St. James’ Presbyterian Church (click here for a map) prides itself in being an ongoing center for Christian teaching, care for those in need in this community, and concern for the spiritual life of our region’s youth.

Through worship services, programs and studies, and our youth group, we deepen our understanding of the Holy Scriptures, and use our understanding to inform our faith and guide others through life’s challenges.

We recognize a growing need to minister to seniors, while not losing sight of our young families that are reemerging in our rural setting.

We now host a Girl Guide group with expansion growing to include more of the guiding program.

We are a family, a family of faith, and the head of this family is Christ. We continue to grow this family by finding those great opportunities to serve, and accept the gifts and abilities that have made this region their home.

Our History:

The Presbyterian ministry in this area goes well back over a hundred and twenty years. Church records, covering our earliest history were lost in a fire in 1913. A Book of Remembrance was composed in 1974. The BoR is now in digital format [2009].

“We have records of the late Rev. James Law preaching in the greater area of Kent County. The first definite date that is recorded in the settlement of the parish of Bass River, Millbranch and Weldford in the year 1861 with their first minister, the Rev. James Fowler who came from Black River.

… the people of Millbranch area worshipped in the first church which was destroyed by fire in 1889. . .

In 1888 Millbranch and Weldford with two additional preaching places were separated from Bass River. The first minister was Rev. McLure. During his time a new church was constructed. The first frame for this church was erected where the present church now stands. A forest fire swept through the area and the new frame along with the old building was burned. The present church was then built.”

1939-today

“Since 1939 Beersville was again linked with Bass River and its districts.” [BoR] Much has taken place since that reunion of the pastoral charge.

The church has undergone numerous renovations and improvements, with memorial windows added, a few furnaces [first converting to oil in the 1960s], and the design of the church sanctuary has shifted from including a choir room and vestry, to being carpeted, wood paneled, painted more than a few times, and finally sided and re-roofed. At that time [1981] the steeple was removed, it being unsafe, and in its place was put a framed crown structure. Much of this was done through memorial donations and the hard work of church members.

For information about the history of the  Beersville Cemetery at St. James please go to this RootsWeb page with information gathered by Deborah Hale

Past to Present Ministers:

1861 – ? Rev. James Fowler

1888 -? Rev. McLure

?1905? Rev. R.H. Stavert

_unknown_

1939-1942 Rev. J.A. MacGowan

1943-1946 Rev. M.R. MacKary

1948-1952 Rev. R. W. Ross

1953           Mr. W.E. Whyte [student]

1954-1957 Rev. W.E. Whyte

1958          Mr. L. Caldwell [student]

1959-1960 Rev. A.W. Williamson

1961-1962 Rev. B.C. Lowery

1963           Mr. W. Parks

1964-1970 Rev. W. Parks

1971          Mr. H. McPhee

1972-1973 Rev. H. McPhee

1973          Mr. K. Stright [student]

1974           Mr. J. Farnam [student]

1975-1979 Mr. A.R. Murray

1979-1981 Rev. J. Eenkhoorn

1982-1984 Rev. R. Sparks

1984-2000 Rev. G. Howard

2000-2002 Rev. Dr. John Allison [Interim Minister]

2002-2005 Mr. Stephen Mawhinney [student minister]

2006&2007 Mr. Brad Blaikie [summer student]

2006-2007 Mr. Cecil Symes [lay missionary]

2007-2018 Rev. Alexander (Sandy) D. Sutherland

 

Elders since 1913:

John Dunn

Thomas Dunn

Joseph Little

Jonathon Cail

Isaac Dunn [1925-1963]

Keith Cail [1925-1974]

Elton Beers [1925-1968]

William Glencross [1926-1958]

James Lawson [1964-2014]

Thomas Glencross [1964-1997]

Walter Dunn [1964-2003]

James Cail [1964-______]

Leslie Cail [1994-2002] resigned

Robert Glencross [1994-2017]

Susan Campbell [1994-______]

Wareham Campbell [2008-____]

Marly D. Sutherland  [2008-2018]