One hundred sixty-five years ago in 1859, pioneers established the Dunblane Presbyterian Church on the banks of the Saugeen River (on what is today the River Road) and it is the oldest existing church in Bruce County.
The church was built on the Scott farm on Lot 26, Concession 7. It was built near the river as the waterways were the roads of the time. Built by early settlers to the Queen’s Bush, it was originally a log building constructed from local cedar trees and then, in the early 1900s, it was covered with board-and-batten and painted white. Today, many of the founding families still have descendants in the area.
At various times throughout its history, Dunblane was associated with neighbouring Presbyterian Church in Paisley, Southampton, Port Elgin and Burgoyne. Music began to be part of the service in 1910, with regular services continuing until 1967.
Today, a Board of Trustees maintains and manages the Church. Every first Sunday in August, an anniversary service is held.
This year’s Anniversary Service on August 4th, began with the traditional Scottish bagpipe music outside, performed by piper Leslie Ray, while inside during the service Terry and Wendy Cormack performed musical selections.
Each year, a Guest Speaker is also invited and, this year’s speaker was Dr. Heather Eaton. Eaton, whose family in Port Elgin dates back to the 1800s, is a Full Professor at Saint Paul University in Ottawa. With a PhD in Theology, Ecology and Feminism, her research focuses on religion and ecology, Environmental Humanities, relationships among analyses, ethics, aesthetics, the need for ecological literacy, the importance of nonviolence peace and justice along with gender and animal rights.
Dr. Eaton has also co-authored several books and is involved in conferences, workshops, teaching and publishing in the areaa of Leadership, Ecology and Equity, in which she holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
Her presentation titled ‘Hope in Troubled Times’ delivered three messages, the first centred around justice. “Injustices don’t just hurt those who suffer the injustice, they hurt the world … and diminishes all our human dignity. Injustices push us to lose hope. According to St. Augustine, hope is a combination of anger and courage to change things.”
She also stressed the importance of kindness and that it is an infectious trait that changes thinking. “There is a deep moral deterioration in the world and this is being normalized. Political corruption, genocide, climate change, species extinction are heavy complex problems and just listening to the news can be overwhelming … and can lead to despair – the opposite of hope.”
Eaton encouraged everyone to pay attention to communities, to those who have and have not, to the land, to the lake and to bring civility back. “We can preserve beauty and pause to experience wonder. These things nourish us and are the antidote to despair … and nourish hope.”
To help ensure that the required support for the preservation of the Church is ongoing, the trustees are looking to create a network of people, the Friends of Dunblane Church, who would like to see its use and history continue.
No fee is associated with the Friends but any donation over $20 will receive a tax receipt and all funds will go toward the maintenance, insurance and other small expenses. Members will receive an annual newsletter, can join in on maintenance efforts or become a member of the Board. For more information, contact Ross Lamont at ross.lamont16@gmail.com
