. Later the approach and road around the church was paved. 1961 was also the time of the liquor plebicite which decided alcoholic beverages would be legally sold in East Hull for the first time in over fifty years.

January 1962 saw the reorganization of the Woman's Association and the Women's Missionary Society to become the United Church Women. This was Canada-wide. Mrs. H.O. Easy was the first president of our UCW. Also in that year we joined in the One Hundredth Anniversary celebration of the Chelsea church when Rev. W.A. and Mrs. Morris came from Toronto for the banquet.

Mr. Manson was called to Cumberland in 1963; we said our farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Manson and family at Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Connor's on a beautiful June evening. The presentation was made by Warren Brown.

Rev. Douglas McPhee was appointed to replace Mr. Manson. One of Mr. McPhee's musical friends was Mr. Jack McPartlin, who was organist for our service on more than one occasion. Mr. McPhee's ministry was but 14 months, when he and his family returned to Toronto. We were grateful to Rev. K.H. Woodwark who motored from Ottawa many Sundays of the ensueing 10 months to conduct our services. Mr. Woodwark graciously did pastoral visiting as well on Sunday afternoons.

Rev. D.A. Sharpe accepted our call and came in 1965. Mr. and Mrs. Sharpe spent many hours on Sunday Schools and Daily Vacation Bible Schools. Mr. Sharpe's pastoral visiting was much appreciated, particularly by the senior members of the charge. Mrs. Sharpe's gift in training young people in religious drama was beneficial, our pageants at Cantley and Chelsea are pleasant memories.

Qur Session, led by Mr. Sharpe, sent a letter of good wishes to St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church, Cantley on the occasion of their Centennial in July 1968. A fitting reply was received from Rev. D. Kelly, the parish priest.

Many repairs were made to our church in 1968. The foundation was repaired, the cement steps resurfaced, aluminum windows were installed, the UCW bought drapes which Mr. and Mrs. Rosborough hung, Mrs. Rosborough donated floor covering for the porch, and Neil Wilson painted the exterior. Much work was done by several willing members.

Our good-byes to Mr. and Mrs. Sharpe were said at a joint service in the Chelsea church in June 1972. Following we had 3 months of supply until William D. Smith of Bell St. church, Ottawa was appointed student minister. Mr. and Mrs. Smith worked hard, particularly with the youth group, and Mrs. Smith's Daily Vacation Bible School in '74 was well attended. On the school's closing night we were privileged to once more hear Dr. Jean Collins of Ottawa.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith and children left for Consecon at the end of June 75, after a farewell and presentation at Chelsea church. In July we were happy to welcome Rev. David and Mrs. Wood. As previously stated Mr. Wood is the son of a former student minister, which makes us feel unique with a fatherson ministry.

- - - - - - -

Two of the young men of our church have become ministers -- we trust we soon will have a young lady enter the ministry.

Rev. Wm A. Patterson, son of the pioneers Mr. and Mrs. Jas Patterson, was graduated from the Presbyterian Theological College, McGill University, in 1895. He served many churches across Canada, from Quebec city, to Hull, Saskatoon, Vancouver, He stayed with the continuing Presbyterian Church in 1925. His last pastorate was Westboro and Gloucester churches, now Westminister of Ottawa. While there he was moderator of the Ottawa Presbytery. He retired in 1942 and went to live in Toronto. He died in 1945.

Rev. Murray A. McGlashan, older son of our elder, G. Maynard McGlashan and Mrs. McGlashan, was graduated from the United Theological College, Queen's University in 1969. Murray was minister at St. Joseph Island for several years, and is now stationed at Lyn, Ontario. Murray is married to the former Jean Maxwell of Ottawa. They have one daughter and three sons. We are grateful Murray is to be with us and conduct the service on our One Hundredth Anniversary, which we hope to celebrate May 16th, 1976.

Conclusion

We have been well served by a great many dedicated ministers, and students, who have carried on the work started by the Rev. David Findlay in 1879 in a vastly different world. Many of those ministers named were, or are prominent in our church. But each and all sought to carry on their Lord's work in the day to day living, and the week by week teaching and preaching to their flock.

Maybe we have spent too much space on the physical aspects of our church. But these changes and improvements could not have been accomplished had there not been the eargerness and willingness of the members to make their Sanctuary a better place in which to worship.

What of the future? The 1842 census recorded only one French family, Today the land which had been cleared by English-speaking immigrants is over seventy percent French and Roman Catholic. Since 1960 our municipal council has carried on its work in French. Our members have dimished, not only because of the senior members who have passed on to their reward; in 1971 Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Connor moved to Manotick; recently we lost the Stadens, Rosboroughs and Chamberlins.

Life is always changing; but our God does not change. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever. It is for us to go on in faith with courage and obedience, to seek God's will, and endeavour to do it to the best of our ability. We pray He will show us The Way.

Church Directory

Minister - Rev. David H. Wood, B.A., M.A., M. Div.

Session - G.M. McGlashan, Graeme Smith, T.S. McClelland, Clerk

Trustees - H. Chamberlin, Ira C. Rosborough, T.S. McClelland

Manse Trustee - J.E. Hupe

Treasurer - Mrs. J.E. Hupe

Recording Secretary - Mrs. Eleanore McClelland

Committee of Stewards - Hubert McClelland, Chairman; H. Chamberlin, J.E. Hupe, Mrs. J.E. Hupe, Mrs. H. Chamberlin (UCW representative), Mrs. Rita Milks, Secretary

Manse Committee - Graeme Smith, Robert Woodburn, Eleanore McClelland

United Church Women - Mrs. Eleanore McClelland, President; Mrs. T.S. McClelland, Secretary-Treasurer

Organist - Mrs. Fleanore McClelland

Cemetery Committee - Graeme Smith, Chairman; Warren Brown, Secretary-Treasurer; Dana Brown, Edmond Chamberlin, Gilbert McClelland, T.S. McClelland

Youth Group Work is carried on jointly with the Chelsea Young People.

United Church Women

No doubt the ladies of Cantley and Poltimore served dinner to the members of Ottawa Presbytery, and the newly ordained minister, Rev. David Findlay, at the noon hour of December 22nd, 1879, Then all gathered for the induction service at 2 p.m. in the church. We wonder if the meal was served in the church, or in the school house across the road, or in the house which became the Manse, next door to the church. We are sure the ladies did not let the guests go hungry; they exhibited their well known pioneer hospitality.

We do not have a record of the early organization of the Womans Group, but we know they were organized. The writer's Mother told how she tried to "drive to Cantley from Chelsea as often as possible for the women's meetings." She told, too, that once they had crossed the river and arrived at the David Brown farm (now Robert Neceley's) she felt she was really in Cantley. She spoke of attending meetings at Mrs. Boones, Storeys and Mrs, Henry Coopers, as well as homes in Lower Cantley. This was between 1903 and 1911. She enjoyed it all and prized the friendship of the women, friendships which lasted until her death in 1953.

For a few years previous to 1921 Mrs. Walter Wilson was president and Mrs. A.W. Wilson was secretary. The first minutes we have are of the W.W.G. - Willing Workers Guild - March 9th, 1921. Mrs Walter Wilson was president and Mrs. E.M. Smith (wife of Rev. R.D. Smith) was secretary. Later Mrs. A.C. Blackburn was president and Miss V. McNeil was secretary. Other presidents have been Mrs. W.E. Thompson, Mrs. H. Smith, Mrs. A. Barton, Mrs. H.O. Easy, Mrs. I. Rosborough, Mrs. J.E. Hupe and Mrs. T.S. McClelland, Other secretaries have been Joy Muir, M. O'Flaherty, Ida Wilson, Lola McClelland, Mrs. W.E. Thompson, Rita Barton, Mrs. H.O. Fasy and Mrs. I. Rosborough.

We know the ladies were very busy during the first world war making the new Manse habitable. From the minutes many hours were spent painting and wall-papering various rooms. Always they were doing practical things; giving a bag of flour, or $10.00 to a needy family in the depression; later donations to the Red Cross, church camps, Brookdale Farm, Morningside Home, Chinese Mission and other requests as they came. These were in addition to the home church needs.

When the Cantley Manse was sold in 1946 some pieces of furniture were taken to the new Chelsea Manse. Cantley women have always served on the Manse Committee, and have enjoyed sharing in its tasks.

In June 1955 we were hostess to the Gatineau Area W.M.S. Presbyterial; in September 1957 we were privileged to be hostess to the Sectional Rally of the Women's Association. In October 1975 we hosted the Area No. 2, Sectional Rally, when Mrs, Windsor of Buckingham presided. All of these were meetings of warm fellowship with neighbouring groups and executive officers.

We could not have been as successful in many activities in our church had it not been for the great assistance of the nearest neighbour, Mr. and Mrs. H.B. Smith. Mrs. Smith at all times, has given her time and facilities to help in the work of the church.

A few of the many willing workers this church has had have been named, but there was a vast number of loyal members who were not always able to hold office but could be counted on to do their share - and often more than their share - when the need arose. It was, and is, because of such members our church was, and is, able to carry on The Master's Work.

The Day Schools

One cannot tell the history of our church and omit the day schools. The school guest book, which unfortunately we do not have now, recorded the visits of the ministers over the years. During these visits the pupils were guestioned by the minister in arithmetic, history, etc., sometimes followed by Bible teaching. We know the school was used for Sunday school at times, and the Sunday school teachers cooperated with the day school teacher for the Christmas concert. One man recalls, "Whenever we saw Mrs. Alonzo Wilson at school on Friday afternoon we knew we would start practicing for the Christmas concert."

The 1842 census reported one school with 48 males and 17 females. It must have been a crowded school; we wonder if there ever was a day when there was a perfect attendance.

In the early 1870s the Cantley Dissentient Protestant School Board was formed. The Protestant broke away from the Roman Catholic Board to form their own school districts. Lower Cantley was District No. 1, and Upper Cantley District No, 2. The present Chenier-Lauson Road, between the 13th and l4th Ranges was the dividing line.

One of the earliest schools was on the River Road, slightly north of Mr. A.J. Pomeroy's home. Mrs. Gwen Wilson Osterhout confirms there was a foundation there on the line between the Gow and Wilson farms, in her childhood. We know the McClelland boys walked to this school, from the 14th Range around 1820. Possibly Jas Patterson was the teacher at one time. We learn that "On the same side of the river with the Eaton chute .. Mr. Patterson resided, who died recently. He began life on the Gatineau as a teacher, and followed it for years successfully, and then settled down as a farmer. One of his sons is at McGill College preparing to be a Presbyterian minister."¹⁴

Mr. Herbert Smith remembers No. 2 school, a log building opposite St. Andrew's church. John Smith (Herbert's father) attended the school. He said there were no desks or seats; the pupils sat on long benches and wrote with their slates on their knees. Happily this deficiency was overcome but we don't know when. Sometimes the school is referred to as the McClelland school, and this explains the reference in the Methodist records of Wakefield church re service held in this building.

A school board minute of October 15, 1884, "Moved by Alex McClelland, seconded by James Davis that the desks and seats of No. 2 school be placed in No. 1 school for the use of No. 1 school." Several have remembered the building was used for church suppers, either before or after concerts in St. Andrew's church. The late Dr. A.W. McClelland loved to tell how he and some of his pals wanted to go to a church supper there but did not have the twenty-five cents admittance fee. Undaunted, the trio -- we believe Ernest Brown, McLeod McAllister and Alonzo -- went to the McClelland home and found some large one-cent pieces, These they carefully covered with tea lead to look like twenty-five cent pieces. Maybe the entrance hall was dimly lighted, or well packed when the 3 boys made their successful entrance.

Mr. Smith says No. 2 school was later rented as a home for the Shelk family; and years later it burned.

What happened to the school on the River Road? A school board minute of August 1888, "Moved by A. Blackburn, seconded by Walter Eckford that the sum of $10,00 be paid for taking down the old school house and delivering lumber to No. 1 school for the purpose of erecting a suitable wood shed at No. 1 school." Later Andrew Storey make a suitable desk for No. 1 school." Was this a Teacher's desk?

From the above we believe the Methodist chapel was used from sometime in the 1880s continuously for school purposes, as well as a place of worship on Sundays. Mrs. Edith Wilson Mulligan, now 89 years, remembers the school was slightly below the cemetery, and the pupils went into the cemetery at noon hour to eat their lunches and enjoy the wild strawberries which grew everywhere.

Another minute of June 1897, "Wm Thompson was present in regard to form a lease from the Methodist body ... R.A. Brown was appointed agent to meet the proper authorities and owners of this school to complete arrangements concerning the lease." And in the payment of accounts of that date, "Reg. Office Lease, $5.50."

On the morning school was to re-open in the fall of 1899 two of the boys arrived early to find smouldering ruins. The building had burned during the night. Mr. Henry Easy received $82.00 ($2.00 more than he tendered for) to build the new school at the top of the hill on land given by Mrs. Robert Brown. It was opened in January 1900, and used continuously until June 1959.

Gifts to St. Andrew's Church, Cantley

1890	Saquare Communion Table, by Miss Dinah McClelland and Mr. Alex McClelland
1930	Crystal Bowl and Tall Glass Vase, by Mrs. Robert Eckford
1935	Communion Set, by Cantley Glee Club
1940	Pulpit Bible, in Memory of Miss Elizabeth Thompson, by her sister Miss Louisa Thompson
1950	Hymn Board, in Memory of Mr. Meredith D. and Harold T.S. McClelland, by the family of Mr. and Mrs. S.L McClelland
1950	Pulpit Lamp, in Memory of Miss Margaret and Mr. Wm S. McClelland, by their nephew, Mr. T.S. McClelland
1954	Communion Table, in Memory of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Fasy, by their son, Mr. H. Osler Easy
1954	Pulpit Fall with Church Crest, in Memory of Mr. and Mrs. H. McClelland, by their son, Mr. T.S. McClelland
1954	Double Windows, by Mr. Wm M. Connor
1954	The Last Supper, Plaque, by Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Hupe
1955	Six Junior Choir Gowns, made by Mrs. Mary Scharfe
1955	Organ Bench, made and donated by Mr. J.E. Hupe
1957	Wooden Offering Plates, by Mr. and Mrs. H.O. Easy
1962	Crudence Concordance, by Miss Margaret McCann from the library of her brother, Mr. John H. McCann
1968	Floor Covering for Porch, by Mrs. I. Rosborough
1969	Cross, in Memory of Mr. H. Eldon Storey, made by Mr. Peter Jesson, (to replace the wreath) by Mr. T.S. McClelland
1975	Two Falls, in Memory of Mrs. Osler Easy, given by Mr. Osler Easy and her daughters, Mrs. J.P. Chenier and Mrs. J.E. Hupe
1975	Christian Flag, in Memory of Mr. H. Osler Easy, by his daughters, Mrs. J.P: Chenier and Mrs. J.E. Hupe
1975	A Baldwin Electric Organ, by Mr. Harold Craft, Alcove, in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Alex McClelland, Mr. and Mrs. H.O. Easy, and of the Rev. F.W. Mitchinson who is still living in Salinas, California

Those Who Have Ministered

Methodist

1830-40	Circuit riders and local preachers of Hull circuit visited Chelsea, Cantley and Templeton
1840-48	Hull ministers who supervised circuit riders and local preachers serving our area.
1840	John McIntyre
1841	George Beynon
1842	Wm H. Williams
1843-4	Henry Shaler
1845	Joseph Reynolds
1846	Prancis Coleman
1847	George Young
1848-9	Jas A. Elliott
Ministers of the Aylmer circuit who supervised work in our district.
1850	James Greener
1851	Daniel McMullen
1852-3	Asahel Hurlburt
1854	William McGill
1855	Robert Robinson
1856	Elias Huntington
1857	Thomas Cleworth
1858	William Scales and Edmond Sweet
1859	Wm W. Ross
Gatineau Mission, Wakefield
1860	Andrew Armstrong
1862	Wm Scott
1864	Mr. Dingman
Joined again with Chelsea
1873	Peter Ker
1874-5	W.H. Sparling (Aylmer)
1875-8	H.W. Knowles
1878-81	Joseph Carr
1881-84	Joseph O'Hara
1884-86	I.E. Thurlow
1887-90	W.H. Hanna

Presbyterian

1879-89	David Findlay
1890-91	Vacant
1892-93	John L. Gourley
1894	Alex MacGregor
1895	A.E.N. Suckling
1896-87	R.V. McKibbon
1897-1903	Alfred Logan
1903-11	James Taylor
1911-12	Robert Taggart
1913-14	F. Ernest Miller
1914-16	H.C. Browne
1916-18	J.W. Fulton
1918-24	R.D. Smith
1924	F.D. Muir

United Church

1925-27	P.D. Muir
1928	J.R. Ford, lay supply
1929-43	Student Supply
1944-45	F.W. Mitchinson
1946	Walter Frewen and C.R. Wood (students)
1947-50	W.A. Morris
1950-53	J.S.L. Shearman
1954	Gordon Ballantyne (supply)
1954-55	D.C. Lapp
1955-57	W.D. Bardwell
1957-59	D.C. Lapp
1959-63	A.I. Manson
1963-64	Donald McPhee
1965-72	D.A. Sharpe
1972-75	Wm D. Smith (student)
1975	David H. Wood

Sources of Informattion and Abbreviations Used

Records:

The United Church Archives, Toronto (UCA)

Records of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Ottawa, in the Public Archives of Canada. (PAGC)

Record of 1842 Census of Quebec Province, on microfilm C729, Public Archives of Canada. (PAC)

Register of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials of the Cantley and Poltimore Presbyterian Church, 1879-1939 (later United Church)

Records of the Gatineau Mission, St. Andrew's United Church, Wakefield, Quebec

Records of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, later St. Andrew's United Church, Cantley, Womans Association, etc.

Correspondence of the Cantley United Church Cemetery Committee.

Records of the Protestant School Board, Municipality of Cantley Dissentient.

Books:

History of the Ottawa Valley, by Rev. J.L. Gourlei, M.A., 1896, (Gourley)

Pioneers of the Upper Ottawa, Anson Gard, 1906 (Courtesy of C.S. Chisholm, Chelsea)

Livineg Stones in a Spiritual Home, by Rev. J.S.L. Shearman, 1956, History of the Aylmer United Church. (JSLS)

Chelsea United Church an Historiecal Sketch, 1862--1962, by Miss Gladys Bearman. (Bearman)

The Ottawa Country, by Courtney C.J. Bond, 1968

Lapéche, by Norma and Stuart Geggie, 1974

Footnotes

1. Living Stones in a Spiritual House, Rev J. Shearman 1956
2. Microfilm C729, Publie Archives of Canada
3. Microfilm C729, Public Archives of Canada
4. History of the Ottawa Valley, Rev J.L. Gourley, 1895, pl88
5. Chelsea United Church, Gladys Bearman, 1962, p3.
6. J.S.L.S. p6
7. Correspondence of the Cantley United Church Cemetery
8. J.S.L.S. p7
9. Records of St. Andrew's United Church, Wakefield
10. Records of St. Andrew's United Church, Wakefield
11. Chelsea United Church, G. Bearman, p7
12. Chelsea United Church, G. Bearman, p9
13. Public Archives of Canada, St. Andrew's Church, Ottawa
14. United Church Archives, Acts and Proceedings
15. United Church Archives, Acts and Proceedings
16. United Church Archives, Acts and Proceedings, p234
17. United Church Archives, Acts and Proceedings, p349
18. United Church Archives, Acts and Proceedings, p384
19. Gourley, pl87
20. Chelsea Church, G. Bearman, pl2
21. Gourley, History of the Ottawa Valley, pl90

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St. Andrew's United Church

List of Gatineau Valley Churches.