In 1859, pioneers established the Dunblane Presbyterian Church on the banks of the Saugeen River (on what is today the River Road) and today it is the oldest existing church in Bruce County.
In the early pioneer days, the waterways were the roads of the time and, so it was, that the church was built on the banks of the Saugeen River on what was then the Scott farm on Concession 7. 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.
The Dunblane congregation was dissolved in 1968 but a committee of volunteers has maintained the property and, in 2009, the original Committee received the Heritage Conservation Award for its role in protecting an original historic building.
At various times throughout its history, Dunblane was associated with neighbouring Presbyterian Churches in Paisley, Southampton, Port Elgin and Burgoyne and, in 1910, music began to be part of the service, with regular services continuing until 1967.
Each year, an Anniversary Service is held on the first Sunday in August, and this year’s 167th service, held on August 2nd, began with traditional Scottish bagpipe selections performed outside by piper Leslie Ray. Inside, Issiah Rose-Bowie and Danielle Thede performed musical selections, along with hymns played on the historic pump organ by Sheila Busch.
At the Anniversary Service, a Guest Speaker is also invited and, this year’s speaker was Rev. Bob Geddes. Rev. Geddes’ sermon, ‘On a Wing and. Prayer’, drew on his past life experiences, including his former career as a geologist. Geddes has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Geology from Western University and, after working in the field for 15 years, returned to school to get a Master’s of Divinity at Knox College. Until retirement, he served at South Gate Church in Hamilton for 20 years and summered in their Kincardine cottage. He and wife Lynne, a retired physiotherapist, have two children – daughter, Jennifer, a minister on Vancouver Island and son, Jeff, on the faculty in Earth and Environment at Boston University.
Today, a Board of Trustees still maintains and manages the Church – Doug Albrecht (Chair), Lynn Fryday (Vice-Chair), Heather Gowanlock (Secretary), Ross Lamont (Treasurer), Peggy Kirby, Danielle Thede and Dave Ellis.
