Omagh Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Location:
8815 Britannia Road, Milton, Halton Region, Ontario, Canada.
Concession 3, lot 6, Trafalgar Township.
GPS:
Latitude: 43.49480°N
Longitude: -79.82664°W
History:
The land of Omagh Presbyterian Church was purchased March 31, 1838 from Richard Moore, Township of Trafalgar County of Halton District of Gore Province of Upper Canada, carpenter, by trustees John Jarvis, Andrew Robertson, Robert Kelly, Andrew Suiter and John White, Yeomen.
The land, one acre in size, is located on Britannia Road between second and third concession and was bought for three pounds. The deed of sale was registered May 3rd 1838 in the first year of Queen Victoria’s reign at Dundas Ontario. It was witnessed by John Biggar, Yeoman, Rev. Samuel Porter and John Mackenzie. The parcel of land was conveyed forever to the trustees, their survivors and successors in office in connection with the United Synod of Upper Canada, along with whatever buildings or houses that were on the property. Willing workers, eager for a place of worship, soon had a white wooden building erected on the land and Omagh Presbyterian Church was dedicated for worship. Not many records are available, but worship was held in this church continuously for over seventy years.
In 1908, the members desired a new church building. Mr. Thomas Galbraith Sr. and Mr. John Ford each gave a generous donation of five hundred dollars, and on May 4, 1909, the cornerstone for the present building was laid on the same site, east half of lot six third concession new survey of Trafalgar Township. A large congregation worshipped in the little red
church until 1925 when Church union was voted on. By a majority vote, Omagh remained a Presbyterian church but many members left to attend the newly formed United Church. The name was also changed from Methodist at that time.
Large covered sheds were to the east of the church to house horses and cutters in winter and democrats in summer. These were removed when cars became the mode of transportation, and, in 1940, that land was added to the cemetery. Later, the cemetery was enlarged and a circular drive and parking lot was added in 1975.
In the early days, Omagh and Hornby Presbyterian churches were one charge with the minister residing in the manse at Hornby. Ministers were: Rev. Tough 1893-1906; Rev. Mackenzie 1906-1908; Rev. William Booth 1909-1918; Rev. James Malcolm 1918-1925. Church Union took place in 1925. Hornby and Omagh carried on until 1928, when Hornby with very few members was named a mission field. The minister was Rev. Peter McInnes 1926-1978. Omagh and Boston were put as one charge in 1928, minister to reside in manse at Boston. Rev. Horace Kaye 1928- 1935; Rev. B. F. Andrews 1936-1940. As a mission field 1940-1957, Rev. Shannon, Rev. J. McPaul, Rev. Riddell and several other ministers had charge of Omagh and Boston, but were never inducted. As the church grew stronger financially, ministers were inducted, and a new manse was purchased on Woodward Ave, Milton. Rev. Byron Nevin 1957-1964; Rev. Stanley Smith 1965-1970; Rev. Rod Lewis 1970-1978; Rev. Larry Welch Sept 1979-Nov 1981.
Rev. Larry Welch
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