Old Stone Church

Modest in appearance, the elegant simplicity of the church's stonework testifies to the skill of the Scottish stone masons who constructed it. In the 1830s Glengarrians from Islay, Scotland settled on the eastern side of Lake Simcoe, Ontario. Their first church was of logs but by 1840 they embarked on building this new church, now known as the Old Stone Church. Disruptions in the Church of Scotland to which the congregation was affiliated led to a split amongst members. Debate over the merits of joining the Free Church of Scotland resulted in the construction of a newer St Andrews which was built in nearby Beaverton to the west. Resolution of a further split in 1927 involved the provincial legislature which passed the "Beaverton Presbyterian Church Act" that year. The Old Stone Church remained in use for a limited number of services which is true to this day. The building was designated a National Historic Site in 1991 owing to its architectural merit. It is a gracious example of the few early stone vernacular churches surviving in Canada. It is also recognized by the Province of Ontario and the municipality, the Township of Brock.