A Short History of Knox Presbyterian Church and Cemetery- Oro
By the year 1837, there were already more than 200 families settled in Oro Township. The majority of these were Scots. Most of the Scots, in the eastern and northern sections of the township, were from Islay.
A Gilbert Smith arrived in Oro Township in 1834. Mr. Smith had been sick during the crossing and died of cholera shortly after arriving in Canada. He was buried in Knox Cemetery in September, 1834. This is one of the, if not the, earliest recorded burials at Knox.
The church building, reportedly started in 1844 and completed in 1845, was built by volunteer labour. In 1845, John Galbraith obtained the south half of Lot 10, Con. 9 from the crown. Since the church had already been built by 1845, it is quite plausible that the land was bought on verbal agreement, and the formal papers drawn up at such a time as was convenient to all parties concerned.
The church was officially opened the last Sunday of June, 1845 by the Reverend John McTavish of Woodville.
Services were held in gaelic up to the turn of the century.
As the population grew in the southern portions of the township, new churches were built in Jarratt, Rugby, Guthrie, Mitchell Square and Oro Station.
By 1900 services were discontinued at Knox. Around 1910 a committee was formed by Willis, Esson and Central Oro Presbyterian churches to collect money for the restoration and further maintenance of the old Knox church and grounds.
A memorial service is held the last Sunday in June at 2:00 pm.
(Source: The Story of Oro-1987)
By the year 1837, there were already more than 200 families settled in Oro Township. The majority of these were Scots. Most of the Scots, in the eastern and northern sections of the township, were from Islay.
A Gilbert Smith arrived in Oro Township in 1834. Mr. Smith had been sick during the crossing and died of cholera shortly after arriving in Canada. He was buried in Knox Cemetery in September, 1834. This is one of the, if not the, earliest recorded burials at Knox.
The church building, reportedly started in 1844 and completed in 1845, was built by volunteer labour. In 1845, John Galbraith obtained the south half of Lot 10, Con. 9 from the crown. Since the church had already been built by 1845, it is quite plausible that the land was bought on verbal agreement, and the formal papers drawn up at such a time as was convenient to all parties concerned.
The church was officially opened the last Sunday of June, 1845 by the Reverend John McTavish of Woodville.
Services were held in gaelic up to the turn of the century.
As the population grew in the southern portions of the township, new churches were built in Jarratt, Rugby, Guthrie, Mitchell Square and Oro Station.
By 1900 services were discontinued at Knox. Around 1910 a committee was formed by Willis, Esson and Central Oro Presbyterian churches to collect money for the restoration and further maintenance of the old Knox church and grounds.
A memorial service is held the last Sunday in June at 2:00 pm.
(Source: The Story of Oro-1987)