History of Presbyterian Church Northampton

One hundred and nine years have passed since David and Wallace Gibson deeded a parcel of land to James Rankin Sr., James Rankin Jr., David Gibson, George Trafton and Alexander Kearney, Trustees of Saint James Church, in connection with the Church of Scotland in the Parish of Northampton. This church was also called “Greenbank Parish Church” and the “Kirk.”

Most residents of Carleton County have noticed and admired this pretty church, situated seven miles below Wodstock on the eastern side of the river, near Gibson Creek.

Nestled in a quiet location along the flowing Saint John River, the church has witnessed the birth and death of its congregation, and in the interim love, fellowship and even a murder.

In 1854 the Rev. Peter Keay was sent out by the Colonial Committee of the Church of Scotland and immediately took over the pastoral oversight of Woodstock, to which Northampton was added. He toiled with diligence and success for only a short period.

It is believed that this church was built sometime between 1856 and 1857. A portion of the description in the deed reads, “Thence along the line of the graveyard eight rods to the place of beginning,” so we know that, as in many early communities, the graveyard was there before the church was built. We have been told that the part of the cemetery that contains the Rankin plot was originally part of the Rankin grant.

In 1856 the Rev. David Stott was there for a period of two years.

In the year 1858 the Rev. J. H. McLardy of New Brunswick, having completed his studies in Scotland, was sent back to New Brunswick as an ordained Missionary until 1862, when he accepted a call and remained in Woodstock until 1866. He was followed by Rev. W. T. Wilkins. He was ordained and inducted on November 6th, 1866, and remained three years.

After a vacancy of two years the pulpit was supplied in 1871 by the Rev. William Begg. During this time he received a call for the Woodstock and Northampton parish, signed by seventy subscribers. He was ordained and inducted on June 12th, 1872.

From 1872 to 1890 I have found no record of a pastor. At this time, and in later years between pastors, missionaries of different denominations would fill in. From 1893 to 1896 Rev. W. H. Sparge was pastor and he was followed by the Rev. James Crisp in 1899. In 1902 Rev. John C. Berrie assumed the pastorate. In 1906 Rev. E. C. Turner was stationed on the circuit and Mr. H. W. Rogers became the Recording Steward, which post he held until Northampton became part of its present circuit in 1930.

After the Rev. Turner left, there followed a number of ministers still remembered at this present time: in 1910, Rev. George Ayers; in 1913, Rev. H. W. Havens; in 1914, Rev. J. B. Gough; in 1918, Rev. H. Harrison, in 1922, Rev. H. Stanley Young.

After the Union of the three churches in 1925, Rev. George Sellars came to the circuit and, at the close of his pastorate in 1930, Northampton was transferred from the Jacksonville circuit to become part of the present Hartland-Northampton pastoral charge, with Rev. D. L. Giddings minister of the congregation. He remained for the longest period of service, leaving in 1938, when he was called to Sheffield, N. B.

St. James is a small one room church which has an unusual mosque-like bell tower in which hangs a bell that was sent out from Scotland. Upon entering this church through the doorway with its high long panelled door, the visitor will notice that the interior is almost unchanged since it was built. There are two tall, cylindrical, three-tiered stoves made by Connell Bros. of Woodstock, with stove pipes extending the full length of the chruch over the heads of the congregation. Each pipe runs to an old metal drum heater 10 ft. from the floor and attached to the chimney.

The interior of this building is about 45 feet long and 35 feet wide, and there are three sections of pews. These are the original pews. They are very straight-backed, made of golden oak, and would seat about 100 people. In the old days, apparently women sat on the right side of the church, the men on the left, and usually the center section was occupied by the whole families. There are also choir seats at right angles to the congregation, on both sides of the pulpit, which would seat about 24 singers.

The pulpit is on a platform which has a carpet on it. This is a replacement for the original high pulpit which is now in the vestry of the Presbyterian Church in Woodstock. Behind the pulpit are three hand-made straight-backed chairs, the middle one being an armchair. A little octagonal table sits in front of the middle pew for collection plates.

To the right of the pulpit stands the organ, and some of my older informants remember their parents speaking about the arguments that arose when the organ was first installed. As you know, for many years vocal music was the only kind of music allowed in Presbyterian churches. This is an old reed organ, the bellows of which are filled with air by foot pumps. It was made by the Thomas Organ and Piano Company, of Woodstock, Ontario.