Bradford Presbyterian Church (Contributed by Harvey W. Curry) The first Presbyterian Church in Bradford was built in 1847. It was a white frame structure which stood on the same site as the present building. It served the congregation for 45 years until 1892, when it was sold to Trinity Anglican Church, who moved it to the site of the present Rectory, where it was used as a Parish Hall, and served as such until 1953, when it was torn down to make way for the new Rectory. In 1893 the present Presbyterian Church was built, Mr. Dougald MacDonald of Bradford being the contractor, for the amazingly low price of $5,000.00. In 1915 a beautifully-toned pipe organ was installed, a portion of the cost of which was provided by the Carnegie Foundation. This foundation was et up by the late Andrew Carnegie, U.S. steel magnate, for the purpose of making donations towards public libraries, churches, etc. As time went on, normal wear and tear, together with the ravages of time and weather, brought the building into a rundown state, and for some time very little was done in the way of maintenance. But about nine years ago the Board of Managers undertook the huge task of remodelling, both inside and out. New aluminum roofing was applied where needed, as well as new eavestroughing, insulation, painting and decorating, and landscaping. Two years ago a new Baldwin Electronic organ was installed. As a result of this endeavour this splendid edifice has been restored to its original condition. It is a credit to the community, and should continue to serve its purpose for many years to come. Church records do not exist any farther back than 1876, but the following is a list of ministers who have served the local congregation since that time: 1876 to 1882, Rev. E. W. Panton; 1882 to 1888, Students; 1888 to 1889, Rev. Fred Smith; 1899 to 1905, Rev. J. Fraser Smith; 1905 to 1909, Rev. C. H. Cook, 1909 to 1912, Rev. J. Burkholder; 1913 to 1925, Rev. Lachlan McLean; 1926 to 1929, Rev. M. E. R. Boudreau; 1929 to 1932, Rev. A. K. McLaren; 1932 to 1933, Rev. E. S. Clifton; 1933 to 1935, Rev. R. B. Stevenson; 1935 to 1939, Marcus Long, student, and Gordon Troyer, student; 1939 to 1941, Rev. Gordon Graham; 1941 to 1943, Rev. John McKenzie; 1943 to 1945, Students; 1945 to 1948, Rev. W. A. Hunter; 1948 to 1951, Rev. J. G. MacGillvray; 1951 to 1954, E. C. McLarnon, student; 1954 to 1955, Charles Jackson, student; 1955 to 1957, Rev. H. P. Maitland, 1957 to 1958, Students; 1958 to 1962, L. B. Williams, resident student; 1962 to 1963, students and supply; since 1963, Fred Reed, resident student. Mrs. Thomas McCracken (Dorothy Noble) presented a copy of the financial statement for the Bradford Presbyterian Church, dated December 1888, for use in this issue. Board of Managers listed as its members, Wm. Goodfellow, Robt. Stewart, Andrew Thompson, George MacDonald, Edmund Garrett and Thomas Birrell, with G. MacDonald as treasurer, E. Garrett, secretary, and R. Stewart, chairman. Auditors for the statement, which was printed as The Witness office, Bradford, were Jas. S. Boddy and Chas. Elliott. The General Fund of the church totalled $509.20 and this included a balance from the previous year of $63.71, profits from tea meeting $14.08 and Sabbath collections, $136.46. The largest contribution, $31.45, was from the Rev. James Bryant. It would appear that there was a change of ministers at that time. Rev. F. Smith received $340 in salary; Rev. J. Cerswell (services as moderator) $25; Rev. Dr. Fraser (expenses for induction) 53 cents. The list of contributors to the church included the following names: Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Armstrong, John R. Armstrong, Lewis Algeo, Chas. Armstrong, John Bowles, Thos. Birrell, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. S. Boddy, Rev. Jas. Bryant, Dr. Bethune, Chas. Elliott, Jas. Faris, Wm. Goodfellow, E. Garrett, Miss. Grant, A. A. Gunn, Miss Goodfellow, J.H. Hockridge, Wm. Henderson, Thos. Kilkenny Jr., Wm. Kilkenny, Thos. Kilkenny Sr., Mrs. John Magee, Mrs. McArthur, Geo. McDonald, Samuel A. Neilly, Robt, Neilly, Jas. B. Rowney, Alex (shoemaker) Sutherland, Donald Sutherland, Ben. Shears, Lillie and Willie Smith, Mrs. Smith, Charles Smith, Robt. Stewart, A. (farmer) Sutherland, Andrew Thompson, Stephen Thompson, Dr. Taylor and Wm. Wylie.
