when Rev. Denis Kerwood accepted a call as pastor of the Springfield West - O’Leary Churches.
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
United Church of Canada
The history of this church goes back to 1850 when the whole of Prince County west of Lot Eleven constituted one congregation in the Presbyterian Church. Rev. John C. Sinclair was the only minister. Though he had a large territory to cover, he had only fifty-seven fam- ilies in his pastorate - five or six of which were from the immediate O’Leary district.
In 1855, Rev. Allan Fraser became the minister of this widespread congregation where, it is said, he held services at the home of a Mrs. Ramsay in O‘Leary. Services continued to be held there until 1856 when Rev. William Stewart took charge of the West Cape, Campbellton, and Brae districts, while Rev. Fraser continued with Alberton and Tignish.
The first definite mention made of O’Leary was after Arthur F. Carr was ordained and inducted at Alberton in 1871. The congrega- tion was once again divided with Rev. George Fisher taking Elmsdale, Montrose, and Tignish. Relieved of part of his charge, Rev. Carr was able to concentrate his labours in Alberton, Bloomfield, and O’Leary Station. Under Rev. Arthur Carr’s ministry, this latter field grew so rapidly that Rev. Carr, through the Presbytery, secured the help of a
73