Cemetery Notes |
- This cemetery has always been called the Carluke White Church cemetery. It was always a church cemetery of the Presbyterian Faith.
The earliest interment as recorded on a monument was that of Jane Findlay born Oct. 9, 1830, died Aug. 7, 1831.
The cemetery is still in use (1987).
HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES AND CEMETERIES,
The history of the Carluke Church dates back to May 12, 1845, soon after the first settlement, when the settlers, desirous of religous instruction, called a meeting in the log school house in the 6th concession. The Rev. Mark Y. Stark of Dundas, and of St. Andrew's in Ancaster, opened the meeting with a prayer, and then described the position of the Presbyterian Church in Canada at the time. It was then moved by Mr. John Mitchell, and seconded by Mr. Joseph Douglas, that a Presbyterian congregation be organized in this settlement (Carluke), and that a committee be appointed to raise funds and to arrange with the Presbytery of West Flamborough for an occasional ministration of the Word. Accordingly, an occasional supply was arranged, but in the Spring of 1845, Carluke joined with the Presbyterian Church at Caledonia and called the Rev. Andrew Ferrler, D.D.to be their minister. He was inducted at Caledonia on April 23, 1846, there being a Carluke deputation present to welcome him as their minister as well.
In December, 1850, the first church called the White Church, erected on land given by John Walker, was formally opened. Before this they had met in the log school house and called themselves the United Presbyterian Church of Ancaster East, That same year (1850), the schism of 1844 hit the Carluke congregation and, as many in other churches had done in 1844, several or the Carluke members broke away from the Established Church (of Scotland) to join the Free Presbyterian Church of Canada. The dissenters returned to worship in the log school house until 1855 when they erected Knox Presbyterian Church on land purchased from Andrew Sloss. Here, the Rev. James Black was their leader for over thirty years.
In 1886, the United Presbyterian Church of Ancaster East (commonly called the White Church) adopted the name Erskine Church, and they built a drive shed (an essential in those horse and buggy days) on land leased in 1865 from Mrs. Alexander MacDonald (formerly Mrs. Allen Moffat).
In 1886, the two churches re-united, and thereafter held morning services In Erskine (the White) Church, with afternoon worship in Knox (the Red Brick) Church, The Rev John Lees became minister In 1855, and the Rev. William Walker In 1970. In 18S8, a manse was built and the Rev. Albert E. Doherty became its first occupant in 1889.
In 1898, the two original churches were torn down, and a new one, St. Paul's, was erected half way between them on the present site adjoining the manse. This church was destroyed by fire in 1924, and was replaced by the present structure, which was given a new entrance in 1945. A church parlour and conveniences were added In 1961.
The above history is from "Ancaster's Heritage" by the Ancaster Township Historical Society.
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