Interview with Mr. peter MacMillan
Topic: Churches of East Lake Ainslie
Q. When was the first church built?
A. The first Presbyterian Church was built around 1830 - 35, somewhere in those years.
Q. Where was it located?
A. Well, it was located very close or in the same place the Presbyterian Church is now.
Q. The first church that was built was it Presbyterian or United?
A. It was Presbyterian. The United didn't come into being until 1925.
Q. How many Churches have there been at Lake Ainslie?
A. This is the third Presbyterian Church at Lake Ainslie. The present one was built in 1880.
Q. Were the constitutions of the Church very strict?
A. The doctrine in its modern form was originated by John Calvin during the reformation. It spread to Europe and especially into Scotland through the Scotties and reformation. The reformer there was John Knox. It was quite strict.
Q. How many ministers have there been and in what order did they come?
A. Well, the earliest accounts of visits by a minister to the area is of the Rev. John MacLennan of Belfast, PEI. He visited in 1827 and again in 1829. In 1831, the Rev. Amos MacLean came to Broad Cove and during his stay there he conducted services at Lake Ainslie. In 1834, the Rev Alexander Ferguson became the minister of the Middle River Lake Ainslie congregation. He lived at Middle River and continued as minister of both places until his death in 1858. Then, following a period of 6 years without a settled minister the Rec. Donald Mackenzie became the minister of Middle River, Lake Ainslie in 1864. He remained until 1870. In 1871, Middle River and Lake Ainslie were separated by Presbyterian and constituted independent charges. At this time Whalecove, Margaree Harbour and Big Interval were attached to Lake Ainslie. The first minister of this congregation and incidentally the first settled minister of Lake Ainslie was the Rev. Alexander Grant who was ordained and inducted at East Lake Ainslie Church December 6 1871; He continued to supply this charge, this large area until 1881. In that year these distant places were separated from the central congregation. Mr. Grant remained as minister of Lake Ainslie until December 6 1894 when he retired and moved to Whycocomagh. The next minister was the Reverend Neil Currie whose induction took place on November 16, 1897. He continued as minister for a period of nine years. He resigned on September 18, 1906 and moved to western Canada. Mr. Currie's successor was the Reverend Alexander Miller. Mr. Miller was born in Scotland as we all the others already mentioned. He was inducted on January 10, 1910 and remained until December 1914. He resigned and returned to Scotland. The first Canadian born minister to serve at Lake Ainslie was the Reverend Ewan D. MacKillop, a native of Grand River, Richmond County. He was ordained and inducted May 30, 1916 and continued to minister until June, 1920 since 1925, The ministers who have served the Presbyterian congregation have been Reverend A. S. MacLean, Reverend Alexander Ferguson, Reverend John S. Knite, Reverend Dan C. Macpherson, Reverend Charles A. MacDonald, reverend George R. Tamehill, Reverend Lawrence Mahwinee, Reverenced Douglas Codlee, reverend Lee M. MacNaughton, Reverend T. Walter Beck.
Q. Was English always the language spoken in the church or were there other languages?
A. Oh no. They often had Gaelic in the church long ago. I believe at first it was all Gaelic. I remember when we'd have two services, one in English, and one in Gaelic.
Q. When did the first cemetery come into being?
A. Well, the first cemetery started soon after the first settlers came.
Q. Where was the cemetery located?
A. Well I believe the present cemetery that we use was used from the early days. There was also a cemetery below David Mackinnon's, another one below Harold MacLean's. I suppose that in those years and especially in winter on account of heavy snow that it would be hard to get to travel or carry the remains any distance.
Q. How large a congregation was there when the church began?
A. Well, I don't really know about when the church began. This man from PEI, Reverence Mr. MacLennan said that when he visited in 1827 and 1829 that there were 60 families in the area. When the present church was built there was a family for every seat. I don't know how many, I didn't count them yet.
Q. Could you give me a brief history of the United Church?
A. In June 1925 the congregation was organized and connected with Strathlorne congregation in connection with the United Church of Canada. On November 1st 1925 the Reverend J. Morns MacLean of Strathlorne because the minister of this new congregation. He continued to hold services in the homes and in Hamilton's school. During the summer of 1926 work was started on a new church building. On July 17 1927 the Alex Grant Memorial Church was formally dedicated. Mr. MacLean remained as minister until his retirement on June 30, 1937 having served for 16 years in the ministry. On July 2nd, 1937 the Reverend N. Russell McSween, a native of Sydney, N.S. was inducted at Strathlorne. Mr. McSween remained as minister of the congregation for two years. On July 4, 1939 the Reverend John Jarvey, a native of New Waterford was inducted at Strathlorne. Mr. Jarvey continued as minister for three years. Following his departure the congregation was supplied for a time by the Reverend Ned MacLeod, then the minister of Hillsborough during 1944, the Reverend James Fraser, who was then the minister at Whycocomagh, began to hold services at East Lake Ainslie. The minister at Inverness supplied services at Strathlorne. This arrangement continued for the remainder of Mr. Fraser's ministry at Whycocomagh. The congregation continued to be supplied in these names also during the ministry of Reverend Dr. A. A. Macleod from 1945 to 1951.
In July 1952 the Reverend Harold T. Cox became the minister of the Whycocomagh congregation. It was during his ministry Whycocomagh, East Lake Ainslie pastoral charge was constituted. His ministry here ended on June 1st, 1954 when he left to take over his duties as Chaplain in the RCAI. The Reverend Ronald M. Cameron was inducted at MacLean Church, Whycocomagh on June 30th, 1855. He remained for a period of five years. He moved to PEI in June, 1960. It was one June 30th, 1960 that our present minister Reverend Donald R. Sutherland was inducted at Maclean Church.
