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.

Adaptive Reuse in Carlisle, North Middlesex

 

The Presbyterian Church Heritage Centre (PCHC) is moving into Carlisle United Church, in the hamlet of Carlisle, near Ailsa Craig in Middlesex County.*

Formerly the National Presbyterian Museum, the PCHC was located in St. John's Presbyterian, Toronto, from 2002 to 2021. But that church is currently being renovated into condominiums, forcing the Heritage Centre to find a new home. The new location will be this quaint country church built in 1879. 

Like many congregations, the Carlisle church started out in an earlier building. Carlisle Presbyterian Church was founded in 1858 in a more primitive structure, replaced as soon as funds became available. The congregation joined the United Church of Canada in 1925.

But recently, like many rural congregations in the 21st century, Carlisle United has been struggling. With 19 members in the congregation, continued use of the building was becoming impractical. Having the PCHC move in has brought new life to these folks, even though they've had to worship in the church basement. The former upstairs sanctuary will be renovated into an exhibit hall. 

Temporary basement sanctuary

The move of the PCHC hasn't been easy or cheap. A fundraising campaign was necessary to increase the load-bearing capacity of the Carlisle church's sanctuary floor from 40 lbs. per sq. ft. to 100 lbs. per sq. ft. This involved removing the ceiling in the downstairs hall so the contractors could add the necessary reinforcement joists. But the pandemic allowed the necessary work to proceed easily, since there was no weekly worship service. 

The renovated building will include a replica chapel of the 1850s, an enlarged version of what was in the earlier museum in Toronto. Accommodating about 30 people, the replica can be used by the Carlisle congregation and for occasional weddings. The only condition is that, when visitors tour, it will be necessary to hide the church's large electronic organ. After all, no instrument of any kind was present in the strict services of yesteryear. So the plans will have to include a method of disguising that organ.

Additionally, thanks to the PCHC moving in, the church building will have a few mod cons it's never had before: air conditioning, a security system, and a phone, for the first time in its 164 year history!

Pews are currently stored in the future site of a replica pioneer sanctuary. 

Magnificent memorial windows in what will become the upstairs exhibit hall. 

The PCHC is not scheduled to open until 2024. But I have a question already. Where will visitors stay overnight or eat? Carlisle is a bit off the beaten track.  

Victoria Inn. Note Middlesex Heritage Trail sign out front. 

What I'd like to see is the old Victoria Inn, also in Carlisle, become a B&B to accommodate visitors to the PCHC. Built in 1855 by Joseph and William Haskett, this example of an early Ontario inn once featured a verandah across the front, complete with hitching posts for horses. The building has never had running water, central heating, hydro, or phone. A building more authentic than this you simply can't get. 

New owners are renovating the interior. ( I don't encourage trespassing, but when a building is this close to the road, it's hard to resist peeking through the windows.) I haven't heard they're planning a B&B. They probably aren't. But I can't help thinking what a fine heritage inn this would make. 

Who knows? With enough attractions, this "ghost town" might be back on the map. Carlisle was one of the most important villages in north Middlesex in pioneer days, with a population of 200 or more. Settler George Shipley of Carlisle, England, named it after his hometown. 

After building a dam across nearby Linn Creek, Shipley constructed a flour mill. Other businesses were quick to follow. The post office that opened in 1853 was named Falkirk, since there being a Carlisle elsewhere already. Old maps use either name, depending on the mapmaker's point of view. The village declined after two railroads - both the Grand Trunk and the London, Huron & Bruce - bypassed it. Today, the community is mainly residential and very quiet. A good place for an afternoon drive to "get away from it all." 

* A big thank you to Curator Ian Mason for information and to local resident Doug Carmichael, member of the Advisory Committee for the PCHC, for the tour of the church interior. 

Update, December 19: The latest word is that the PCHC has received a $100,000 grant from The Presbyterian Church in Canada to finish the project. 

A view of the Old Victoria Inn in September 2026 with recent updates: