PRESBYTERIAN GROWTH.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 322, 8 October 1908, Page 4

PRESBYTERIAN GROWTH.

NEW CHURCH AT KILBIRNIE. The foundation-stone of tho now Presbyterian Church at Kilbirnio was laid by tho Rev. James Paterson yesterday afternoon, in tho prosenco of a large gathering. Tho Revs. J. Gibson Smith, AV. Douglas, 'W. Sliircr, and W. Marshall also took part in tho service. Tho Rov. W. Douglas, pastor of tho church, said that the first Presbyterian service in the district was held by tho Rev. W. Shirer exactly two years before. Afterwards services were conducted by laymen until August 4, .1907, when Mr. Douglas began to tako services. Tho district was then constituted a homo mission district, under tho Rev. J. Kennedy Elliott and tho Kent Torrape Church session. Arrangements wero afterwards made to form a sustentation fund, and the work of Miss Anderson in'this connection was specially mentioned. Tho Sunday School, which had now between 80 and 00 scholars, niado a very small beginning on October 13, 1907. There were now G6 communicants in tho district, of whom 40 wore iu Kilbirnie. An organ was obtained for tho church soino time ago, and the Rev. ,T. Paterson had been asked to lay tho founda-tion-stono in view of his deep interest in tho cliargo. Thanks were also duo to Mr. J. G. W. Aitken, and to the Rov. J. Kennedy Elliott, and the session of Kent Terraco Church for their past assistance. Tho treasurer, Mr. A. Gellately, said that tho church would cost about £800. Tho land had been presented by tho lato Captain Crawford, and was handed over to the church trustees recently by the late Mr. H. D. Crawford in accordance with his father's wish. Tho sum of £281 had been collected towards tho cost of constructing tho church, and it was proposed to raiso a mortgago for the amount necessary to complete the work.