Rev. William Thompson Murdoch

1835 - 1870  (~ 35 years)

• Photos		Minister of Central Presbyterian Church Galt 1861-1870
  		Murdoch,WillaimT.Rev.ministerofGalt.jpg

  
  

• Name	William Thompson Murdoch
  Prefix	Rev.
  Born	May 1835	Thornhill, Stirlingshire, Scotland   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Name	W. T. Murdoch  [2]
  Residence	1862	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-104575
  Died	21 May 1870	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Cause: disease of liver (3 weeks)
  Buried	Necropolis Cemetery, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I104575	Generations
  Last Modified	12 May 2024

  
  

  Family	Georgina "Jenny" Christie,   b. 1837, , Scotland ,   d. 28 Apr 1868, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 31 years)
  Married	6 Nov 1862	Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Children	1. John Murdoch,   b. 18 Jan 1864, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   2. Jeanie Bryce Murdoch,   b. 10 Jul 1865, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   3. Isabella Naismith Murdoch,   b. 16 Feb 1867, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   4. Georgiana Christie Murdoch,   b. 11 Apr 1868, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	13 May 2024
  Family ID	F34312	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  BUILDING UP THE WALLS. A.D. 1861-1870. PASTORATE OF REV. WILLIAM T. MURDOCH. "It is necessary to preach to the community assembled in order to affect those who would not be otherwise affected; to prepare in the temple the invisible Church which no temple can contain, and which exists in none in its state of purity; in fine, to give to the Word all the characteristics and all the efficacy of which it is susceptible. We might address the community in writing; but the written Word could not take the place of the other and render it superfluous." A. Vinet. In the year 1861 an event of far-reaching importance took place in Canada, and that was the union of the United Presbyterian Church in Canada with the Presbyterian Church of Canada, " believing, as was declared in the Preamble and Basis of Union agreed upon between the two Synods, that it would be for the glory of God and for the advancement of the cause of Christ in the Land." Events have fully justified this belief and have contributed greatly to the futherance of every interest of the Church. It has lessened expense in maintaining separate ecclesiastical establishments; set ministers free to work where they were more urgently needed; minimized differences, of which great barriers of division were made, so that they have largely passed away; and united the heart of the Presbyterian people in the great evangelistic work which God has given His Church to do. When Mr. James resigned, the Rev. John McMechan, of Berlin, was appointed Moderator of Session pro tem, and the congregation now assumed the name of THE SECOND CANADA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, GALT. At the first communion season after the vacancy, the Rev. John M. King, M.A., of Columbus, was present to preach and conduct the solemn services. With what gratification would he look upon the Church that he had gathered four years before and which had multiplied so rapidly under the hand of his successor. His heart would be full of praise and thanks giving to God as he witnessed their increased numbers, their order, their devout demeanour, their delight in celebrating the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. After a lengthened vacancy of one year and four months, the congregation, having heard various preachers, united in a call addressed to Mr. William T. Murdoch, a student who had just finished his studies at Knox College, Toronto. The call was accepted, and Mr. Murdoch's ordination and induction to the office and work of the sacred ministry took place on September 10th, 1862. The occasion was marked by the presence of nearly all the ministers in the Presbytery now the Presbytery of Guelph and a few from the neighboring Presbyteries, in all twenty-two in number. The order of the service was as follows: 1. The Rev. Alexander McLean presided and preached from Acts 18. 9,10: " Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace; for I am with thee and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city." 2. The Rev. William Barrie offered the ordination prayer, having asked the questions proper to the occasion, and by laying on of the hands of the Presbytery Mr. Murdoch was solemnly set apart to the work to which our blessed Lord gave Himself. 3. The Rev. Mr. Thorn addressed the pastor and the Rev. W. S. Ball the people. The service was well attended and "the proceedings throughout were all conducted in a manner befitting such a solemn and at the same time joyful occasion." "The managers held a soiree in the evening, which was likewise well attended and all happily and agreeably carried through." The Rev. William T. Murdoch, who thus entered upon his duties under the most favorable circumstances, was a young man of bright promise. He had a high conception of the office of the gospel minister. He believed in preparing beaten oil for the sanctuary. And so he gave himself to study and careful attention.... Ebenezer : a history of the Central Presbyterian Church, Galt, Ontario : with brief sketches of some of its members who have passed on to the other side

  
  

• Sources

  [S119] Vit - ON, York, Toronto - Toronto City Marriage Register 1858-1869, 1030065 and 1030066. William Thompson Murdock Age: 26 Gender: Male Birth Place: Scotland Residence: Galt Spouse Name: Georgina Christie Spouse Age: 25 Spouse Gender: Female Spouse Birth Place: Scotland Spouse Residence: Toronto Marriage Date: 6 Nov 1862 Father Name: John Mother Name: Isabella Spouse Father Name: James Spouse Mother Name: Jane Nasmyth [S575] Church Records - ON, Waterloo, Galt - United Presbyterian. Georgiana Christie Murdoch Born 11 Apr 1868 Galt Parents W. T. Murdoch & Georgina Christie baptized 10 May 1868

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - May 1835 - Thornhill, Stirlingshire, Scotland Residence - 1862 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 6 Nov 1862 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Died - Cause: disease of liver (3 weeks) - 21 May 1870 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Necropolis Cemetery, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth