History of Dalesville Baptist Church
In the year 1820, there lived a young school teacher named Duncan McPhail who had recently immigrated from Scotland. Duncan was a Baptist who had attended Handane's class in Edinburgh, and because of his giftedness, was invited to come and exercise his gifts in Chatham and to make his living by the labor of his hands. He accepted the invitation and was given a tract of land. Because of the differences and difficulties which existed among the people, several years passed before everything was done to establish a church. However, during that time the spiritual life of the community was kept alive, and a Sunday school was established where the structures were expounded, chiefly in Gaelic, to those who chose to come. Records indicate that there was very little ceremony to these meetings, and that "there was greatest freedom, where everyone seemed to be at home and used their liberty even to the draw of a pipe where the good brother expounded a passage of scripture".
"I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH"
While at work in a field one day in 1825, Duncan McPhail and Robert McNaughton talked together concerning the need of a church in the area, and determined that, if necessary, they two alone would constitute a church. Before the next day, they were joined by three others, and on that day, the five persons sat down with wine to commemorate the Lord's death. There was, of course, no counsel to call, but they believed that a few Christians in agreement had the power to build a church upon a Rock, which is Jesus Christ the Son of the living God. Thus was formed the Baptist Church in Dalesville, approximately 174 years ago, becoming perhaps the second Baptist Church in Canada. Meetings were held in the houses of settlers, and many came great distances through the woods carrying children on their backs. The first baptism took place at McGregors bridge, when Mrs. John McGibbon was baptized.
By the year 1835, there were 29 active members in the church. Records indicate that internal divisions limited its growth. In 1828, John Edward, a man much used of God in the Ottawa Valley, visited Dalesville. We had come to Canada in 1822 as a missionary. Several trips were made to the " Old Country " to obtain man and money, and in 1832, William Fraser was persuaded to come to Canada by Mr. Edwards. While visiting the area of Dalesville during the next year, he greatly encouraged the church, healing many of the divisions, and preparing the way for " the great revival ".
While at work in a field one day in 1825, Duncan McPhail and Robert McNaughton talked together concerning the need of a church in the area, and determined that, if necessary, they two alone would constitute a church. Before the next day, they were joined by three others, and on that day, the five persons sat down with wine to commemorate the Lord's death. There was, of course, no counsel to call, but they believed that a few Christians in agreement had the power to build a church upon a Rock, which is Jesus Christ the Son of the living God. Thus was formed the Baptist Church in Dalesville, approximately 174 years ago, becoming perhaps the second Baptist Church in Canada. Meetings were held in the houses of settlers, and many came great distances through the woods carrying children on their backs. The first baptism took place at McGregors bridge, when Mrs. John McGibbon was baptized.
By the year 1835, there were 29 active members in the church. Records indicate that internal divisions limited its growth. In 1828, John Edward, a man much used of God in the Ottawa Valley, visited Dalesville. We had come to Canada in 1822 as a missionary. Several trips were made to the " Old Country " to obtain man and money, and in 1832, William Fraser was persuaded to come to Canada by Mr. Edwards. While visiting the area of Dalesville during the next year, he greatly encouraged the church, healing many of the divisions, and preparing the way for " the great revival ".
THE FIRST GREAT REVIVAL
Young Daniel McPhail, son of Duncan McPhail, was known to be beyond his years in his ability to teach and preach the Scriptures. He developed a wonderful talent for public speaking, and during the years from 1830 to 1835 he was leader of a Sunday school at the Dalesville Baptist Church. At this time, Rev. John Gilmour was brought from Aberdeen to Canada, and because of several conversations with Duncan McPhail, became deeply interested in the work that had such simple beginnings in Chatham. He made many inquiries and promised to visit them as soon as we could find time. He came on January 27, 1835, and on that same day, was joined by William Fraser. Then commenced " the great revival ", the result of which was that, before the end of that year, 79 persons were added to the church.
On May 18 1835, an important change came in the life of the church. A meeting was held to discuss plans for the erection of a place of worship. It was resolved to erect a stone building 40 feet in length and 35 feet in breadth. The basic building, with occasional improvements, has served well the generations of believers who have found and served the Lord here. The mason work on this building cost $286.00, all paid. The new building, although not finished inside, was opened for worship on the 20th of January, 1836.
Young Daniel McPhail, son of Duncan McPhail, was known to be beyond his years in his ability to teach and preach the Scriptures. He developed a wonderful talent for public speaking, and during the years from 1830 to 1835 he was leader of a Sunday school at the Dalesville Baptist Church. At this time, Rev. John Gilmour was brought from Aberdeen to Canada, and because of several conversations with Duncan McPhail, became deeply interested in the work that had such simple beginnings in Chatham. He made many inquiries and promised to visit them as soon as we could find time. He came on January 27, 1835, and on that same day, was joined by William Fraser. Then commenced " the great revival ", the result of which was that, before the end of that year, 79 persons were added to the church.
On May 18 1835, an important change came in the life of the church. A meeting was held to discuss plans for the erection of a place of worship. It was resolved to erect a stone building 40 feet in length and 35 feet in breadth. The basic building, with occasional improvements, has served well the generations of believers who have found and served the Lord here. The mason work on this building cost $286.00, all paid. The new building, although not finished inside, was opened for worship on the 20th of January, 1836.
DALESVILLE CALLS HER FIRST PASTOR
As has already been mentioned, a great debt is owed to John Edwards Sr, both for his fruitful ministry in this area, and for his sacrificial travels across the Atlantic in search of missionaries and funds for the furtherance of the Gospel on both sides of the Ottawa River. Mr. Edwards was ordained in 1831 and had the joy of baptising his son, John Jr. on the same day. On the 2nd of June, 1835, John Edwards Jr. was called to be the first Pastor of the Dalesville Baptist Church where he was ordained on February 23rd, 1836. Here Pastor John Edward labored long and hard until 1843 when he resigned to take up a work in St. Andrews.
As has already been mentioned, a great debt is owed to John Edwards Sr, both for his fruitful ministry in this area, and for his sacrificial travels across the Atlantic in search of missionaries and funds for the furtherance of the Gospel on both sides of the Ottawa River. Mr. Edwards was ordained in 1831 and had the joy of baptising his son, John Jr. on the same day. On the 2nd of June, 1835, John Edwards Jr. was called to be the first Pastor of the Dalesville Baptist Church where he was ordained on February 23rd, 1836. Here Pastor John Edward labored long and hard until 1843 when he resigned to take up a work in St. Andrews.
THE SECOND GREAT REVIVAL
About this time, a man by the name of John King was converted, and began preaching in the villages and in the streets of Edinburgh where he was discovered by John Edwards Sr. The call came to him and, after a sleepless night, he decided to devote himself to the work of a missionary in Canada. His visit to Dalesville is described in Mr. King's own words as follows:
" In St. Andrews I met a man named John Calder, who had come from the rear of Chatham on business, and was about to return. He invited me to go back with him and preach. He thought it might be well to hold meetings for a few nights, and hoped that good would be done. When we arrived in the settlement, a meeting was announced for that evening. A number of people gathered in the chapel to hear the preaching. I was much interested in the prayer of an aged man named McFaul -that prayer filled me with hope that good would be done. There was about it such an earnestness, and it breathed such a desire for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, that I was emboldened to give notice of a meeting the next night. The chapel at that time was a very cold place in winter; the inside walls had not been plastered, sometimes the stove wood was green and would not burn; the stove pipes leaked and smoked -all of which made it very disagreeable. The next night there were more people at the meeting, and they seemed very attentive to the sermon. As the news spread that a stranger from Scotland was preaching in the settlement, the people came from all parts of the neighborhood every night, so that the chapel was full. Some of the old members were awakened and began to take an interest in the souls of others. "
These meetings continued for five weeks, during which time 50 people were added to the church. This became known as the " second great revival " since the formation of the church. In December 1843, Mr. King accepted a call to be the Pastor of the church, arriving about Christmas that year. His salary was fixed at $140 per year and board. He eventually bought a lot, repaired the house that was on it, and married the daughter of deacon McGibbon. At his own request, Mr. King's ordination to ministry did not take place until more than nine years later.
Mr. King was 26 years of age when he first arrived in Dalesville. The meetings were well attended and it was not long before a time of spiritual revival began when many were added to the church. Several able brethren who were capable of conducting prayer meetings and preaching assisted the pastor well. During the years up to 1865, more than 450 persons had been baptising, of whom Mr. King baptizing 250.
It was Mr. King who first held services in Lachute out of which grew the present Lachute Baptist Church. In 2001, she celebrates her 115th anniversary. Under the Pastoral leadership of Rev. Eric McGrath. In April 1994, French services begin under Pastor Toe-Blake Roy and regular attendance is now in the mid 40's. Founding members of the Lachute Baptist Church mostly came from Dalesville -a wonderful way to build a daughter church.
Many able and faithful man have taken up the reins here at Dalesville over the years. During the ten years from 1929-1939 under the pastorate of Rev. Ford, the church experienced ten days of revival after which 39 people were baptized in the Dalesville River. A hole was dug out to accommodate them all. Others followed, including Rev A.E. White (1910-1914), Rev. W.G. White (1914-1918) and later, Rev. Charles Hardie (1936-1942), Rev. George B. Hicks (1942-1951), Rev. Donald Merret (1952-1956), Rev. Kenneth Miller (1956-1959), Rev. Lorne Hisey (1959-1973), Rev. Gary Simpson (1974-1982), Rev. David Brandon (1982-1984), Rev. Barry Howson (1985-1996), Rev. Ted Molyneaux (1996-1999) Pastor John Hodgson (2001-2003), Pastor Eddie Buchanan (2005 - 2019), Pastor Sam Klass (2021 - 2023), Rev. Matt Fraser (2023).
About this time, a man by the name of John King was converted, and began preaching in the villages and in the streets of Edinburgh where he was discovered by John Edwards Sr. The call came to him and, after a sleepless night, he decided to devote himself to the work of a missionary in Canada. His visit to Dalesville is described in Mr. King's own words as follows:
" In St. Andrews I met a man named John Calder, who had come from the rear of Chatham on business, and was about to return. He invited me to go back with him and preach. He thought it might be well to hold meetings for a few nights, and hoped that good would be done. When we arrived in the settlement, a meeting was announced for that evening. A number of people gathered in the chapel to hear the preaching. I was much interested in the prayer of an aged man named McFaul -that prayer filled me with hope that good would be done. There was about it such an earnestness, and it breathed such a desire for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, that I was emboldened to give notice of a meeting the next night. The chapel at that time was a very cold place in winter; the inside walls had not been plastered, sometimes the stove wood was green and would not burn; the stove pipes leaked and smoked -all of which made it very disagreeable. The next night there were more people at the meeting, and they seemed very attentive to the sermon. As the news spread that a stranger from Scotland was preaching in the settlement, the people came from all parts of the neighborhood every night, so that the chapel was full. Some of the old members were awakened and began to take an interest in the souls of others. "
These meetings continued for five weeks, during which time 50 people were added to the church. This became known as the " second great revival " since the formation of the church. In December 1843, Mr. King accepted a call to be the Pastor of the church, arriving about Christmas that year. His salary was fixed at $140 per year and board. He eventually bought a lot, repaired the house that was on it, and married the daughter of deacon McGibbon. At his own request, Mr. King's ordination to ministry did not take place until more than nine years later.
Mr. King was 26 years of age when he first arrived in Dalesville. The meetings were well attended and it was not long before a time of spiritual revival began when many were added to the church. Several able brethren who were capable of conducting prayer meetings and preaching assisted the pastor well. During the years up to 1865, more than 450 persons had been baptising, of whom Mr. King baptizing 250.
It was Mr. King who first held services in Lachute out of which grew the present Lachute Baptist Church. In 2001, she celebrates her 115th anniversary. Under the Pastoral leadership of Rev. Eric McGrath. In April 1994, French services begin under Pastor Toe-Blake Roy and regular attendance is now in the mid 40's. Founding members of the Lachute Baptist Church mostly came from Dalesville -a wonderful way to build a daughter church.
Many able and faithful man have taken up the reins here at Dalesville over the years. During the ten years from 1929-1939 under the pastorate of Rev. Ford, the church experienced ten days of revival after which 39 people were baptized in the Dalesville River. A hole was dug out to accommodate them all. Others followed, including Rev A.E. White (1910-1914), Rev. W.G. White (1914-1918) and later, Rev. Charles Hardie (1936-1942), Rev. George B. Hicks (1942-1951), Rev. Donald Merret (1952-1956), Rev. Kenneth Miller (1956-1959), Rev. Lorne Hisey (1959-1973), Rev. Gary Simpson (1974-1982), Rev. David Brandon (1982-1984), Rev. Barry Howson (1985-1996), Rev. Ted Molyneaux (1996-1999) Pastor John Hodgson (2001-2003), Pastor Eddie Buchanan (2005 - 2019), Pastor Sam Klass (2021 - 2023), Rev. Matt Fraser (2023).
