In 1834 Mrs. Gosnell invited a Methodist preacher to hold meetings in her home. In 1836 it was constituted as part of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Canada. When the congregation became too large to meet in Mrs. Gosnell's home, services were held in a school house on what is now Tom Goen's farm. In 1849 a 20' X 30' frame church was built on Gosnell Cemetery grounds. A larger frame church was built on the same site in 1861. In 1879 Lee's Church was built and became associated as the Highgate-Lee's circuit.

In 1870 a frame church was built on the present site and for a short time services were held in both buildings on alternate Sunday's. A manse was erected on the present manse site in 1872. A brick church with the capacity to hold 300 people was built in 1898, and in March of 1917 a fire destroyed the original brick church. September 1918 saw the present structure finished. It was almost a duplicate of the original brick church it replaced. In 1925, we became known as the United Church of Canada. The current manse was completed in 1935. 1969 brought the closing of Lee's Church. The current pastoral charge of Highgate, Morpeth and Turin was created between 1969-1971.



Religion from the early settlement of Morpeth upon completion of the Talbot Road played an important part in the life of the village and area. The present church on the hill being a joining together of the "Wesleyan Methodist Church" and the "Methodist Episcopal Church" was opened in 1877 as the "Methodist Church of Canada." When Church union occurred in 1925, the Morpeth Church became known as the "Morpeth United Church." Although the church building has stood the test of time for 120 years, its continuation has been made possible through the faithfulness of its congregation and the dedication of many devoted ministers.



Our church history began in 1866 when enough settlers came to the area and began meeting in homes. The first name was the "Reserve Church". On January 15, 1868, the congregation asked Presbytery for permission to call a minister. That same year on May 27, 1868, Rev. John Becket was inducted and became the minister at Thamesville, Botany and the Indian Lands, which we were known as. Rev. Becket preached in the frame building on the site where Turin sits today.

On May 31, 1880, the name Reserve Presbyterian Church changed to Turin Presbyterian Church. In 1900, a new church was built. In 1910, Thamesville and Turin separated after 44 years and Turin joined with Botany. A new manse was erected in 1912. On June 10, 1925, we became the United Church of Canada. We became a 3 point charge in 1944 with Botany St. John's and Botany Howard Road. Today, we are part of a three point charge known as the Highgate, Morpeth and Turin Pastoral Charge.