Knox United Church Cemetery
Also known as: Knox United Cemetery
Also known as: Caledon Knox Cemetery
Also known as: Caledon Village Cemetery
Location:
2976 Charleston Sideroad, Caledon, Peel Region, Ontario, Canada.
Concession 1E, lot 17, Caledon Township.
GPS:
Latitude: 43.8649°N
Longitude: -80.0012°W
History:
The congregation of Knox Church, Caledon (formerly known as Charleston) is approximately 164 years old. In the year 1829 the first minister was the Reverend Mr. McWilliams. The earliest information known is that meetings were often held in Mr. Bell’s (known as Squire Bell) house. The first meetings outside of settlers’ homes appears to have been held in a log building that was used for both a school house and a church located on lot 17 on east side of what was known as Centre Road (now Hurontario Street/Highway 10) where the cemetery is currently situated in the Village of Caledon. Mr. Edward Clark is the first known recorded burial in the cemetery [see no 68 in the cemetery recording]. On July 16, 1853 (registered on Aug 10, 1853) George Bell and his spouse [see no 96 in the cemetery recording] gave 2 acres, less school site, of the west ½ of Lot 7 Conc. 1 East to the Minister of the Presbyterian Church of Caledon. Later a church was built of frame and stucco construction.
During the same period of time meetings were being held amongst the settlers east of Caledon. The Session meetings and probably the services were frequently held at Mr. Howe’s house. As early as 1848, however, there is mention of a church located on the 3rd line east which was known as Chalmers Church. The history of this church is linked with Knox Church, Caledon as eventually the two became one congregation. The first moderator of Chalmers Church was Duncan McMillan. It was customary to observe the fast in preparation for communion. William and Mary McMaster came before the Session as applicants for admission to the Lord’s Table and “After lengthened dealings with them which were very satisfactory” the Session received them to the communion of the congregation of Chalmers Church. The church is referred to as to the Canada Presbyterian Church and was then in the Presbytery of Toronto. In 1864 Archibald Brown was Minister of Chalmers Church. In 1865 the congregation was without a minister and Robert Ewing was appointed moderator pro-tem. In 1866 Francis Duncan became moderator pro-tem. In 1865 trustees were appointed to hold in trust the deed for the church.
No minutes are available for Knox Church prior to the uniting of the two congregations of Knox and Chalmers. Mr. McFaul was the first settled minister of Knox Church, being ordained in that congregation and inducted therein. He was the minister at Knox in 1858 and must also have been minister of Chalmers shortly thereafter, although he is not mentioned in the minutes of Chalmers until 1867. Mr. McFaul’s work must have been extensive, as in the same year 1867, the Presbytery was urged to accept his resignation from the church at Munsie’s Corners (now Caledon East) as he could no longer look after it. It is presumed that he was also ministering to the church at Alton.
Mr. McFaul was born in County Antrim Ireland in 1832. He emigrated to Ontario with his father who settled at Mount Pleasant upon his arrival in this country. After a public and grammar school course, Mr. McFaul entered Knox College in Toronto, and after graduation he obtained his first call from the Presbyterian Congregations of Orangeville and Caledon. He was a worthy pioneer and gave his life to this, his first congregation. He was married to Elizabeth Snell, eldest daughter of John Snell from Edmonton (now Snelgrove), a village south of Caledon. They had three daughters and three sons, Richard (died in infancy), Dr. A. McFaul and Dr. D. J. McFaul. He owned his own manse and the deed for the ½ acre of land on which it stood was conveyed to him by Mr. Howe. Later he conveyed this glebe lot to the congregation.
By 1860 the congregation had outgrown the old building on Centre Road. Mr. James Morrison granted ¼ of an acre of Lot 16 Conc. 1 west of Hurontario Street, (the corner of McFaul Street and no 15 Sideroad/ Highway 24) for the sum of $1.00. The old building was torn down and pieces of it lay along Highway 10 for some 30 years. The building of a new church was begun in the spring of 1970. It was opened and dedicated by Mr. McFaul on January 1, 1873. The present church, constructed of stone, was built by Mr. Nicholson who had constructed churches in England. Much of the stone was quarried on his own farm on the Hockley Road as well as free stone taken from nearby farms, some of it coming from Robert Rayburn’s farm. The carpentry work was done by Sam Johnson from red pine lumber, most which was donated by George Laughlin’s father and which grew in the bush around Green Lake.
The pews were installed in 1876 as a result of a motion to put up the pews “at an upset price of $8.00”. Today the expression used would have been “knocked-down”. A motion was also passed that “The holders of the pews be instructed to raise the price of their pews if they chose”. In 1888 Mr. McFaul’s 30-year ministry came to a close upon his death. A white marble stone and a picture of both him and his wife located in the vestibule of the present church honours his memory [see no’s 14 and 15 in the cemetery recording]. Meanwhile the boundaries of the Presbytery had changed from Toronto to Orangeville. This Presbytery inducted the Rev. A. Wilson to the congregations of Caledon and Alton.
Included in the minutes of the church was a motion to appoint a “Committee to look after the cemetery with power to add to their numbers, but not more than three to be added.”
The Rev. John A Matheson was inaugurated in 1896. During his ministry there was a movement from St Andrew’s Church, Caledon (the fourth line church), through the Presbytery, for union with Knox Church. This was not looked upon favourably as it would mean either severing with Alton or readjusting the workload which would not help them. Mr. Matheson did not remain long with Knox Church as in 1899 the Rev George McKay was inducted. During his incumbency the name Knox Church was changed to Central Church, probably at his suggestion. His tenure too was short-lived as in 1903 the Rev. Stanley Robinson was inducted, after a brief vacancy under the moderation of the Rev. Hugh Matheson of Caledon East. The Presbytery was petitioned in 1904 to resume the name Knox Church which was granted. A committee was appointed to build a new manse and the old building was sold for $60.00. The committee was composed of Thos Glassford, David Smith, D. Taylor, S. Nelson, W. J. Dodds, George Laughlin and A. Lamont.
A movement was undertaken to resume the ministering of Alton which had since been severed, but this was unsuccessful. Friendly gestures were made by the Caledon Methodist church at the north end of Caledon Village for union. When the elders were inducted in 1909 the Methodist Minister and congregation were invited to attend. On one occasion the Rev. Mr. Salter of the Methodist Church was invited to preach. On other occasions Rev. Mr. Reynolds and Rev. Mr. Langford also preached. In 1911, the proposed “Basis of Union” was submitted to the General Assembly for study. A vote taken amongst the congregation produced 122 votes in favour versus 117 votes against.
Also in 1911, the Caledon Women’s Institute decided to raise money to fence the cemetery. They were successful in this venture and continued to give donations for the maintenance of the cemetery for the next 20 years.
The Rev. Jenkins Burkholder was inducted in 1912. Two years later the Great War broke out and some of the members of Knox congregation joined the services, some never to return. Their names are inscribed on an Honour Roll which hangs in the church vestibule. When the war ended in 1918 a Union Sacrament Service was held at which William Moffatt and J R Hillyard of the Methodist Church assisted.
The Rev. T. W. Mills was inducted to the pastorate in 1923. Two years later he prepared and extended an invitation to the Methodist congregation to join with Knox Church when the United Church of Canada came into being. United Communion was held on the first in June at 2:30 pm in the year 1925. The vote for union had been taken without the use of a ballot. Two members of the former Methodist congregation were nominated and added to the Session.
In 1927 the Rev. S. G. Steele was inducted to the pastorate and continued until his untimely death in July 1932. The Rev. Mr. Dunlop of Laurel undertook an interim moderatorship until November of that year at which time the Rev. A. V. Bentum BA was called and duly inducted to minister to the congregation. The Session at that time was composed of E. E. Wilson (clerk), George Laughlin, Thomas Bell, M. Hillock and Thomas Bell.
The Rev. A. L. Atton took a very active interest in the cemetery and improved its general appearance considerably. Memorial services have been held each year from 1942 to the present. Viscount Alexander, Governor General unexpectedly visited the cemetery on Oct 14, 1946. The purpose of his visit was to attempt to learn if the original settlers had come from his birthplace in Ireland.
The foregoing history was provided through the courtesy and generosity of the United Church of Canada Archives, with additions from information obtained from the Caledon Public Library.
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