CALVIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MERMAID, LOT 48
Mermaid Church had its beginnings as The Church of Scotland. The first church Was built around I830 on a piece of land from the farm of William Munn, given for the purpose. Rev. Daniel MacLean (born Sep 2l, I848 - died Oct l3, l9l9) an early supply/itinerate (travelling) preacher was buried beneath the old pulpit. He is credited with starting the Protestant Orphanage.
The original church was moved around I884 to Mount Herbert to be used as a meeting place for the Orange Lodge. Later it was used for storage, eventually burning to the ground on Halloween night I965.
Around I880, the new church was built. In I930, the ministers of Zion began to preach to the congregation in Mermaid. It was not until 1934 that the church was listed in the "Act and Proceedings" book of the Presbyterian Church, listing then William H. MacDonald, (grandfather of the writer) as the lone elder, with l2 families, and 20 students in Sunday School.
Among the Elders over time were: Roland MacDonald, William Herman MacDonald, Wilson Mulch MacDonald, W. L. MacEachern and Jim Munn. No records are known to exist.
Mermaid is now run only in the Summer months, from June through September, with supply from Zion Church.
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