100th Anniversary of the Laying of the Cornerstone

This year marks the 100^th Anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of Guthrie’s current church building. On Sunday, May 25^th at 3:00 p.m., the members of Guthrie will be celebrating this event, as well as 140 years as a community of faith, with a special service and meal. Everyone is welcome to join us in this celebration so be sure to mark the date on your calendars! 

Here’s an excerpt about the laying of the cornerstone from Helen Armstrong’s book 100 Years in the life of Guthrie Presbyterian Church, Alvinston: 

"The Corner Stone of the New Presbyterian Church was laid on Wednesday, July 1, 1914, when a very impressive service was conducted and supper served in the new sheds.  

 

Long before the laying of the corner-stone had arrived, many citizens and out-of-town visitors had gathered for the purpose of witnessing the afternoon’s proceedings. 



Rev. R.G. McKay and his son Alex at a wedding on the
A.T. Morrison farm which was later owned by
Mrs. William Lehrbass. Circa 1919.

At 3:00 p.m., the pastor Rev. R.G. McKay announced that the hour had arrived to commence the ceremony which was opened by singing The One Hundredth Psalm, followed by a prayer by Rev. N.A. Campbell of Inwood.  

Hymn, Oh Jesus, our chief Corner-stone, was then sung and Rev. Easson of Napier read the Scripture Lesson, which was taken from 1^st Corinthians, 1-10. 

Rev. R.G. McKay then read a history of the church, giving the names of the different ministers and the length of their incumbency.  

Hymn Christ is made the sure foundation followed by the dedication prayer by Rev. McKay. 

 

Mr. Ed. Reader, Chairman of the Building Committee, then handed the trowel to Mr. P.A. McDiarmid, senior member of the session, who declared the stone well and truly laid, with fervent good wishes and a benediction upon the work. 

Addresses were then given by the resident ministers, Rev. Pherril  and Rev. Brittain; also, Rev. Forester, Campbell and Weir. Dr. J.B. Martyn, M.P.P. of East Lambton, gave a few congratulatory remarks. 

The hymn How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord was then sung and the benediction pronounced by Rev. N.A. Campbell. After this, over five hundred and twenty five people partook of the supper which was served by the women of the congregation. It was patronized by people of all denominations. The receipts of the supper amounted to over $130."

 

Cornerstone Postcard Photos Courtesy of Allan McNeil.

Rev. S. G. Livingston

Rev. S.G. Livingston



Rev. S.G. Livingston of Burns Church and Moore Line was called as Minister to Guthrie Presbyterian Church in 1901 and stayed for two years. During his ministry, the following elders were added to the Session: Alex McPhail, Neil A. Leitch and Archie L. Walker.

Sunday School in the 1950's

Helen Armstrong's Sunday School Class circa 1950-1953

 

From Left to Right: 

 

John Archie McLachlan

Donald Sutherland

Evelyn Patterson

Doug McCaw

Alex Ferguson

Elaine McCarter

Verne McLean
Claire (Skip) McCallum


Helen Armstrong's Sunday School Class circa 1950-1953

From Left to Right:

Keith Campbell

Neil McTaggart

Jean McTaggart

Alex Ferguson

Joyce Webster

Grant McCallum

Clare (Skip) McCallum

Verne McLean

Guthrie Sunday School Picnic

From Left to Right:

Jimmy Pavey
Grant McCallum
Clare (Skip) McCallum
Verne McLean

The Burns Supper

This January marks the 82^nd Anniversary of Guthrie Presbyterian Church’s annual Burns Supper; a celebration of the life and poetry of Scottish poet Robert Burns that is held around the time of his birthday. Born the son of a poor ploughman on January 25, 1759, Burns has been revered by Scots the world over as a symbol of their beloved country.

Given the Scottish roots of the Presbyterian Church, not to mention areas such as Brooke-Alvinston, Burns’ humble rural beginnings, and his concern with the human condition, it is no wonder that churches like Guthrie have embraced him as one of their own.

As Mary Ellen Brown at Indiana University writes, "Burns’ utopian cry remains as elusive and appropriate today as when he wrote it:  
 

                            That Man to Man the warld o’er,

                            Shall brothers be for a’ that. "

Although there appears to be little recorded history pertaining to the early suppers held at Guthrie, one oral account from an “old timer” involves her older brother entertaining the crowd with a lively rendition of “the Wiggle-Waggle of the Kilt.” 

 

 

In 1966, the cover of a programme read, “Here’s hoping that Thistle be the Best Burns Supper You Ever Attended!" The cost for that dinner is said to have been $1.50. 

 

Angus McLean, a local newspaper publisher, was very active in planning these dinners. In 1967, he and his wife Mary invited well-known entertainer Andrew Murdison (Auld Sandy) of Barrie to be the guest speaker.  

 

Knowing it would be a big evening, the Town Hall (located over the Post Office) was booked.

 

 

Food for the dinner was carried down the street and up the stairs. Winnie Tait addressed the Haggis ; Scottish singers and dancers made a full evening of entertainment. Mr. Murdison sent back a beautiful card and poem he wrote as thanks for the visit.  

Over the years, those people addressing the Haggis included Norm Humphrey, Robert Cochrane and Tom Rankin. Guest speakers ranged from a Member of Parliament from Nova Scotia to neighbouring ministers to Guthrie’s own members.

 

From the Left: Alda & Dr. Jim McKenzie; Ralph & Dolores Ferguson

 

Remember the Campbell Brothers as our pipers? They are now well-known musicians in the band The Mudmen. Charlie Eliot, Tim Zavitz, our own Meghan McLean and Glencoe’s Don Webster have also done their turns.  

 

Making the Haggis takes time. When most farmers had cattle, they would save the hearts and tongues; now they are harder to come by. However, between the McLachlans, the McKellars and McLeans, the savoury pots of haggis are prepared and steamed to perfection with the traditional lamb being replaced by beef. 

 

At the supper, children dressed in Scottish caps and aprons follow the piper with their plates of Haggis and spoons. The meal includes “neeps and tathers” (turnips and potatoes), scones and biscuits plus ham, salad and homemade pies. The room is filled to capacity; at least 130 people attend and Scottish jokes are mixed with fine entertainment. The kitchen helpers work hard to keep the food coming and the room is decorated with Scottish blankets, pictures, dolls and banners.  

Burns once wrote that, “The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley.”  In other words, things often go wrong in life. Certainly, this has been the case of Guthrie’s Burns Supper. With January falling in the middle of Canada’s winter, weather can play a crucial role in the hosting of this event. One year, when the Hydro failed due to bad weather, the organizers rushed home to get old oil lamps for the tables. The end result was beautiful and made for an evening that lingers in everyone’s memory.  

No doubt Burns would have approved of this impromptu moment as well as the eighty-two year old tradition which is held in his name. It is this kind of resilience and fellowship that has helped define the Guthrie Congregation and allowed it to flourish to this very day.

Credit: Information about the Burns Supper and Copies of Programmes were provided by Dolores Ferguson.

Flora Turner's Sunday School Class 1909

This is a photo of Flora Turner's Sunday School Class at Guthrie Presbyterian Church. It was taken at Hadden's Art Studio in November 1909.

On the back of the photograph, the names are identified as follows:

Front Row: Lily Smith, Flora Belle McNeil, Mary Livingston and Ethel Merner.

Back Row: Eva Huston, Mary Bell Johnston, Joanne McDerment, Kathleen McDougal and Eva Parker.

Presumably, the adult on the left in the back row is Flora Turner.

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.

Rev. Jo-Anne Symington's Faith Journey





Rev. Jo-Anne, Hannah and Nathan Symington
Photo Credit: Real Canadian Superstore, Strathroy, Ontario

 

My faith journey has taken me from my early days at West Adelaide Presbyterian Church through my study at Ontario Bible College, University of Waterloo, McGill University and Presbyterian College. I look back to when I was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church in Canada on June 26, 1990.

My first charge I served in was St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Kars and Osgoode Presbyterian Church in Vernon, ON from September 1990 to March 1998. I moved back closer to home when I married Wayne Symington on April 18, 1998. After I married Wayne and moved back to this area, I did pulpit supply until I had the opportunity to serve in Brigden Presbyterian Church for 1 1/2 years between 2000-2002.

I started at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Napier and Guthrie Presbyterian Church, Alvinston on August 4, 2002. By the time I came to Napier and Alvinston, Wayne and I had two children. Hannah was 3 and Nathan was 1.

I remember the night of my induction which was held in the church in Alvinston. The choir blessed us with the singing of “Welcome to the family we are glad that you have come to share your life with us.” Not only have I been able to share my life with the congregations I serve in but they have shared their lives with me. We have experienced many seasons together, where we have laughed, shared, visited, worked, and even cried together, but through it all God has been a steady rock and still is.

While in the Alvinston charge I lost my mom to Picks disease on March 22, 2006. Another loss that was devastating to my children and me was the loss of Wayne, a husband and dad, on September 07, 2010 to a massive heart attack. Through this journey of grief and loss and helping my children continue along without their dad, God has been and still is a loving, faithful God, Who promises to always be there for us.

As I reflect back over my life and all that I have been through, my relationship with Jesus has grown with everything I have been through. He loves me and is a constant presence in my life. I trust the plan that God has for my life and the lives of my children. I continue to trust God in every step of this journey and onward I go with God.

I love the people that God has called me to journey alongside in the congregations that I serve in Napier and Alvinston. May God bless each of them as they continue to grow in Christ and walk with Him in their journey of life.

Rev. Jo-Anne Symington

Photo Courtesy of Real Canadian Superstore, Strathroy, Ontario