Knox Presbyterian church was a sanctuary in wartime
2018 marks the 150th anniversary of the construction of the first church building for the congregation of Knox Presbyterian, an integral part of the community of Dunedin. The following is the third and final portraiture describing our collective community history, this congregation’s journey. This article begins with the great war period.
Church life from 1910 continued to reflect the prosperity of rural society. Church weddings for young Knox members and adherents began to replace the more traditional home weddings, recapped by descriptive articles in the local papers, complete with period photographs. Multi generational families filled the pews, choirs, youth groups and a bursting Sunday school were the norm. A late arrival for service resulted in an aisle chair over a pew seat. Church life as a social attribute became increasingly a spiritual community precipitated by war. Dunedin’s sons had served in Colonial forces as early as the 1857 India Uprising, but the duration of the Great War really removed the brawn. Fully 48 per cent of all Canadian Expeditionary Force men and women were casualties in service to King and Country. Family photographs of enlisted men were most often taken on the church steps following service, a tradition which has continued into the 21st century. By 1918 the demographic reality was palpable. The congregation helped families in struggle without the social safety net of today. Values would be questioned but faith sharpened. Church became sanctuary.
In the face of adversity, Dunedin seemed to rise in the age of discovery and often stood as the center of innovation.
It was the first community to develop a communication grid stretching from Honeywood to Stayner under the banner of the Noisy River Telephone Company, the operators originally taking up office hours at Jackson’s lumber mill on the river’s edge, immediately behind the church. The village was also the first in the area to build a hydraulic powered dynamo at Weatherall’s Grist Mill, where the community hall stands today, for rotating electrification of homes, replacing coal oil lighting at the church.
Inventors like George Scriver developed a semi mechanized basket production mill for the growing fruit industry on Scriver’s Creek.
Even private banking within the community flourished.
In 1925 the formation of the United Church of Canada accounted for the union of four church denominations including two thirds of all Presbyterian congregations.
Knox Dunedin democratically voted firmly to remain Presbyterian as did each of the eight Nottawasaga Township congregations but literally overnight the largest Protestant denomination in Canada became among the smallest.
The family church was born and Dunedin experience was indicative. Sunday service became the touchstone of a community in need of healing. Some divided congregations would struggle both numerically and physiologically however, Dunedin was spared and relations with the new local United Churches were as they had been with their largely Methodist forebearers.
Within 24 years of the Great War a second would break. Family photos on church steps witnessed our youth facing mortality once more, though thankfully this time, most would return from battle.
After 1945 the national economy boomed. Family farms and business made strides in its wake, but culturally we coped with the modernization of Canadian society transitioning from rural majority to an urban growth, which would completely reverse the population demographic. Local families retained their ties to community and church, but beginning as early as the late 1950s the rugged escarpment landscape began to slowly transition from a working farm community to the weekend estate community of today.
The fine brick one-room school SS#7 Nottawasaga school at the foot of Lavender Hill was the first to close in the area and the new village purchased bus filled with children made its way to nearby Creemore Public School.
By the end of the millennium the local population index would be reduced to a quarter of its former size as mobility made employment opportunities afield the norm for young graduates.
Dunedin, however continued to be the emotional home for these expats and their young families during the holy holidays of Easter and Christmas as well as those benchmark life events, marriage, baptism and family bereavement. Weekend family reunions frequently documented in local media were seldom complete without the anchor of a Sunday Church service.
By the 21st Century, western urban society shifted away from traditional norms affecting all institutions including those faith based. Many small rural congregations of every denomination have closed or centralized. Knox Dunedin was also challenged but a small core of families both new and long term have taken exception and sought to define their Christian purpose within their much loved church by an impressive focus toward mission. Locally, the congregation support local families in crisis and regularly contribute to our Clearview Food Bank. Globally through Presbyterians Sharing, contributions are committed to off shore responses with a focus to maximized funds through national church and government aid incentives. Thanks to a committed volunteer staff, 100 per cent of all designated mission funds reach their destination. It has been said that we see ourselves as first century Christian Church in the 21st Century.
Within our community Knox stands as a beacon. Our numbers are smaller but committed. Regular seasonal visitors have found a welcoming church family. Arts programs vary, tailored to available talent and opportunity. Outreach through our annual strawberry supper and chicken barbecue frequently welcome more than 300 guests for each event and other planned fundraisers are warmly received within the greater community.
Summer youth VBS outreach rosters are filled to capacity each summer. Presently fundraising initiatives are being planned in an effort to meet our accessibility obligations.
Today, Knox Dunedin continues to be thoughtfully inspired by a session of five elected elders and our clerical moderator.
The volunteer board of managers is comprised of five elected members and adherents including our treasurer. Spiritually we continue to be blessed with the exceptional ministry of Rev. Chris Gray. Musically we are led by a small team of talented pianists led by Carlee Gowan.
On Sunday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. Knox Presbyterian Church will celebrate our 150th anniversary service. All are welcome to attend. We have much to celebrate and as we reflect on our history we are inspired to look toward our future.
