A History of Canoe Cove released from his spiritual despondency. After that he was a new creature in Christ preaching powerfully from Murray River to Wilmot and from Canoe Cove to Rustico . When he died he had five thousand adherents, or better than 10% of the population, who were called "McDonaldites", a term still in use today. He died in the home of William McLeod of Southport in 1867 after having served the people of the Cove as well as his other followers for over forty years. There was a log church handy the site of the present church that was used for about twenty years for worship. Our splendid old building had its beginning in St. Catherines near the Pioneer Cemetery. After a change in plans, the lumber was rafted around to its present site in Canoe Cove . The church was completed in 1872, by Alexander MacFarlane . An early church secretary's minute book exists dating back to 1894. Charles MacNeill of St. Catherines was the first secretary and his beautiful copper-plate script is a pleasure to read. The charge at that time consisted of , Lot 48, St. Catherines , Nine Mile Creek, Stanchel , and North River , Hunter River and West River . Mr. MacNeill was secretary from 1895 until his death in 1916. Reverend James MacCall was our first minister after Mr. McDonald remaining for three years before returning to Scotland . For the next few years ministering elders ordained by Mr. MacDonald conducted sacraments of baptism and communion. Justices of the Peace performed marriage ceremonies. In 1875 Rev. John Goodwill , a returned missionary took over the church and remained until 1903 when he had to give up because of ill health. Following Mr. Goodwill were: Rev. James MacDougall , Rev. Daniel MacLean , Rev. Donald Lamont 1920-1928, Rev. Archibald Murchison, Rev. D. V. O'Meara 1928-1929, Rev. Chester Robertson and Rev. Dr. J. W. S. Lowery 1935-1936.