History of Melville
About 150 years ago Presbyterianism in Brussels had its beginning. For a few years, services were held in private homes and during the summer, in the bush. From the frist, there were two congregations in the community, namely Knox and Melville.
Knox
About 1856, members got together and agreed upon the erection of a place of worship. The church was the first Presbyterian church in the district and first in Ainleyville (later known as Brussels). A site containing an acre of land was secured on John Street on which was erected a church 23′ x 40′. This wsa the first church in Brussels and for a number of years the services were conducted by probationers and students. In 1861, the first minister was W.C. Young. In 1865, the old church was replaced by a new one 40′ x 60′ on the same grounds and in 1867, Rev. Samuel Jones was inducted into the new church and laboured there for 20 years, retiring in his 80th year.
During the early years, Knox followed the old Presbyterian custom of having praise service conducted by a precentor without organ or choir.
Melville
In 1857, an acre of land was purchased for $5 on the corner of Turnberry and Queen Streets and there was erected a church 30′ x 40′. This church had no settled pastor until 1865 when Rev. John Ferguson (later Dr. Ferguson)was inducted and remained for 14 years.
In the years before the first settled minister, Melville had several students from Knox College Toronto, serving the community. They included Donald McLean, Alex McKay and D.H. Fletcher.
For a number of years, Dr. Ferguson conducted services at Walton and Cranbrook in both Gaelic and English. Cranbrook separated in 1872 and Walton in 1877. Melville increased in both size and strength until, in 1872, the old church was becoming too small, the present site containing three-quarters of an acre was purchased for $130. Upon it was erected a building of 40′ x 60′ at a cost of $4, 500. Tom Ainley, son of the founder of Brussels, made the brick and the contract was awarded to Thos. Brown of Cranbrook.
After 14 years, Rev. Ferguson was succeeded by Rev. John Ross (later Dr. Ross) and he served for 26 years. During his stay as minister, Sunday School was conducted under his leadership at Victoria Hall – Jamestown. It was during his ministry that the union of Melville and Knox took place in 1895.
In 1914, it was decided that the church was inadequate and on May 25 the cornerstone of the present church was laid. It now stands where the old church stood for 42 years. The structure is 64′ x 93′, the tower is 18′ square and 65′ in height and the seating capacity is 650.
The architect was Mr. Russell of Stratford, the contractor John Hunter of Cranbrook and the brick and stone work was by Park and Brown of Cromarty and Fullerton. The present church was built at a cost of $25,700.
The cornerstone is a block of granite prepared by A.E. Hersey of Brussels Marble Works and bears the inscription “Melville Church 1864 – 1914”. In the receptacle of the stone was placed some Canadian coinage, postage stamps, a copy of the church’s financial standing, a Presbyterian Hymnal, a historical sketch of the congregation, church periodicals, a copy of the Globe & Mail and The Brussels Post.
During the building of the new church services were held in the Town Hall and mid-week services in the library.
For many years, a precentor named James Mitchell led the congregational singing followed by a choir. Shortly after the present church was erected, the Ladies’ Aid purchased a pipe organ at a cost of $1,200 which was rebuilt in 1940.
In 1925, a vot was taken to decide whether the congregation should enter the union to be named the United Church of Canada or remain Presbyterian. Fewer than one-fifth of the members went to the United Church.
Knox Church, Belgrave, became part of the Brussels family in June 1946 making it a two-point charge.
Mr. L.D. Thompson, who was the organist in 1952, made a gift of carillonic bells to the church.
The first manse was built in 1869 and the present manse on Princess Street was built in 1958.
The public address system was installed in 1982 and in 1989 the original front doors were replaced by glass doors.
A new access lift for older or disabled people was installed in 1995.
The Women’s Missionary Society in Melville was organized in 1884 and varied in membership from a beginning of 19 members to over 100. In 1895 they organized the Mission Band and gave it the name of Little Stars Mission Band. They also had a membership of 100.
The Ladies’ Aid started in 1908 and dedicated much time and effort to the church. The installed the organ in 1914 in the new building.
The Women’s Guild was organized by Mrs. Milne in 1947 and has been of great help to the congregation.
Sunday School, in the early days, was held in the hom of Mrs. McLauchlin, about two miles north of Brussels. About 1869 it moved to the frame church on the corner of Turnberry and Queen Streets.
The Boy Scouts were sponsored by the church in about 1926 and about every boy of Scout age belonged to this organization.
The Choir has had a number of very good leaders and has proved of great value to the congregation.
Young People’s Society – the meetings of the Young People’s Christian Association were begun in 1885 having as its objective definite lines of study and, as far as possible everyone was taking part. In the 1930s it had a membership of 120.
Knox Presbyterian church in Belgrave decided to amalgamate with Melville effective January 31, 2010 due to a decrease in membership and funds. Belgrave’s communion table and glasses, pulpit/ pulpit chairs, organ, baptismal font, hymnals, Bibles and several other items were brought to Brussels and set up in the stage area of the main room in Melville’s basement. These things have all greatly contributed to our worship services held in this area for the winter months.
The church has been blessed with dedicated servants of God who have laboured faithfully in His service, namely:
Melville Ministers
Rev. Dr. Ferguson 1865 – 1879 Rev. Dr. Ross 1879 – 1906 Rev. A.C. Wishart 1906 – 1912 Rev. A.J. Mann 1912 – 1921 Rev. J.P. McLeod 1921 – 1925 Rev. F.G. Fowler 1926 – 1930 Rev. Wm. Moore 1931 – 1937 Rev. S. Kerr 1937 – 1945 Rev. G. Milne 1945 – 1950 Rev. W. Fulton 1951 – 1954 Rev. H.T. Colvin 1954 – 1958 Rev. J.H. Greene 1958 – 1960 Rev. W.J. Morrison 1961 – 1966 Rev. Chas. McCarroll 1967 – 1975 Rev. K. Innes 1975 – 1983 Rev. V. Jaimeson 1984 – 1988 Rev. C.B. McAvoy 1989 – 1994 Rev. C.E. Campbell 1995 – 2009History of Presbyterian Church’s in Brussels was taken directly from “Our Story”, Brussels History Book – written by Gerald Gibson