The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

William Tyrrell built the first United Church in 1849 at the corner of King St. and Weston Rd. This Methodist church held 230 people. St. John's Anglican Church was physically moved from Rectory Road to its site on Weston Rd. in 1894. The oak pewes were hand carved by the rector. Many Faiths Rich timberland» attracted settlers to the Weston area, mills were built, industry flourished, and the Anglican Church est- ablished, with St. Philip's on the hill, on the east side of the Humber. There were disastrous floods every spring, settlers began rebuilding on the west side, and the incumbent of St, Philip's, seeing the need for services to be held on the west side, purchased four acres from the Holley family, and built a rectory and St. J ohn's Chapel on, what is now Rectory Rd. V Accounts of the colourful his- tory of the area show; that in 1615, Etienne Brule, traversed both the Indian Trail, (Weston Rd.) and the Humber River after leaving Champlain, at Couchiching. Both important routes were used in the years that followed, by Indians, and French troops, on their way to the Fort which had been built at the mouth of the Humber. _ . All the religious groups in Weston were eager to be recog- nized. All began by being only small segments of a congregation which covered an area of hundreds of miles. Hence they saw their- preachers much less frequently than desired. If a congregation were lucky enough to have such a wealthy parishoner as William Wadsworth (an Anglican) or William Tyrrell (a Presbyterian) who were eager to finance a church building or donate a plot of land, there was little to worry about. However, many churches had to St. John's is a beautiful little church, of fine design situated on Weston Rd. south of Church St. in Weston. Once surrounded by stately family homes, it is now hemmed in by concrete plazas,and apartments. But the work of the church, in the community, has been carried out, in a most impressive way, since early settlement days, and in Weston's Centennial year, St. John's celebrates it's 125th an- niversary.. St. John's Anglican Church By Elsie MacPherson Many improvements have been added, the driving shed became, a parish hall, electricity installed, new furnaces replaced stoves and many beautiful, donated gifts, by parishioners, enhance this lovely place of worship. \ We have been blessed with many community minded mini, sters. The Rev. J. Hughes-J ones, interested in politics and educa- tion, The Rev. W.E. Mackey who served so well during difficult depression times, the Rev. Keith Kiddell whose dynamic teaching ministry, filled the church to over- flowing,, capably followed by the Rev. H. Scuse, and the Rev. Howard Best. Since November 1980, Rev. John and Shirley Course arrived, we have been truly fortunate. St. J ohn's Anglican Church is an important part of our town. The Rev. Johnson died during a flu epidemic, and in 1894, St. John's was moved to it's present location, the original design of the chapel intact, and the oak pews hand-wrought by him, still in use. rely on the enthusiasm inspired by the rectors to encourage generous donations. Gradually, by the early 1900's, all the churches in Weston, The Church of England, the Wesleyan and Episcopal Methodists, Roman Catholics, Baptists, and Presby- terians, were recognized as independent parishes.and were given their own ministers to practice the faith. The year was 1856, and it was the beginning of the ministry of the Rev. William Arthur Johnson, a highly-skilled artist, architect, and doctor. He served the com- munity Well. and established a school for boys. The school became Trinity College, now at Port Hope, it's most famous pupil, Sir William Osler. 'v M ' V‘, sNm-V N ' 'RIMM, , Bt “Mag tt8KK8WE WMtX C R‘s V NM , Metra, With' , = , - N i1? may M The first Presbyterian Church in Weston was built in 1865 at ' a cost of $600. This is the second oldest Presbyterian Church still in use in the Toronto area. In 1821 an acre of land, our present site, was deeded to the "Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church" (U.S.A.) by Elizabeth Davis and John Davis Porter, and a log chapel erected. Additional parcels of land were obtained over a period of years and in 1880 another lot was purchased on which the first Parsonage was erected. In the early 1830's a branch of the Wesleyan Methodist Church was established in Weston and built a small frame building on Church St., which later became the Oddfellows Hall. They later added a second storey and bricked over the complete structure. In 1849 a small brick build- ing was erected on Weston Rd. at King Street, and the corner stone carried the inscription "Wesleyan Chapel ND. 1849". This seated about 220 people and was built by William Tyrrell who became the first Reeve of Weston upon its incorporation as a village in 1881. In 1875, following a fire which burned the Grammar School on King Street, classes were held in the basement of this chapel. The two Methodist congrega- tions amalgamated, presumably in 1884 when half a dozen different Methodist groups in Canada united to become "The Methodist Church in Canada". The Church St. building was sold to the Oddfellows in 1886 for $445.50. In 1887 the third building on the present site was erected and seated about 460. This is still the core of the present sanctuary but in 1938 a new entrance and lobby was added, and the chancel as it is today was added to the south end, along with additional Sunday School accommodation. A "Burying Ground" was laid out east of the church in the 1850's and used until about the turn of the century. In 1919, after the necessary legislation had been passed by the Ontario Legislature Central United Church by Stan Musslewhite Subsequently, tennis courts were laid out and were in active use until World War II. Later the site was used in its unimproved condition as a parking lot and in 1966 an agreement was made with the then neighbouring supermarket to combine the lot with theirs for joint use of both parties. At that time it was levelled, paved and lighted. _ Extensive additions, including a new King St. entrance, a chapel, Christian Education Hall, vestry, board room, a well equipped kitchen, etc. were constructed in 1957 and provide ample accommodation for the present congregation which has just celebrated its 160th Anniver- sary. _ When the United Church of Canada came into being in 1925, the Weston Methodist Church entered the new body and adopted the name "Central United Church". Through the years, following the first circuit Rider to serve the original congregation, the Rev. David Culp, there was never a lapse in the ministry which included some well known historical preachers, one of whom, the Rev. Egerton Ryerson, became the founder of the Chrisitan Guardian and the father of the Ontario Publich School System. to permit such action, the remains of those buried in the cemetery were removed and re-intered in Riverside Cemetery. A recent agreement with the Borough of York provides for almost daily use by Senior Citizens groups, etc., and on Sunday- afternoons a Korean congregation uses the sanctuary for their services. The congregation continued to grow, and on May 31, 1901, inducted its fourth minister, the Rev. R. M. Hamilton, who entered on his work with great The present sanctuary was build in 1880 and dedicated in 1881. Mr. Wm. Tyrrell, the first reeve of Weston, and the builder of the old high school, was the architect and contractor. Its cost was $3,000. The old building became the Sunday School hall. After the departure of Mr. Pearce, the charge was vacant for about thirteen years. Dr. Willis, the principal of Knox College was the interim moder- ator and often preached himself. However, more often he sent his students to "try the wings of their eloquence in their first sermon". It is said that almost every student at Knox College preached his first sermon at Weston. One of the pioneer members is reported to have said - "What we suffered at that time, no one can tell! ". Meetings and services between 1847 and 1858 were held in homes. When the congregation was organized in 1858, they met in the afternoon or evening in the Methodist Episcopal Church which is now the Oddfellows Hall on Church Street. The first church on this site was built in 1865 at a cost of six hundred dollars. A gift of Mr. D. Sloan, it opened without any debt to the congregation. This building is still in use and contains the choir pews, organ, and other space between the present sanctuary and Creelman Hall. It is the second oldest Presbyterian Church building still in use in Toronto. They often walked to Toronto on Sunday mornings to hear the Rev. Joseph Harris, of First Presbyterian Church. Mr. Harris was from Belfast, and was the first Presbyterian minister in Toronto. Occasionally, he would walk back to Weston with the two staunch Presbyterians, and conduct an afternoon service in their homes. On June 16, 1847, the Toronto Presbytery appointed Rev. Harris to preach at Weston, and make arrangements for future supply. Salary for the supply was guaran- teed to be eighteen pounds, and this was also to cover travelling expenses. Eleven years later, in 1858, it was officially organized as a congregation. The Rev. D. B. Pearce Was called at a salary of one hundred pounds a year. Thus Weston Presbyterian Church had its earliest beginnings in the real pioneer days of the community. In 1981, as we mark the 134th anniversary of the founding of this church, we think back to the year 1847 when Weston was "i, hamlet by the Humber, and it was a long way to Toronto. One of the problems of the early church was the drinking customs of the times. The extent of the problem can be guaged by the fact that Weston at that time had three bar rooms, three licensed stores, one distillery, and one brewery. At the very first Session meeting, a member was suspended from the next Com- munion because of drunkeness and profanity. As we read the history of this church, we find that there was Presbyterian worship in Weston even before 1847. Robert Mae Dougall, a Justice of the Peace, and John Pirritte, the local teacher, were devout Presbyterians who had recently come out from Scotland. Weston Presbyterian Church by Robert Hamilton the CENTENNIAL page 5 Continued on Page 13.