Cairn marks site of old church 
     
     The Guardian, Charlottetown, Wednesday July 15, 1992 
     
    
   
   
    
     Winsloe - Amidst the skirl of bagpipes rendered by piper Bruce MacLaren, a cairn marking the site where Highfield Presbyterian 
     
     Church once stood was recently dedicated. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The cairn was dedicated by Rev. William Scott, assisted by Rev. Donald Nicholson. For many years the church was a focal point for 
     
     families in the community. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Highfield Cemetery, Winsloe (formerly know as St. Anthony' Burial Ground) was consecrated in 1870, when Hugh MacKinnon 
     
     donated land to be used as a community burial ground. Construction of Highfield Presbyterian Church commenced on April 11, 1900, 
     
     and it opened for worship on Nov. 4 of that year. Described in detail in the Charlottetown Guardian of Nov. 14, 1900, it was written: 
     
     "The congregation is to be congratulated upon the construction of such a handsome church. It has not been erected to gratify the lust 
     
     of the eye, being plain in design, yet it is a very pretty and substantial building." Old church accounts record: "The total cost of 
     
     church $1,551.15." 
     
    
   
   
    
     The unveiling of the cairn was performed by Millar Sanderson and Raymond MacKinnon, who took up the work of previous 
     
     generations in the upkeep and beautification of this pioneer cemetery. The dedication of the cairn was the fulfilment of a promise 
     
     made to erect a memorial to the church, after its removal in 1959. 
     
    
   
   
    
     In recounting the history of cairns, Rev. William Scott was both enlightening and entertaining. He spoke of the first cairns, 
     
     constructed loosely of large stones, placed in a common heap by clansmen departing to do battle among themselves or with the 
     
     English. Before leaving on such a campaign, each fighting man added his stone to the new cairn. Upon his return, he retrieved this 
     
     particular rock, those remaining bearing testament to the numbers who had fallen in battle. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The P.E.I. United Church Men, accompanied by pianist Marguerita Wood and organist Wendell Stevenson, sang a variety of hymns, 
     
     leading the congregation in the closing selection, a rousing delivery of "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory." Rev. Donald Nicholson 
     
     delivered the benediction in both English and Gaelic. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Today, family and community lovingly attend this cemetery. Some stones have failed to survive the passage of time, and hard times 
     
     prevented many hallowed resting places from ever being marked. Our proud chestnut tree, planted by Lemuel MacLean is a living 
     
     memorial to Elizabeth and Reagh, his young children, who died only two days apart.