First Presbyterian Church Brockville was founded in 1811
by Rev. William Smart, an itinerant preacher who spread
the gospel on horseback, carrying his Bible in his saddlebags.
Making it the oldest congregation in Brockville.
This impressive stone structure with its three landmark
spires and the tallest steeple in the the Thousands Islands.
It dominates the Brockville skyline, and providing a spectacular
view, especially from the St. Lawrence River by boat.
Specific
Points of Interest
The Organ
The Casavant organ was install in 1894. At the time,
it was the most effective instrument between Montreal
and Toronto. The first public concert was held in October
of 1894, with 700 people in attendence. The forty voice
choir was directed by the organist, Dr Edward Broome.
Organ renovations were conducted in 1911 and in 1953. New pipes were
installed in 1985 and further maintenance was completed
in 1993 by Fred Knapton of Kingston Ontario. At the
time of the 1993 renovation, the original 1894 leather
bellows were still in use!
The Support Columns
The St. Lawrence River yielded the great oak logs around which the
existing church was built in 1879. When plans were underway to rebuild
in 1878, a parishioner referred to an oak raft that had sunk in the
river just east of Morristown NY. Much spirit and determination resulted
in four tremendous logs, approximately 50 feet long, being retrieved
from the river bottom, floated to Brockville, dragged ashore, and
hauled to the construction site. These same four log now form the
cores of the four support columns around which the church is built.
This provides a telling indication of the foresight, strength of conviction
and determination on which our congregation has always been built.
