Knox Sixteen Presbyterian Cemetery
Location:
1150 Dundas Street, Oakville, Halton Region, Ontario, Canada.
Concession 1 SDS, lot 22, Trafalgar Township.
GPS:
Latitude: 43.46015°N
Longitude: -79.74989°W
History:
The Presbyterians of the community known in the early 1800’s as the Sixteen Community had been worshiping for several years in a schoolhouse. In September 1844 a meeting was held where it was decided a comfortable place to worship was needed, and they set out to find a suitable location.
Mr. Triller, with his sister Mrs. Thompson, donated one quarter of an acre on which to build a church. It being desirable to have a burying ground as well, it was decided to purchase a quarter of an acre adjoining the church property. Mrs. Thompson was paid 5 pounds for the cemetery ground. The location of the cemetery is the east bank of the Sixteen Mile Creek, south of #5 Highway (Dundas Highway) as part of Lot 22 Concession 1 SDS.
A committee of Messrs. Proudfoot, Fox, Robertson, Barclay, Heslip, Caverhill and Triller was formed to solicit donations and superintend the building of the church. The church was to be named “Knox Sixteen Church”. Several of the committee’s names appear on the tombstones in the cemetery.
On March 17, 1846, the church doors were opened with Dr. Burns of Toronto presiding.
The Church and cemetery have been maintained well and upgraded as needed by the congregation, which now has diminished to approximately twenty members. By-Law #1978-85 of the Town of Oakville designated the Knox Sixteen Church to be an Historical Building.
This is a very beautiful quaint county church not yet surrounded by urban development located with a picturesque view of the Sixteen Mile Creek valley. The road fronting on the church and cemetery today is the same road used by the horse and buggy traffic in 1846 as #5 Highway wandered around down into the river flats and up the west bank to continue west on its path.
The cemetery is still used for burials of church members only. When talking with one of the cemetery administrators and mentioning the purchasers of the plots, she was quick to say that the plots were given to the church members. They are a very dedicated people.
Presently the Town of Oakville has located a public park, known as the “Lion’s Valley Park”, on the river flats and a relaxing Sunday afternoon could be spent picnicking in the park and hiking around the banks with its many paths and lane-ways.
Lorne Cutts
Reference: The History of Presbyterianism for 100 years – Knox Church Sixteen
Transcription purchase:
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