The story of this congregation begins in the early years of the 19^th century.

The 1830's and 40's saw a large number of Highland Scots families settle in Dunwich Township and across the Thames River in Ekfrid Township.  Most were very poor, some spoke English and all spoke Gaelic, the language of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

When they finally had themselves established on small clearings in the bush, with a few acres cleared and living in small log cabins, they realized how much they missed the Presbyterian Churches they had left behind in Scotland. Many had brought their Church membership certificates with them from their Scottish Kirk, but here in Upper Canada there was no Presbyterian church to present them to.

They began to gather together in each others homes, or in the open air in good weather, and held prayer meetings which were occasionally visited by travelling missionaries of the Presbyterian Faith. At these meetings it is said, Mr. Hugh McBride never missed an opportunity to mention how they all longed for a definite place which might be known as "The House of God."

The first Presbyterian Church that was built within walking distance, was Knox, built on Lot 20, north of the Longwoods Road {No. 2 Highway} in Ekfrid Township. The first minister there was Rev. William Ross Sutherland, inducted in 1848. Several Dunwich families were members of this church, even though it meant a walk of 10 miles or more through the bush, crossing swamps, creeks and other hazards on the way.

On the 6th July 1853 an outdoor meeting was held on Hugh Fletcher's farm, Lot 24, Concession 2, Dunwich, a short distance south of the river. Here it was decided to build a frame church, 42 feet by 30 feet, on Hugh Fletcher's farm, to be a Presbyterian Church in connection with the Free Presbyterian Church in Canada.

The building was a credit to the times and served for many years. The building committee were Messrs. Robert Brodie, Angus Fletcher, Robert Fletcher, John Campbell, Thomas Campbell, John McTavish and Hugh McBride.

The Elders who constituted the first Session in 1855, were: James Graham, Thomas Campbell, Robert Fletcher and Angus Fletcher. The first list of members was drawn up in 1855, many transferring from Knox Church, Ekfrid. The first communion was held on 9th June 1855.

Presbyterian Missionary records held in the United Church Archives, Victoria College, Toronto, show Chalmers { originally called East Dunwich }, one of the many churches under the care of Rev. Daniel Clark.

On the 21st of June 1856, this new white frame church was officially dedicated by the Rev. Mr. Scott, of St. Andrews Church, London. It is from this date that we number the years of our congregation.

The Presbytery of London reported in 1856 - four vacant congregations and at least 27 congregations and stations requiring supply, seventeen of these being fully organized, including - Tilbury, Ridgetown, Wallacetown and Chalmers. Nine Missionaries were assigned to this Presbytery. Chalmers was included in those requiring English and Gaelic.

People came to this church from both sides of the river. Shackleton Street was the usual division between Chalmers and Wallacetown Presbyterian Church. The next church was at Fingal, so many Southwold members came from as far away as what is now lona Station and Lawrence Station. From north of the river, the ones from the west crossed the stream at a natural ford, known as Brodie's Crossing and up a trail in what is now Duncan McTavish's woods. The others crossed where the Cowal Sideroad meets the river, on a large raft, known as a Scow, which was held by ropes and pulleys from going down stream. The church then served an area of about  56 square miles.  Of course when cold weather came and until the river was frozen hard it was impossible to cross without risking your life,  Almost everyone, including the minister, walked to church in their bare feet, shoes were very expensive and uncomfortable. Near the church they would wash their feet in a spring and don their wool stockings and shoes before entering the church.  As soon as they started for home the shoes came off again.

            Those were the days of long distances, with only trails and footpaths through the otherwise unbroken forest/  The services were maintained intermittently.  Rev. W.R. Sutherland of Knox was appointed moderator of the new charge.

            It was ten years after the church was dedicated before Chalmers had its first minister, Rev. John Stuart, of Blyth. He started on a salary of $400.00 per year not much now, but a very large sum then, when labourers did well if they received $10.00 per month, it was  also the price of 100 acres of land.     The work of church now prospered, a new manse was built across the road from the church and a Sunday School was started. Two church services were held each Sunday, one at the church and the other at alternating points in Ekfrid. In the summertime four Sunday Schools were operated, two on each side of the river, the one at Melbourne was open all year and its Superintendent was Mr. Thomas Gordon.

Because of the death of his wife Rev. Stuart left after five years in 1870. About a year later Rev. Malcom McKenzie came to the church. During his stay it was decided to have some English services, however Gaelic communion services were held until about 1900.

In 1873 Rev. McKenzie accepted a call to Wardsville, and it seemed to those in Ekfrid to be the time to form a separate congregation because of the difficulty of crossing the river. They formed a connection with Cook’s Church, Caradoc. The Ekfrid part of the congregation later became two.  On 21^st September 1887 a fine brick Presbyterian Church was dedicated in Melbourne, which is still active today. In October 1890 a new brick church was dedicated at Riverside. {In 1925 it became a United Church and later assumed responsibility for the members of the former Methodist church at Middlemiss. In 1958 Riverside church was closed and torn down, tile remaining members joining the United Church at Melbourne.}

For the remaining members of Chalmers, 1873 was a low period, now unable to support a minister the congregation carried on as well as they could for three years. In 1876 Wallacetown wanted a minister all to themselves, so Duff church, which had been with them, was put on a two point charge with Chalmers.

Now full of enthusiasm, the congregation moved the frame church  to New Montreal, as Cowal was then known. The manse was left behind and became the home of the Murray family, {the house Vera Murray lives in}  and a new manse built at Cowal, { The house north of the present church. }

For twenty-five years Duff and Chalmers were on the same charge and relations between them could not have been more harmonious. Rev. Alexander Urquhart served for nearly 14 years before his health failed, and was much loved and respected.

The next minister, Rev. Alexander McKay D.D. served only one year, his wife was too ill to move to the charge and he left about the time of her death.

There followed two years without a settled minister before the pastorate of Rev. John McNeil who stayed until 1900, leaving soon after the death of one of his children.

In 1901 the Presbytery of London rearranged charges again and put Chalmers with McBrides Church, Southwold and Duff with Tait's Comers.

In the spring of 1902 Rev. Samuel Lawrence accepted a call to the new charge. As Chalmers Church was now too small to accommodate the congregation it was decided to build a new church. On 26th June 1901 the cornerstone was laid for the second Chalmers Church, the one currently in use today.  It was designed by Elgin’s most famous architect, Mr. N.R. Darrach of St. Thomas and the cost was $4 000.00.

The new church was opened and dedicated in February 1902, the minister for the occasion was Rev. J.A. McDonald, Editor of The Westminster, {later better know as McDonald of the Globe.}.  It was at the opening service for the new church that the organ was first used in the service of praise.  Previous to the organ someone led the singing, known as “The Precenter”.  They used a tuning fork to get a tone to start.  Two of these were Dugald J. Campbell and D. A. McNabb.

The Rev. Lawrence stayed until 1907 when he accepted a call to the Presbytery of Guelph.  In the fall of 1907, Rev. Donald McKay,     of Alton accepted a call to the charge.  In 1916 Chalmers celebrated the Golden Jubilee of the church with special services for two Sundays and a largely attended Tea Meeting and a small history was printed. In the fall of 1917, after a pastorate of ten years Rev. McKay moved to a charge at Dorchester and Rev. Gustaves Munro took his place, however he only stayed until the spring of 1919, leaving to become the Treasurer of Stamford Township, Welland County. During World War I, many served in the forces from the congregation and four paid the supreme sacrifice.

In 1920 it was decided that the manse should be located near the centre of the charge, so the manse at Cowal was sold to Alex McLachlin for $500.00 and Dr. Turner’s former home in Lawrence Station was purchased for $3 400.00, the cost equally divided between Chalmers and McBrides.  In May 1920 Rev. Charles A. Malcolm of Wroxeter accepted a call and was the first minister to occupy the manse at Lawrence Station. In 1923, after a congregational vote, individual communion cups were first used.

In 1925, when the United Church was formed, Chalmers was considerably weakened when a number of members and many adherents withdrew and set up a separate Presbyterian congregation.  To save building another church, an arrangement was worked out so the Presbyterians had the church Sunday afternoon and certain times during the week, sharing in the cost of heat and cleaning.  {This continued for about 15 years when the few remaining Presbyterians joined Knox Church in Dutton.}

In 1926 the former Methodist church at Lawrence Station joined the charge, making it a three point charge.  The same year Rev. Malcolm left accepting a call to Port Stanley and Rev. Neil Campbell, a Dunwich native, took his place. Rev. Campbell was instrumental in getting the three point charge off to a good start.  In 1929 he answered a call to Mt. Brydges and Cooks Church, Caradoc.

Rev. R. Watson Langdon of Lyons was inducted at McBrides, 3^rd July 1929.  Rev. Langdon’s vigorous and untiring leadership was a constant source of encouragement during the years of the great depression. In 1937 Rev. Langdon accepted an invitation from Thamesford.

Rev. Glen Taylor who followed came as a newly ordained minister, and like his predecessor, brought his helpmate as a bride to the parsonage.  During his stay hydro was installed in the church and some of the horse sheds were sold.  In 1940 the church was redecorated, the first time since it was built, and a reopening service was held.  Re. Taylor was very active in organizing activities for young people in the churches.  He also started a church camp on the river in Southwold for teenagers, using tents for shelter (a camp for girls and one for boys).  They swam in the river, used privies and carried the drinking water for about a mile.  Of course this couldn’t be allowed to go on due to health regulations so the camp had to close after a year or two.  Those who attended thoroughly enjoyed it and no one ever got sick.

In July 1942 Chalmers lost one of its oldest members in the person of Mr. D. A. McNabb, who was carried as a baby through the bush and baptized by Rev. W.R. Sutherland when his parents were members of the Knox Church in Ekfrid, 27 August 1852.  D.A. served on the session for 52 years, 51 as Clerk of Session.  He left a bequest of $1000.00 and his farm to his beloved church.

Early in 1943 Rev. Taylor accepted a call to Embro and Rev. Mr. McLeod filled in until June.  He was the first minister to wear a robe in Chalmers pulpit.

In June 1943 Rev. T.C. Wilkinson began his pastorate.  During these years there was a large group of teenagers at Cowal and a very successful Young Peoples Union was organized.   During our years on the Lawrence Station charge we were used to the minister also teaching a Sunday School class.   Because the minister taught the senior teens, many in his class joined the church. Although ministers today would be horrified, our minister preached at at Chalmers and taught a Sunday School class in the morning, drove back to Lawrence, had his dinner and a rest, then preached at McBrides and taught a Sunday School Class, then home and after supper preached an evening service at Lawrence Station. {No Sunday School class there because their Sunday School was in the afternoon. }  Union communion services were revived during Rev. Wilkinson’s stay.  Although many young men of the congregation were involved in World War II, all thankfully returned unscathed.

In 1949 Rev. Wilkinson moved to the church at Belmont and Rev. Bruce Guy, a native of Windsor, moved from a mission field in Alberta and took over the charge. They had one son when they moved to the charge and later twin daughters were born while they were at Lawrence. Rev. Guy started very successful Vacation Bible Schools on the charge which filled up the Sunday Schools.

In 1953 Rev. Guy moved to Ilderton and Rev. J. Harrower, of Ben Miller took his place. In 1956 Chalmers congregation celebrated their centennial with two Sundays of special services, a new Hammond Electric organ and an updated history of the church. This was Rev. Harrower’s last charge and he retired in 1957.

Unable to find an ordained minister for the charge, Mr. Amasa G. Pease, a mature student minister  with four sons, very capably looked after the charge for one year, when the Church in its wisdom moved him to a similar situation near Welland, while he finished his education.

From 1958. to 1960 Rev. Charles Badger, of Saskatchewan, served the charge, he never quite figured out tile roads and was frequently lost, one time for several hours in the Indian Reserve. He and his wife retired first to St. Thomas and later to the minister's retirement home at Beamsville.

The next minister for one year was Rev. Cecil A. Dukelow, who the charge moved at great expense from the west.

From I961 to 1964 we were fortunate to have another mature student, Mr. J. Earl Burt, B.A. who looked after the charge under the supervision of Rev. J.N. Shaver of Dutton. He was. home most weekends while he continued his studies at Toronto University.

In 1964 the Lawrence Station Charge was traumatically broken up by Elgin Presbytery. Although the United Church has a policy for church closings this was not adhered to and there were many headlines and T.V. interviews as the churches were closed and bought back by their own members so they could still be used. Chalmers was put with Dutton and Wallacetown, much against their will. McBrides and Lawrence were put on a five point charge with Shedden, Frome and lona. In 1965 Chalmers, St. John’s and Wallacetown became the Dunwich Pastoral Charge with Rev. J. N. Shaver as minister.

{In 1966 the Lawrence church was closed, and sold for an implement shed. The bricks were removed and sold. It is now in 2000 still standing a derelict ruined building, no longer used, just waiting to collapse. You would not know it was ever a church until you look inside at the roof and there are the panels of matched varnished wood that used to grace a church building.

{McBrides and lona became Christian Fellowship Churches when they were closed by Presbytery. In order for the new congregations to use their own churches they had to buy them from the United Church. McBrides operated until 1999 when it had to close, after 123 years a church, for a lack of members and it was sold and demolished, smashed into a heap, to clear the lot for a new home. Iona church is still used and has an active congregation, 35 years after the United Church said it was not viable.}

In 1967 Rev. Shaver left for a church in St. Catharines and Rev. Murray Barnet  and his family moved from the mission field of Saskatchewan to take over the charge.  Rev. Barnet’s pastorate was a very successful one, having the patience and the persistence to get the Dunwich Pastoral Charge to work together.  In 1969 a new manse was built in Dutton to replace the other one that belonged to St. John’s.  In 1975 Rev. Barnet resigned to become the full time director of Pearce-Williams Christian Centre.

In 1975 Rev. David Northey moved from Labrador to the Dunwich Pastoral Charge.  The stained glass windows were re-leaded and covered with storm windows to protect them.  In 1980 it was decided to build a kitchen and washrooms on the back of the church, having had neither before.  {The only church in Elgin Presbytery that didn't. } The addition was completed and opened the following spring.

In 1980 Rev. Northey accepted a call to Moncton and Rev. Ernest Fellows, a native of Wales, took his place, moving from Gorrie-Wroxeter where he had spent one year after twelve years in Newfoundland.

In 1981 Chalmers celebrated the 125^th anniversary of its dedication.  Two special services were held, one at the church and the other an outdoor service in the field where the first Chalmers church once stood.

In1985 Rev. Fellows was replaced by our first female minister, Rev. Barbara Laing, a native of Jamaica.  Rev. Laing left in 1988.  There was then a time without a settled minister.  Rev. Burton Crowe filled in for a time and then a retired minister, Rev. Lloyd Carver.

In 1990, Rev. Evelyn McLachlan moved from Nova Scotia to the charge and her pastorate was a productive and happy one.  In 1998 she moved to a Sarnia church and Rev. Jane Hallet, newly ordained, came to the charge.