The first Presbyterian families entered the Thornbury neighbourhood during the early 1850’s. They received occasional services from ministers who would be passing through the area. Most of these services were conducted by Methodist preachers. Mr. W. A. Clark, after whom Clarksburg was named, gave the use of a room in his woollen mill for services.
Mr. Fayette began services in this area in 1854. He was inducted into the charge consisting of Heathcote, Ravenna, Griersville, Meaford and the Clarksburg and Thornbury area.
In the fall of 1863, on the site of the present church shed, the Presbyterian Church was built. On the same day the Anglican Church was erected, just across the street, with the same men taking part in both raisings. Since the church was not plastered, it was not used until the following spring. In 1866 comfortable seats were built. These replaced the original seats-rough boards that sat on blocks of wood. In 1867 the church was plastered. During this time (1862-1871), Rev. John Gould was the minister. His charge was made up of 72 families: Griersville 32, Heathcote 16, Meaford 16, Thornbury/Clarksburg 8. On June 7, 1867, St. Paul’s held its first communion service.
In the early days there were neither choir nor organ. The service of praise was led by a precentor who sat in front of the pulpit facing the congregation.
The first stipend offered was $500.00 without manse. With only 8 Presbyterian families, this amount was not always forthcoming.
On July 12, 1871, Presbytery granted Thornbury/Clarksburg and Heathcote to be
one charge. It was during this year that the Ladies Aid group was organized. In 1876 the congregation decided to get an organ.
On August 18, 1873 Thornbury/Clarksburg, Heathcote and Banks Mountain with Ravenna added were formed into a pastoral charge and Rev. D. J. McInnis was inducted as minister.
In September 1877, Rev. McInnis left the congregation, Banks Mountain was transferred to Barrie Presbytery and Ravenna Church closed. The next year, December 1878, Rev. A.T. Coulter was ordained and inducted as minister. During his pastorate the congregation took another step forward, when the present church was built opening for worship late in the year of 1880. The corner stone was laid on July 1st and by coincidence the corner stone of the Methodist Church (now Grace United) were laid the same afternoon.
Rev. Coulter left this charge in 1884 and after a long vacancy, which was filled by student ministers, Rev. Peter Fleming was inducted on May 5, 1887 and continued until 1891. During Rev. Fleming’s time there was quite a number of young people in the congregation and in early 1889 a Christian Endeavour Society was organized. The Women’s Missionary Society was organized in January 1898. One of our young women, Miss Bella Goodfellow, heard the call to the Foreign Mission Field and after her dedication service in 1889, she left to service in India.
Rev. J.L. Simpson was inducted in December 1892 and remained until 1904. The Willing Workers Society was organized in 1894. Rev. Simpson was succeeded by Rev. K. W. Barton in 1905. He remained until 1908. Rev. S. D. Jamieson was his successor from 1909 to August 1920. During this time the pipe organ was installed. Rev. A. A. Laing was inducted on January 5, 1921 and remained with the church until “Church Union” took place on June 10, 1925. St. Paul’s congregation voted against Church Union. The Heathcote congregation failed to remain Presbyterian and St. Paul’s became a one-point charge.
In July 1925, the Meaford and Thornbury congregations, after a separation of 54 years, became associated under one pastor and continued until separating again in June 1952. On February 15, 1926, Rev. R. M. Hannah was inducted. He brought his ministry to a close on October 27, 1929. Rev. E. Osborn was inducted August 12, 1930 and remained until early in 1939. In the early 1930 the Bella Goodfellow Guild was formed. Rev. C. L. Mitchell was inducted later in 1939. Early in 1942 he received a leave of absence from the congregation to enter the Canadian Armed Forces as Chaplain in World War 2. Rev. A. L. Howard came to fill in from April 29, 1942 until the last Sunday in August 1945. Rev. Mitchell terminated his pastorate on November 25, 1945.
Up until June 1937, St. Paul’s had morning and evening services and Knox, Meaford had an afternoon service. Meaford wished to have an evening service, which was granted. So, St. Paul’s had only morning services. The sanctuary had some remodelling done in 1943 and in 1949 new seats and lighting were put in and lead glass windows replaced the original frosted glass. The front and back entrances were changed, also.
Rev. C. J. Beckley was inducted into the Meaford/Thornbury charge on October 3, 1946 until August 21, 1952. Mr. Howard A. Smith, a divinity student of Knox College in Toronto, took charge of the work at St. Paul’s in October 1952, and remained as student pastor until May 1955, and as he had completed his college work, the congregation called him to become their pastor. He was ordained and inducted as pastor in our church on May 10, 1955. In 1954, Knox Meaford Church, Gibralter and Rock Union Church became associated with St. Paul’s and were served by our pastor, Rev. Smith.
Rev. Smith ended his pastorate here in May 1956. In January 1957, Rev. R. A. K. Martin from Scotland was inducted as minister and remained until in July 1958. The organ was rebuilt by the Eaton Co. in 1958.
From August 1958 to April 1959 several supplies occupied the pulpit. On April 5, 1959 Rev, J. J. Jennings was inducted as minister and resided in the St. Paul’s manse.
He ended his work here in 1963. In 1964 Rev. Henry MacNeil came to us as minister residing in the Meaford manse. The following September Miss Eleanor Knott’s designation service to become a missionary to India was held. Rev. MacNeil ended his pastorate here in December 1969. Rev. John Duff came in July 1970 and was inducted and lived in the Thornbury manse. In August 1972 Thornbury and Meaford churches were transferred from Barrie to Bruce Maitland Presbytery. Rev. Duff left in June 1973. A year of pulpit supplies followed. On July 28, 1974, Rev. T. H. Boyd was inducted and lived in Meaford. He served until 1980 when he retired from active ministry. In September 1979, the congregation decide to sponsor a family of 4, who were refugees from South East Asia. This became a very rewarding experience for St. Paul’s. In 1980 a dedication service was held for Rev. Glenn and Linda Inglis, who were leaving under appointment by the Board of World Mission to Malawi as missionaries of the Presbyterian Church. They served in Malawi from 1980-1985 and from 1996-2003 and again from 2007- 2013. They also served in Lesotho in 1990-1991.
Rev. Ian Raeburn-Gibson was inducted in August of 1981 and served until 1991.
St. Paul’s voted to take steps to become a one point, self-supporting charge on May 19, 1991. On March 24, 1992 Rev. Frances Savill was ordained at a service held in
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Barrie and then inducted into service at St. Paul’s where she began her ministry June 1, 1992 and served until August 2005. In 1998 an addition of a Fellowship Hall, a kitchenette, a choir room and a pastor’s office was added to the back of the church building with a new gym room in the basement. At the same time the basement of the original part was renovated. In 2002 the chancel was remodelled.
Rev. Peggy Kipfer was inducted into service at St. Paul’s in January 25, 2009 and continues to serve at this time.