Churches

2686 Althorpe Road, Sharbot Lake, ON, K0H 2P0

Lot 8, Concession 1, Bolingbrooke, South Sherbrooke

Althorpe United Church was once known as the Althorpe Presbyterian Church. The construction of this building began in 1896.

The Bathurst Mission of the Presbyterian Church in Canada which was established in 1873. The first service in Althorpe was held in 1875 and was presided over by Mr. Thomas Bennett. In 1896 the local congregation constructed the Althorpe United Church. In 1925 with the union of four protestant denominations the name was changed to the Althorpe United Church. The church is part of the United Church of Canada's Bathurst Pastoral charge which includes Calvin United Church. The church continues to serve its parishioners and a service is held on Sunday mornings at 9:30am. The minister is Reverend Micheline Montreuil.

The church is a small frame meeting hall clad in drop siding set on a stone foundation. The building is a rectangular hall plan with the entrance on the gable end and a polygonal apse with an altar on the opposite gable. The style of the building is vernacular which is based on regional forms and materials. Other examples in Tay Valley Township include: Bolingbroke, Conc. 2, Lot 6 in South Sherbrooke Ward, and The Calvin United Church, located at 364 Cameron Side Road in the Bathurst Ward.

131 Fallbrook Road, Balderson, ON

Lot 27, Concession 7, Balderson, Bathurst

In 1834, subscriptions for a Presbyterian church began when lot 27 of concession 7 in Bathurst was obtained from William McNaughton. Members of the community made their subscriptions in the form of money (pounds, shillings and pence), lumber, square cut nails or labour. Services were performed at the church by Reverend William Bell and Reverend T.C. Wilson until 1945, when Revered William Bain began to service the church.

Until 1880, services were only held during the summer. It was this year that marked the union of the Missions of Balderson and Drummond, and once they became self-supporting, more services were held. The original church saw improvements such as the inclusion of a shed for the minister's horse in 1846, the building of a fence for the property in 1860, the painting of the church for $5 in 1870 as well as the insuring of the property for $500 in the same year.

In 1882, part of lot 27 on concession 8 of Bathurst was purchased for $200 from Duncan McLaren and plans were made to build a manse. In 1883 the work commenced with Thomas Smith being the mason, Alex Austin the carpenter and George Cuthbertson the plasterer. A tin roof was added by A. McArthur for $150. The building was paid for by 1892 thanks to special subscriptions.

In 1899, members of the congregation held a meeting under the chairmanship of Reverend J.S. McIlwraith and a unanimous decision was made to build a new church. G.T. Martin of Smiths Falls created the plans, and the contract was given to W.J. Rabb of Perth and George Bradford, mason, of Almonte.

In 1903 the cornerstone was laid by the oldest member of the congregation, Mrs. Robert Whyte, and the church was dedicated in 1904 by Reverend Principal Scrimage of the Presbyterian College in Montreal.

The name of the church was changed from the Balderson Presbyterian Church to the Balderson United Church after church union took place in 1925. In 1967, Mrs. Robert Whyte's family presented the trowel to the church which had been used to lay the cornerstone in 1903.The Church continues to be a strong part of the community today with upgrades to the Church and hall, concerts, community fundraising and special services.

Concession 11, Bennett Lake, Bathurst

In 1893, the Bethel Methodist Church was built. The brick building was erected to replace an old log building which was much too small for the congregation. In order to start a fund for the building of the church, Mr. William Pratt donated $100. Dedicated to the cause, Mr. Pratt also collected funds for the church, gathering $300 in one day. Members from the community all pitched in where they could donating money, lumber and hard work.

Mr. Dick Campbell was responsible for the stone work, the Bishop Bros did the framework and Messrs. Charlton and Buchanan did the brick work. The minister at the time, Reverend Barry Pierce painted the church. During the construction of the church, the workers boarded free of charge at Mr. William Pratt's. The church was free of debt when it was completed, and with the small remaining funds, a shed was built for the church.

The church held no socials or suppers and people donated what they could. Money, food, fuel and horse fodder were all donated to the minister from church goers. The first wedding to be held in the church was between Thomas North and Margaret Pratt, and the last wedding, the union of Harold McGinnis and Violet VanAlstine was held in 1942. In 1959, the roof collapsed and at this point the building had been vacant for some time. A monument can be found where the church once stood on Bennett Lake Road.

Lot 6, Concession 2, Bolingbroke, South Sherbrooke

This tract of land was originally owned (in absence) by James Laidley in 1821. The land was subsequently deeded to the Canada Company and sold to Sheriff John A. H. Powell (son of the 1st Sheriff in the town of Perth). In 1938 Sheriff Powell sold the land to Eleneger Wilson. The church is believed to have been built after 1880.

364 Cameron Side Road, Dewitts Corners, K7H 3C9

Lot 11, Concession 3, Dewitt's Corner, Bathurst

On January 29th of 1896, John and Janet Cameron sold the west half of lot 11 on the 3rd concession of Bathurst to the trustees of the Calvin Presbyterian Church for a sum of $30. The trustees of the church were: William John Palmer, Andrew W. Miller, Andrew B. Miller, George White and John Cameron. Part of the deed states that a general meeting was to be held on the second Monday of January every 5th year beginning in 1897. For a cost of $1450, the Calvin United Church was built. On September 13th, 1896, the Calvin United Church was opened and dedicated for public worship.

Operating through the Calvin United Church is the United Church Women, formally known as the Ladies' Aid. The group first joined in 1894 and has been a part of the community ever since. The manse was built in 1903. In 1938, a telephone was installed in the manse and repair work was done. In 1947, the Cameron Memorial Hall was built next to the church. Only two years after it was built, electricity was installed in the hall as well as the church and manse. The manse received another upgrade in 1956 when an oil heating system and insulation was installed. In 1961, modern plumbing was installed in the manse and a well was drilled.

In 1977, the Calvin United Church welcomed its first female minister, Mrs. Geraldine Milley who served for two years. The church received a few more upgrades in 1987 with the removal of the old windows, addition of two stained glass windows and the painting of the exterior trim.

231 Maberly Elphin Rd, Maberly, ON K0H 2B0

Lot 14, Concession 8, Maberly, South Sherbrooke

Before Maberly had established its own church, the area was serviced by a Methodist circuit rider who would preach to the English and Scottish Settlers in the area. When the community felt it was time to establish a church, George Charlton and Richard Duffy were appointed to decide where it would be built in the community. They sat atop a stone on a hill for a long time trying to decide where a church should be built. Apparently, the words "Upon this rock I will build my church" came to mind and it was decided that the church would be built in that very spot. The stone on which they sat rests about 10 feet from the pulpit, beneath the floor.

On January 19th, 1885, the church was dedicated by Reverend Whitting. To celebrate the church, a tea was held the next day. A total of $600 was raised at the tea, and the funds went towards the cost of the building. At the time of its opening, the officials of the church were John Wesley, John Morrow, Richard Armstrong, John Buchanan, J. Armstrong and George Charlton.

The Maberly United Church is a red brick building with white trim. Originally, the church featured a 90-foot tower with a spire. The spire was struck by lightning and caught fire, however was saved by the fire department. Unfortunately, a wind storm would knock down the spire in 1940. The interior of the church features oak and cherry woodwork with walnut trim.

McDonald's Corners, Playfairville

Lot 21, Concession 12, Playfair, Bathurst

Like most communities in Tay Valley Township, Playfairville was originally served by travelling preachers who came on horseback and held services in homes before the village had its own church. In 1860, the Playfair Historic Church was built on lot 21 of concession 12 in Bathurst by Lt. Col. Andrew William Playfair and his son, John Johnston Playfair.

The church was fashioned in the Federal style with board and batten exterior atop a stone foundation. The church features vaulted plaster ceilings and the original wainscoting and pine floors. The pine pews from 1860 are located in the balcony of the church. Much of the church is now as it would have been in 1860. All of the interior furnishings are original to the building as well as the door locks and the period red glass in the windows and doors.

Originally the church was a Wesleyan Methodist Church, however, following the church union it became the United Church. In 1965, the United Church closed its doors in Playfairville. After hearing that it was intended for the building to be torn down and a plaque to be erected, Robert Delbert Dwyer Playfair purchased the Playfair Historic Church in the 1970's from the United Church of Canada.

Recently, the church was refurbished and redecorated by the current stewards Robert William Richard Playfair and James Kenneth John Playfair. The church was given a fresh coat of paint; however, the original stencils around the top of the church and above the wainscoting are the original patterns. Also to receive a restoration were the paintings that hang over the pulpit.

1702 McVeigh Road, Perth ON  K7H 3C9

Located in rural Perth, Ontario, Canada, Sati Sārāņīya Hermitage is a Buddhist sanctuary and Theravāda bhikkhunī monastery for women seeking a spiritual life in the monastic system established by the Buddha 2600 years ago.

291 Maberly-Elphin Road, Maberly, ON K0H 2B0

Lot 13, Concession 8, Maberly, South Sherbrooke

On September 19, 1886 the corner stone for St. Alban the Martyr was laid. Even though rain was falling, 180 people turned out for the service performed by Reverend William P. Wright. The offering of $11.16 was put in to the building fund. The church opened its doors in December of 1886. The building is 42 feet by 23 feet with an ash interior and stain glass windows.

Lot 4, Concession 1 , South Sherbrooke

The original schoolhouse was built on Ritchie Farm homestead in 1865. In 1905/1906, the school was converted into St. Andrew's Church with Rev. Metzler over bi-weekly services. Early in the 1920's the altar and cross were built by Mr. Robert Prevost. In 1955 a bell recovered from an American ship that sank in Lake Erie in 1912 was presented to the church for use as a church bell by Mr. W. Robertson. In 1959/1960, members of St. Andrew's began attending St. Paul's in Westport. Fewer services were held in 1961/1962 and no services were held at all in 1963. By 1965, the church had officially closed.

869 Stanley Road, Stanleyville, Perth, K0G 1K0
Lot 15, Concession 8, Stanleyville, North Burgess

As early as 1820, Reverend Father La Mothe, who visited Catholics along the St. Lawrence River, heard of a route that would take him farther inland. Reverend Father La Mothe left Kingston to travel up the Rideau and ended up in Narrow's Locks. Here, he found many Irish Catholic families who were without a church. He promised the families that he would return the next year.

During his absence, the families erected a log chapel by Black Lake, not too far from the present location of St. Bridget's Church. Father La Mothe kept his promise and returned the next year to visit many more Catholic families. Following in Reverend Father La Mothe's footsteps, Father Smith visited the area in 1823 and preached in the log chapel. Unfortunately, these priests stopped visiting the area and Catholics located in North Burgess had to trek to Perth in order to receive mass.

The clergy in Perth did their best to serve the North Burgess community and would hold mass in homes, which would see up to 50 people at each residence. Before mass, the priests would perform confession and following mass the sick were blessed and children were baptized. It was even a pastor in Perth, Father McDonagh, who was instrumental in the building of St. Bridget's Church.

On August 15, 1857, a building committee was formed and plans were drawn up for a church in Stanleyville. Members for the building committee were chosen and included Messrs. Michael Stanley, Michael Drennan, Thomas Donnelly, Henry McVeigh and Edward Byine. Local families provided the supplies needed to build the church. The timber used in the building was taken from the swamp of Red (Paddy Quinn), the Murphy Quarry provided the rock and Robert Allan donated the sand. The two acres of land upon which the church stands was donated by Michael Stanley.

The church was constructed with dimensions of 61 feet by 45 feet and a vestry of 15 feet by 20 feet. Bishop Horan of Kingston was the man who laid the corner stone on May 22, 1864, and he dedicated the church to St. Bridget. Reverend TP O'Connor was appointed the first pastor of St. Bridget's. The Bishop urged the congregation to build a residence as soon as possible. Construction first began on the home in April and was completed that same year. At the time of its opening, St. Bridget's Parish included all of North Burgess and half of the Catholic population in Bathurst. The church still serves mass today.

Lot 15, Concession 8, Bennett Lake, Bathurst

St. Peters Anglican Church was constructed in 1856. Prior to this, the nearest Anglican church was in Balderson. This church was rebuilt in 1903 and consecrated by Bishop Roper on July 21, 1918. Sometimes, services were held in Fallbrook Women's Institute Hall (which has since been torn down) in the winter if roads were not passable. The church was deconsecrated on October 2, 1969 by Bishop John A. Baycroft. The final service was held June 28, 1970. The church was sold on December 30, 1996 and currently serves as a private residence.

Box A4, 707 Anglican Church Road, RR3, Maberly, ON, K0 2B0
Lot 7, Concession 6, Brooke Valley, Bathurst

The deed for St. Stephens Church and Cemetery, registered on March 23rd, 1866, states that Richard and Mary Ann White sold part lot 7 on the 6th concession of Bathurst to the Anglican Diocese for $1. In 2012, St. Stephen's celebrated its hundredth anniversary.

2025 Christie Lake Road , Perth, ON, K7H 3C6
Lot 11, Concession 2, Dewitt's Corners, Bathurst Township

This Catholic Church offers seasonal masses Saturday at 5:00 pm from May to September.

1356 Powers Road, Perth, ON, K7H 3C5

Lot 19, Concession 7, Stanleyville, North Burgess

Tisarana Buddhist Monastery, in North Burgess, is a Forest Monastery in the tradition of Ajahn Chah, Ajahn Sumedho, and Amaravati Buddhist Monastery. The main building is three stories high and houses lay support staff and visitors to the Monastery. The forest tradition, which is a branch of Theravada Buddhism, focuses on Buddha's path of contemplative insight while following the original monastic rules laid down by the Buddha himself.

Tisarana Buddhist Monastery aims to provide a space for learning and practice for people in the monastic and lay life. Regular teachings are held at the monastery, and although no residential meditation retreats are offered, the public is welcome to visit and join morning and evening meditation as well as meal times, days of mindfulness and Upsoatha days. There are also opportunities for guests to stay at the monastery and share in the monastic lifestyle.