Carman, originally known as Boyne Settlement, is a town southwest of Winnipeg at the junction of PTH 3 and PTH 13.
The very first settlers to the area, around 1870, were John Francis and Clothilde Grant.
By 1878 the settlement was growing and there was interest in giving it a proper name. Carman City was selected after a citizens’ vote.
Carman was named after Rev. Albert Carman (1833-1917), Chancellor of Albert College in Belleville, Ontario, Bishop of the Episcopal Methodist Church in Canada (1874-1883), and General Superintendent of the Methodist Church in Canada (1883-1917). His name had been suggested by Manitoba Premier Rodmond P. Roblin who had been educated at Belleville.
However, Carman was not named until after a church had been dedicated by Rev. Dr. Carman. He was touring western missions at the time. It is believed that that log church was the first Protestant Church west of the Red River. It had a seating capacity of 250 and was built in 1885.
The Post Office opened in 1880. Soon after that railway points were set up by both Canadian National and Canadian Pacific. At one time Carman had three rail lines.
In 1876 when religious services were in private homes the district was served by James Duncan, a summer supply student. In 1877 the Boyne and Pembina Districts came under the charge of Rev. H. J. Borthwick. In 1878 the charge was divided into two with Rev. W. R. Ross serving Boyne and Tobacco Creek.
The cornerstone of the Presbyterian church was laid on September 19, 1898. It was dedicated on February 12, 1899. It had finely crafted woodwork, and stained glass windows imported from Scotland.
In 1925 the church merged with Albert Carman Methodist Church to become St. Andrews United Church. Separate services were conducted until it closed in 1941. In 1945 it became the Church of Christ.
More recently the church was converted into a private residence, a tea room and a bed-and-breakfast establishment. The renovations involved replacement of the steeple in the front lawn to sit beside the cornerstone of the 1898 church.
• Photographed in 1990.
• Included in Testaments of Faith, Manitoba’s Pioneer Churches.
• Published in Included in Senior Scope, January 14, 2021.