Preserving Presbyterianism in Carlisle

I've discussed the Carlisle community in North Middlesex before, including the plans to install the Presbyterian Church Heritage Centre in the former Carlisle United Church. Although the PCHC has been open for a year, I only recently returned to see the finished result. At last, I've seen the Presbyterian Museum and met its hardworking, knowledgeable curator, Ian Mason. 

If you find the Presbyterians a bit stuffy, their museum may not be your cup of Scotch whisky. But even if you're not an adherent of the Church of Scotland, you might want to take a look inside. I learned a lot on this visit. 

The PCHC's collection was first started by Rev. Dr. John A. Johnston of Hamilton in the 1990s. Why? Because he anticipated a time when the Presbyterian Church in Canada would be "property rich, and people poor." In other words, he was concerned that the artifacts belonging to the church would be lost when church buildings were closed and sold. That time has arrived.

Johnston became the founding curator of the museum when it opened in the basement of St. John's Presbyterian Church, Toronto, in 2002. Since St. John's closed to become condos, a new home was needed. There were lots of empty churches, but some were too expensive, others too decrepit. Carlisle United Church was a reasonable price and in good shape. Hence, after renovations, the PCHC moved into the main floor, and the small congregation worships in the basement. A win-win situation.

The Carlisle building is now full of neat stuff, including the replica pioneer chapel pictured below. Its Gothic windows, double entrance door, Gothic transom, and minister's door were crafted by Webwood Windows and Doors in Millbank, Ontario. The result is the kind of primitive building in which our pioneer ancestors worshiped.

The interior is filled with furnishings from 19th-century churches that have closed. 

The above view from the pulpit shows: long pews that were originally in Carlisle United Church and used by the congregation until the sanctuary was renovated in 2019; a smaller short pew from the 1870s, from a church near Monkland, Ontario; a lampolier (lamp + chandolier) from an antique dealer in St. Jacobs; 19th-century-wall lamps; a clock from Chalmers Presbyterian Church in Winterbourn, Ontario; a bookcase that belonged to Rev. Dr. John Bayne of Knox Presbyterian Church in Galt (Cambridge) that was given to his congregation after he died in 1859. 

Below, Curator Ian shows off the pulpit and other furnishings at the front of the replica chapel. At the bottom centre is a precentor's desk. The precentor led the congregation in the singing of psalms. 

There's more here than the replica chapel, though. The museum also houses the largest public collection of communion tokens in Canada:

If you're like me, you might have heard of communion tokens, but had no idea what they were for. At one time, church elders would interview parishioners before sacramental services and hand out tokens to those deemed worthy of taking part. Communicants would then give the token to an elder or the minister at the communion table on the day of the service. Eventually, these tokens were replaced by communion cards with people's names.

Then, of course, there are actual communion sets:

The museum has some lovely artifacts from around the world, including hand-crafted art, from countries where Presbyterian missionaries served. Items like these below make for an interesting anthropological collection:

There's also a minister's personal library, one of the oldest in Canada, with books from pre-1858. This theological collection (below left) rivals some of the oldies we sell at Attic Books.

In another corner is a huge organ. Some might be surprised to see it, since the Presbyterians have a conflicted history when it comes to allowing music in churches. Because the New Testament commands worshipers to sing and make melody with their hearts (such as in Ephesians 5:19) but does not mention instruments, Presbyterian leaders excluded organs and bands from their sanctuaries for many years. They preferred the simplicity of unaccompanied musical singing.

Eventually, progressive ministers and younger church members decided this attitude was uninspiring and out of touch. In fact, the lack of music was alienating young people and driving them to other denominations. Since church leaders and older parishioners were convinced that musical instruments were a theological no-no, you can see how "the great organ debate," as it became known, was a major cause of friction. 

As an example, when St. Andrew's Church, Napier installed an organ, older, stricter churchgoers were horrified. One old fellow complained that "it would not be long before the devil would have a fiddle in there too." He was right; years later, a fiddle accompanied the choir! Then there was another old boy, who often slept through the sermons. He complained that he never had the same feeling of sanctity while sleeping in church after the organ was added.*

The gigantic PCHC pipe organ wasn't in Carlisle Church to begin with. This Edward Lye & Sons of Toronto organ, made in 1930, comes from the former Dorchester Presbyterian Church in Dorchester, southeast Middlesex. When a new congregation purchased the building, they didn't want the organ. Hence, the organ was removed, restored over a period of nine months, and moved to Carlisle in November 2025. Now the only pipe organ in North Middlesex, it's tuned and ready for action.

There are other smaller instruments, such as this travelling pump organ made by the Thomas Organ Company in Woodstock, which was used for services conducted by Knox Presbyterian Church, Toronto at various sites around the city. It was even used at morning devotion services at the Spadina yards of the CNR. 

All these items and more tell the history of Canadian Presbyterianism. It's astonishing to have this treasure trove in a rather isolated rural area and I'm still concerned that visitors will have a hard time finding it. But Ian Mason says more people have visited him here than they did when the PCHC was in Toronto! Apparently my concerns are unfounded. 

Those wishing to visit can make an appointment by contacting Ian at pcheritagecentre@gmail.com or at 647-494-4559. 

Note: This is not the Presbyterian Church Archives, which is located in Toronto. Those wishing to contact the archives should look here.

Finally, I must brag about my own Presbyterian Church connection, the Rev. William Moore, D.D. (1838-1915), Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Canada in 1897. William, the eldest brother of my great-grandfather, Robert Moore, was the minister at Bank Street Presbyterian Church, Ottawa, later renamed Chalmers Presbyterian Church, now Dominion-Chalmers United Church, from 1866 to 1902. Among his other accomplishments, he was a founder of Ottawa Ladies' College, which was sponsored by the Presbyterian Church.

Rev. William Moore ca. 1887. What whiskers!

* These stories appear in the article "Scorched Lodge Goat Mystery To Masons of Township of Metcalfe," London Free Press, January 30, 1932, p. 8.