On Sunday, September 4th, the Rockburn Presbyterian Church celebrated its 160th anniversary with a music extravaganza.
The Elgin District Pipes and Drums greeted guests with the regal sound of bagpipes as they made their way up to the church, while the Franklin Ensemble played inside the picturesque stone building. Beginning with the beloved song “Amazing Grace”, the afternoon service was led by worship leaders Nancy and Randy Campbell. The music progressed chronologically throughout the service, ending with “Gloria”, sung by the Rockburn choir, while the Chenaniah Band was on hand to play for the hymn singing and the postlude, “Bless This House”. A bevy of local musicians were present to celebrate the church’s notable anniversary, including the Valley Boys, Joe Hevesy, Howard Welburn, Stewart Burrows, Diane Morrison, David Whyte, Kevin Harvey, Norm Rennie, Kent Sutton and Elisabeth Churchill. Following the service, members of the congregation took a short walk down the hill in the warm afternoon sun to the Rockburn Hall for refreshments. They were greeted by displays of memorabilia and artefacts, as well as a slide show of old photos—all of which provided a glimpse into Rockburn’s rich history.
Last year’s celebration raised funds to help pay for a new furnace for the church, but this year’s gathering took a different direction. “This event wasn’t a fundraiser, it’s was just a good, old-fashioned celebration,” said Nancy Campbell, the church’s choir and band director. “This congregation has been active in the community and in outreach for 160 years. Rockburn is a living and growing church, working together in its ministry,” she added when asked about the church’s significant anniversary.
Originally erected in 1856, the church has served as both a centre of worship and a hub for the Rockburn community ever since. Since 1861 (two years following the church’s official completion), there have been 238 marriages, 785 baptisms and 406 burials at the historic landmark.
