Common short Forms: Free Church, FC, Free Kirk, FK, Free Presbyterian, FP, P, Pres, Presb

Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Canada (PCOC) – 1844 Jul 10 - 1861 Jun 6.
Canada Presbyterian Church (CPC) 1861 Jun 6 - 1875 Jun 15

In 1844 a group left the “established” church and formed the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Canada (PCOC), known as the Free Church, although they had no formal links with the Free Church in Scotland. In 1861, they joined with the United Presbyterian Church of Canada to form the Canada Presbyterian Church (CPC), still often called the Free Church.

In 1875 the Presbyterian Church in Canada was created by means of a union of a number of different factions. The two factions from Ontario were the Presbyterian Church in Connection with the Church of Scotland (PCCS) (The Kirk), and the Canada Presbyterian Church (CPC) (The Free Church).

Thus although the name Canada Presbyterian Church covers the period 1861 to 1875, the terms Free Church or Free Kirk were in use from 1844 to 1875. These terms are found in Peterborough records.

Much of the information below has come from Michael Millar's Presbyterian Church Index. This assistance is appreciated.

Note: Rev Clark visited Galway (Poole)