St. Andrew’s Church began as a mission of the Canada Presbyterian Church in 1863. Local congregational records shed no light on this first period in the life of the congregation, as regular records were not kept until the charge was raised from mission status to a regular charge in 1867.
Fortunately sources other than local records exist, which do yield some information on the early years of the church. Most interesting and significant among these outside sources is the report of the “Home Mission Committee” of the Ontario Presbytery of the Canada Presbyterian Church for the year 1863, which appears in The “Home and Foreign Record” of the Canada Presbyterian Church, No. 4, Vol. III, February 1864. This report is significant because it definitely establishes when work began in Fenelon Falls, and is of interest because of the picture which it gives of the state of the Church’s work in an area which comprises roughly the present Presbytery of Lindsay. The report is as follows:
The Presbytery’s Mission Field contained last year (1863), including Whitby and the dissentient congregation at Ashburn, 13 preaching stations. Of the other 11, one is as the Village of Mount Albert, in East Gwillimbury, near the border of Scott; one at Leaskdale, in Scott; two in Brock, of which one is on the 6th concession, and one at the Village of Cannington; one at Manilla, on the town line of Brock and Mariposa; one in the north of Eldon; two in Fenelon, of which one is on the 2nd concession, and one at the Falls; one at the Village of Uxbridge; and one at Argyle, on the 2nd concession of Eldon. Of these, Fenelon Falls, Lindsay, Leaskdale, and Mount Albert were occupied only this season.
The Presbytery had last year five Missionaries in the field. One of these had charge of North Eldon, Islay in the 2nd concession of Fenelon, and Fenelon Falls, officiating in each fortnightly; one at Lindsay; one at Manilla, Brock and Cannington, officiating every Sunday in each; one of Leaskdale and Mount Albert. These stations had, for three months, only alternate services, after that they had them weekly. One had charge of Whitby. The dissentient congregation of Ashburn had a missionary for only a couple of months. Mr. Monteith of Prince Albert had charge of Uxbridge, and the convenor, (John MacTavish) of Argyle. The committee regret that North Eldon, Islay, and Fenelon Falls have had almost no supply since the College opened, and no station more than fortnightly supply except Whitby, and that mainly, if not wholly, owing to lack of funds. Ashburn had supply for five Sundays since the College opened.
Places of worship were erected some years ago at Manilla, Ashburn, Islay, and in Brock. One at Argyle was bought last year from the Congregationalists. One was opened in North Eldon last winter, another was opened at Cannington last summer, and one is to be opened at Leaskdale next Sabbath, while preparations are made to build at Fenelon Falls, Mount Albert, and Lindsay next season.
The attendance at these places is given as follows:
North Eldon—place of worship well filled, say 180. Sabbath School 50, Bible Class 40, Prayer Meeting 60; At Palestine, a station about 6 ½ miles distant (from North Eldon), and supplied on Sabbath evenings 95; Islay, 85, (more when service is conducted in Gaelic); Fenelon Falls 100; Cameron Rapids, a station occasionally supplied, 40; Lindsay 65; Manilla 85; Brock 40; Cannington 105; Leaskdale 155; Mount Albert 100; Ashburn 100; Whitby 150; Argyle 120—giving, after making reasonable deduction, at least 1100 hearers connected with these stations. The number of members cannot well be given this season.
John MacTavish, Convenor.
Another source of information concerning the early life of the congregation is found in the cash-book of the Home Mission Committee of the Presbytery of Ontario. The following entries concern the Congregation of Fenelon Falls:
March 25, 1864, from Fenelon Falls, for Missions, $13.00
Feb. 28, 1865, from Fenelon Falls, for Missions, $12.00
Jan. 10, 1866, from Fenelon Falls, towards Mr. McNabb’s Salary, $5.00.
Jan. 19, 1866, paid to Mr. John McNabb, Knox College, from Fenelon Falls, $5.00.
The above entries are interesting not so much because of the financial information they give, but because they infer that the mission station was supplied from Knox College, and provide us with the first recorded name of a missionary on the field.
The minutes of the Presbytery of Ontario contain two or three brief references to Fenelon Falls. The first mention of Fenelon Falls notes that service is to be held in Fenelon Falls. Minutes of Presbytery 1861-1874, page 80, February 3, 1863. A further reference is found in the minutes of Presbytery on Dec 22, 1863.
“It was decided that Presbytery should draw up a scheme of places to be visited in the following manner: North Eldon, Argyle, Woodville, Islay, Fenelon Falls, and Lindsay by Messers Lawrence and Windel.”
The stated purpose of the visits was to hold missionary meetings.
In June 1865, the Presbyteries of Ontario and Cobourg jointly petitioned the Synod of the Canada Presbyterian Church to transfer the stations of Lindsay and Fenelon Falls from the Presbytery of Ontario to the Presbytery of Cobourg. The minutes of the Synod of the Canada Presbytery Church, June 15, 1865, 7:30 p.m. duly record the transfer as being approved and put into effect.