The Auld Kirk stood locked and unused for decades.
But on June 10, the new doors were opened wide, the fully-restored and repainted windows were opened on a verdant countryside, and the old church — its wooden floor and pews scrubbed and dusted, its walls freshly plastered and painted — was filled with worshippers for an Old-Fashioned Sunday Service.
“Sun is shining, birds are singing and we’re all gathered here for the reopening of the Auld Kirk,” said Nancy Culbert Young, who grew up in the area known as the Scotch Settlement.
As a child, she and her friends would picnic on the grounds of the church, with its pioneer cemetery and lofty oaks — but the doors were always locked, the windows shuttered.
The Scotch Settlement — the area of the 4th, 5th and 6th Lines of West Gwillimbury — was settled by 17 families returning from Lord Selkirk’s Red River Colony in Manitoba. One of their first acts was to establish a church and school in 1819.
The original log building was replaced by a frame structure and then, in 1869, by the bricked church that still stands on the 6th Line.
It remained in use for only a few years before its congregation was absorbed into another. The cemetery remained open for burials, but the church building was closed, except for rare special occasions.
The Bradford West Gwillimbury Local History Association has made the restoration of the Auld Kirk its priority, and through fundraising, hard work, and a partnership with the Town of BWG, made it possible to reopen the church for the Old-Fashioned Sunday.
A fundraiser for the ongoing restoration, visitors were welcomed by piper Glen Morgan, and invited to stroll the grounds, enjoy lemonade and cookies, and participate in a church service.
Jan Blommaert paid tribute to association members who inspired the restoration project, especially the late George Jackson.
“George knew this Auld Kirk was of such historical importance that action was needed to preserve it,” Blommaert said.
He enlisted the help of Bill Marks and Edgar Lloyd, and he set the stage for the research that led to the purchase of the Auld Kirk by the town — and its designation as a heritage site last year.
“We look forward to continuing restoration and enjoying events here,” she added, including next year’s landmark 200th anniversary of the Auld Kirk.
BWG Mayor Rob Keffer promised a celebration in 2019, and he spoke of the importance of the church, not only historically but to its community.
“From this church, new churches radiated out from this community,” Keffer said. “Where there were churches, there was a sense of community.”
Other speakers included BWG Coun. Gary Lamb on behalf of the Auld Kirk Advisory Committee, and history association member Ann Campbell, who shared a pioneering story of her husband’s family.
A violin duet by David Chambers and Cyril Leeper introduced keynote speaker, Rev. Jonathan Dennis.
Dennis spoke of the history of the Presbyterian churches in the areas and the conflicts that split the congregation of the Auld Kirk — Church of Scotland against secessionist movement — leading to the eventual abandonment of the building, and the launch of a new church in Bond Head.
“Even through the realigns and divisions, there’s something to celebrate,” he said.
Led by soloist Celeste Zugec, the gathering sang traditional hymns, accompanied on piano and violin — filling the sanctuary with songs of praise and celebration after years of silence.
