Centreville Presbyterian Church
Encyclopedia
Centreville Presbyterian Church (South Monaghan, Ontario
) was established in 1833. The first minister, the Rev. James Douglas(s) (June 11, 1792-April 30, 1870), was inducted in 1834, a native of Monaghan
, in Ireland
, who came from a congregation in Lisbon, Pennsylvania. A frame church was built in 1852, and a new brick church building was constructed in 1863. The congregation remained with the Presbyterian Church in Canada
during the time of Church Union in 1925.
A noteworthy feature of this church is its cemetery
, still sheltering the gravestones of many of the original settlers of the area.
In 1931, a ceremony of remembrance was held to dedicate a new stained glass window honouring these old pioneers of Millbrook and Centreville
, especially John Deyell
and his wife Margaret, who contributed the land the church stands on. The window has four panels, the first panel showing a traveller on horseback, with saddle-bags and rifle
, and in the background oxen, and a log cabin
home; its counterpart in the fourth section, depicts the early settler sowing grain by hand; and in the richly-coloured centre panels the figures of an apostle and an angel
, while inset are farm implements and animals of pioneer days; household articles such as a lighted candle; hints at the original peoples symbolized by the feathered headdress and wigwam; the covered wagon; the ripened grain loaded for carriage to the barn; the church; the schoolhouse; the hourglass; and the fruits of the harvest.
In 2005, the Reverend Nicolaas Mulder, then Minister of St. Giles Presbyterian Church in nearby Peterborough, Ontario
added this congregation to his ministry. Mulder left Peterborough for St Andrew's Church in Trenton, Ontario
in early 2007, and after a vacancy of over a year, Rev. Tom Cunningham of Barrie, Ontario
was Called and Inducted to the St. Giles and Centreville Pastoral Charge on July 27, 2008. Services continue to be held on Sundays at 9:15 a.m. (Church Service, School & Nursery).
In June 2008, the congregation celebrated 175 years of Presbyterian witness with Professor Stuart Macdonald of Knox College, University of Toronto
, and a former minister, as guest speaker.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
) was established in 1833. The first minister, the Rev. James Douglas(s) (June 11, 1792-April 30, 1870), was inducted in 1834, a native of Monaghan
Monaghan
Monaghan is the county town of County Monaghan in Ireland. Its population at the 2006 census stood at 7,811 . The town is located on the main road, the N2 road, from Dublin north to both Derry and Letterkenny.-Toponym:...
, in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, who came from a congregation in Lisbon, Pennsylvania. A frame church was built in 1852, and a new brick church building was constructed in 1863. The congregation remained with the Presbyterian Church in Canada
Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
during the time of Church Union in 1925.
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
, still sheltering the gravestones of many of the original settlers of the area.
In 1931, a ceremony of remembrance was held to dedicate a new stained glass window honouring these old pioneers of Millbrook and Centreville
Centreville
Centreville may refer to places:Canada*Centreville, New Brunswick*Centreville, Newfoundland and Labrador*Centreville, Nova Scotia *Centreville, Elgin County, Ontario *Centreville, Grey County, Ontario...
, especially John Deyell
John Deyell
John Deyell was assistant to the original surveyor of Cavan Township in Durham County, Ontario, and founder of the town of Millbrook, Ontario.....
and his wife Margaret, who contributed the land the church stands on. The window has four panels, the first panel showing a traveller on horseback, with saddle-bags and rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
, and in the background oxen, and a log cabin
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
home; its counterpart in the fourth section, depicts the early settler sowing grain by hand; and in the richly-coloured centre panels the figures of an apostle and an angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
, while inset are farm implements and animals of pioneer days; household articles such as a lighted candle; hints at the original peoples symbolized by the feathered headdress and wigwam; the covered wagon; the ripened grain loaded for carriage to the barn; the church; the schoolhouse; the hourglass; and the fruits of the harvest.
In 2005, the Reverend Nicolaas Mulder, then Minister of St. Giles Presbyterian Church in nearby Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
added this congregation to his ministry. Mulder left Peterborough for St Andrew's Church in Trenton, Ontario
Trenton, Ontario
Trenton is a community in Southern Ontario in the municipality of Quinte West, Ontario, Canada. Located on the Bay of Quinte, it is the main population centre in Quinte West....
in early 2007, and after a vacancy of over a year, Rev. Tom Cunningham of Barrie, Ontario
Barrie, Ontario
Barrie is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada, located on the western shore of Lake Simcoe, approximately 90 km north of Toronto. Although located in Simcoe County, the city is politically independent...
was Called and Inducted to the St. Giles and Centreville Pastoral Charge on July 27, 2008. Services continue to be held on Sundays at 9:15 a.m. (Church Service, School & Nursery).
In June 2008, the congregation celebrated 175 years of Presbyterian witness with Professor Stuart Macdonald of Knox College, University of Toronto
Knox College, University of Toronto
Knox College is a postgraduate theological college of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1844 as part of a schism movement in the Church of Scotland following the Disruption...
, and a former minister, as guest speaker.