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"The Auld Kirk, a historical church located at the Scotch Settlement will be the scene of an old time church service Sunday, June 22 at 3:00 p.m. The service is being jointly arranged by the Barrie Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church and the Simcoe Presbytery of the United Church. The Auld Kirk is on the 6th line of West Gwillimbury Township south of Highway 88 at the Scotch Settlement. The outdoor service will be led by Rev. Henry Dahlin, minister of Bond Head United Church and Chairman of the Simcoe Presbytery. Also participating in the service will be Rev. Ken Purdon, minister of Burton Ave. United Church in Barrie and Rev. Ed MacDonald, minister of the Presbyterian Church in Orillia and moderator of Barrie Presbytery. The guest preacher will be Rev. W. Stanford Reid, Professor of History at the University of Guelph.
The Auld Kirk's beginnings go back to 1823 when a log church was built by the settlers of the Scotch Settlement. In 1827, a frame church was built and the original log building was moved and used as a school until 1840. The present Auld Kirk building was erected in 1869 at a cost of $1,000. Due to a dwindling population the church was closed in 1885 and for some years fell into disrepair. In 1912, it required a new roof. In 1953, the restoration of the cemetery was started and in 1958 restoration work began on the church."

"The first major steps to preserve the heritage of the Scotch Settlement and area were taken last week when about 20 people officially founded a historical society. Known as the Scotch Settlement and District Historical Society, it will seek to preserve the historical record of not only the struggles of the Scottish settlers but those of Bradford and West Gwillimbury as well. Phillip Baker, a representative of the Ministry of Culture and Recreation was on hand to describe the procedure in setting up a historical society, the grant structure, and the initial problems that will have to be faced..."

"John Diefenbaker's scheduled October 15 tour of York Region may be temporarily postponed due to the sudden illness of Mrs. Diefenbaker, The Witness learned yesterday. Mr. Diefenbaker had been scheduled to address a dinner in Nobleton, and visit the Auld Kirk Cemetery in the Scotch Settlement. The visit will be re-scheduled for some future date if the former prime minister is unable to come to the area."

Invitation published in the Bradford Witness on the Auld Kirk Cemetery plaque unveiling. It would take place the following Sunday, August 24th, 1958 at 2:30pm. See Related Description links for a brief history of the Auld Kirk and the Scotch Settlement.

This article was released in the same edition which described the unveiling of the Auld Kirk Cemetery plaque on August 24th, 1958. The history of the Auld Kirk was also compiled in this edition, which includes the Deed to the kirk's property, registered in 1837, displayed above.

"On Sunday, July 23rd, 1967, the Auld Kirk in Scotch Settlement will hold a centennial service. This church, for many years has been closed but on that day memories will be revived by the old and the not-so-old as they greet one another and talk about the past and the days when their parents and grandparents lived there. A few words about the Scotch Settlement, its two churches and the people of the community may recall something of the past." ...

Article on memory and physical presence of history/heritage in a community like Bradford. Based on the unveiling of the Auld Kirk cemetery plaque (see Related Description below) and Murray Faris' preservation of the Auld Kirk's records.

Article on the Scotch Settlement, as recalled by T. A. Pratt of Islington, former resident of Bradford.

Article on the Auld Kirk Cemetery plaque unveiling to take place the following Sunday, August 24th, 1958 at 2:30pm. Contains a brief history of the Auld Kirk and the Scotch Settlement.

Newspaper article on the History of the Scotch Settlement