The Saugeen Times

Dunblane Church designated as a heritage site

Heritage

Dunblane Presbyterian Church celebrates 150th Anniversary

Now one of the oldest churches in Bruce County, Dunblane Presbyterian was formally designated a heritage site on Sunday, August 2nd.

Located on the River Road, the church was built in 1859 by early settlers whose descendants, with names like Kennedy, Bell, Gowanlock, Bryce, Wallace, Adams Scott, Pollock, McKechnie, Smith, Fraser, Telfer and many others, still reside in the area in and around Saugeen Shores.

The small church was originally a log building built of local cedar trees. An open shed that was also erected in 1891 to the horses use to travel to church no longer exists and the small church is now covered with board and batten on the outside and plaster on the inside. In the 1900s, the church was painted white.

Everyone had a task in the early build of the church and Archie Pollock was in charge of 'building the corner'. His great-grandson, Ross Pollock, sat in the pews on Sunday and still lives in the area. The pews themselves were originally split basswood logs and, today, they still have that original feel although they are second-generation made by the Reverend Peter Scott, who served an apprenticeship in Scotland. Retaining that hand-hewn feel, the boards were split and then hand-smoothed with a draw knife.

In 1892, the congregation formed a union with Burgoyne that remained until the Dunblane congregation was dissolved in 1968. Early records indicate that Sunday School occurred as early as 1862 and that the first organ was played by Florence Webster and Ethel, both of whom attended the dedication ceremony Sunday.

Over the many years, Dunblane has had several ministers and several congregationalists who went on to become ministers, including John G. McKechnie, Reverend W.L. Young and Beatrice Scott who spent over 30 years as a missionary in India.

Although the church closed in 1968, a committee of volunteers has maintained the church and property and, each year, a special anniversary service is held on the first Sunday in August and the church is open to visitors from May until Thanksgiving.

Special guest, Reverend David Nicholson of Durham, became Interim Moderator at St. Andrew's in Priceville and on Sunday spoke of the great heritage that the church and its congregation has left to the area. "They had a great impact on society and on the generations of today. They came from various walks of life and contributed much to the community."

Councillor Luke Charbonneau presented a special plaque on behalf of the Heritage Commmittee, which Mayor Mike Smith unveiled along with Marilyn Scott, Chair of the Dunblane Committee.

Also, as part of the celebration, a piper played at the outset, a quartet consisting of Anne and Peter Little and John and Meghan De Jager, performed familiar old hymns and a social hour was held afterward.