TOWARDS the end of 1856 The Rev. James Mitchell, who came from Edinburgh, Scotland, preached for a few Sabbaths to the Boston and Milton congregations, and they give him a unanimous call to become their pastor. On February 9, 1857, the managers of Boston Church decided to pay one quarter of their share of the £180, which the two congregations promised as annual stipend, about the time of Air. Mitchell’s ordination, and to clear off all debt. The new Knox Church in Milton was opened for services on Sabbath, February 15, 1857, The Rev. Dr. Michael Willis of Toronto preaching in the forenoon, and Mr. Mitchell in the afternoon. His ordination and induction took place on the following Tuesday. The Rev. M. Laing of Scarborough preached the sermon, The Rev. John McLachlan of Acton addressed the minister and The Rev. James Nisbet of Oakville, the people.

In 1845 committees were appointed by the Missionary Synod, which two years afterwards assumed the. name of the Synod of the United Presbyterian Church, and by the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, to confer with one another on the union of the two Churches. The points of agreement and differences were discussed at length, and finally a satisfactory basis of union was reached. While the negotiations were going forward The Rev. James Caldwell, the last pastor of the United Presbyterian Church in the Block, resigned fin April 1859, and returned with his wife to Scotland. On March 20, 1861, the basis of union was submitted to the Boston congregation, and Mr. Mitchell having explained its several articles, it was unanimously resolved that “We approve of the basis, and rejoice that a union of the two Churches is soon to be effected.” On June 6th, 1861, the union was consummated in Montreal and the united body took the name of the “Canada Presbyterian Church. ’ ’ Previous to union the two local Churches agreed on March 20th, 1860, to unite and worship together. On the advice of Presbytery the two congregations now perfected their union, the property of the United Presbyterian congregation with its incumbrances was assumed by the newly united body, the breaking of new ground in the U. P. cemetery ceased, and Boston Church was made the place of worship. At the time of the union the United Presbyterian Congregation was in debt several hundred dollars. This was reduced by the united Congregation, but it was not until 1876 that all the property, with the exception of the cemetery, was made over to John Stewart in settlement of his claim against it. A list of those who were members of the United Presbyterian Church at the time of the union will be found in the Appendix.

Boston Church prospered during the pastorate of Mr. Mitchell. His life, character, scholarship, preaching ability, appearance and friendly ways won the confidence of people, and exerted a strong Christian influence. He was unmarried and lived for a time in the home of James Laidlaw (“Andra’s Jimmie”) near the present manse, also in the home of Walter Laidlaw, but afterwards, and until he resigned, in the brick manse of the former United Presbyterian Church. There he read, studied, meditated and made sermons. Occasionally also, he took snuff, and his hearers to some extent in the Church on the Sabbath regaled themselves by partaking of the same. A generous man would slip the box along to his neighbor. In 1865 Mr. Mitchell took a vacation on account of failing health. In that year a committee was appointed, of which Robert Laidlaw was Chairman, to fence the cemetery and purchase land for the erection of horse-sheds, and later it was given power to exchange a piece of low lying land at the north-west corner of the cemetery for a point of high ground north-east of the Church, with Andrew Laidlaw, and also to buy from him for $25.00, as a site for sheds, 22 chains by 77 feet, of land on the south side of the cemetery. All this was soon done, and what is now the north shed was erected by John Laidlaw, the owners of the stalls providing the necessary money and material.

At the congregational meeting in March, 1866, it was recognized that the time had come to have a new house of worship, and the people began to make preparations. Mr. Mitchell was greatly interested in the project, and by his attendance when plans were discussed gave valuable assistance, but he did not recover his former health, and was unable to see the undertaking carried through. He proposed at first to resign the Milton charge, and confine his work to the Boston congregation, but finally saw that he would be compelled to retire from both. He resigned to Presbytery on Jan. 24, 1868, and the two Congregations were cited to appear for their interests at a meeting at Knox Church, Milton, on February 8, when Mr. Mitchell pressed the acceptance of his resignation. At a joint meeting of the congregations on March 3, the following resolution expressive of his personal and ministerial character, and the people’s sincere regret over the cause of his departure, was unanimously carried:—"The Presbytery of Toronto at its late meeting having accepted the resignation of The Rev. James Mitchell of the Boston and Milton congregations on account of ill health, this meeting desires to place on record their lasting esteem for his great worth as a minister, possessing as he does many gifts and graces, being a clear and intelligent expositor of Scripture, having remarkable sagacity and forethought, of retiring modesty, great calmness, candor and gentleness in his treatment of others combined with much firmness and independence of mind. As a pastor his loss will be long and deeply felt by his people among whom he faithfully labored for eleven years.”

The first three pastors had been born and educated in Scotland, and followed the practice of catechising the children in their family visitations. One of Mr. Mitchell’s test questions was: “What is effectual calling?” It was not every boy who could find his way through that theological proposition. He was gentle in his ways and children were not afraid of him. He was not given to rugged speech. When driven down from his pulpit one Sabbath by irritating wasps he said very quietly:—“These insects are very troublesome.” Of a certain man of whom more might be said he remarked:—‘“He is a nice man but very peculiar.” Nevertheless, one of his hearers recalls that when the sermon was too profound, or too remote from all earthly interests,, and some were dropping off into comfortable slumber, he exclaimed with very great explosive force: “Awake, 0 sleeper, and arise from the dead.”

This was thought a surprisingly personal reflection to come from so mild a mannered gentleman. The people had faith in prayer, and specially in the fervent effectual prayers of such a good man as Mr. Mitchell. Some years after he left, a great admirer of him said to a friend:—“When we had a long spell of dry weather Mr. Mitchell used to pray for rain, and it always came. Ministers don’t do it now.” It is true that there was a great rain at least once when Mr. Mitchell prayed for it. On the way from Church on that day the rains descended and the floods came upon Robert Glennie and John Duff as they walked homewards across the fields. On finding shelter Glennie said, “I wish he had haud his tongue until we had gotten hame." Duff coincided with him and added:— “Well he micht ha’ been more moderate.” There was a very devout man of the neighborhood in those days who had a memorable experience of his own regarding prayer, He said, "I daur na pray for rain any mair. The last time I did there came sic a doonpour it washed away Johnnie’s dam.”

After leaving the Scotch Block Mr. Mitchell returned to Edinburgh, where he died in 1899.