History of the Guthrie Christmas Puddings

If you’re a fan of Christmas pudding, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to taste one made by the members of Guthrie Presbyterian Church in Alvinston.

Rheta McLean & Isabel McLachlin

This sixty-five year tradition began when Gladys McCallum brought the recipe home from a cousin’s church in Kincardine.

Approximately twenty puddings were made in one pound coffee tins at the home of Jessie McKinlay and the vegetables were put through hand grinders. The next year, twice as many were made at the church. 



Goldie Armstrong

For thirty years, Gladys’s sister Rheta McLean, supervised the morning shift. Some other early names included: Thersa Steele, Ethel Annett, Anna McDougall, Neilena McLachlin, Helen Armstrong, Annie Ferguson and Helen Wrightman.  






 

Mary Gilroy obtained head-cheese loaf pans from Burns Grocery in Watford and the production increased yearly from 289 two pound puddings in 1975 selling for $3.50 each to a high of 627 in 1990 at $6.50 each. By 1999, the church was selling 400 puddings at $8.00. 

 

 

 

Electric grinders and later, two Kenwood Chefs eased the labour as did the assistance of church men.

 

 

 

 

 

The Parkers sold puddings from their hardware store until they moved to Watford and a church freezer was purchased in 1986.  

 

Florence McNeil took over the morning shift in 1981; while Mildred Maddock looked after the afternoons. Evelyn Douglas, and then, Lorne and Isabel McLachlin continued the mornings; Mary Gilroy and then, Dolores Ferguson, the afternoons. Evelyn returned and gradually passed on the job to Anne Redick. Grinding started Monday morning, the batter was mixed early on the next three mornings and steaming went on for three days with two shifts daily. Mysea Carruthers and Lorraine Douglas looked after the steaming. The purchase of a large stove fan was also an asset.  
 

Although this account ends at 1999 when the above-mentioned booklet was published, the tradition of the Christmas puddings continues at Guthrie to the present day. This year, puddings are available for purchase at $12.00 each. Not only does the making of these puddings raise funds for church projects and uphold a long-standing tradition, but it has become an important time of fellowship for everyone involved. And yes, after sixty-five years, the puddings are still delicious! But don't take our word for it; as the old saying goes, “the proof is in the pudding!”

Excerpt from: 125th Anniversary Edition of Guthrie Presbyterian Church Alvinston, Ontario 1974-1999  by Helen Armstrong.

Photos from: 125th Anniversary Edition of Guthrie Presbyterian Church Alvinston, Ontario 1974-1999 by Helen Armstrong; The Birthday and Anniversary Calendar for Guthrie Presbyterian Church, Alvinston, Ontario and St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Napier, Ontario by the Ladies Aid 2011.