From the church records it appears that a little over half a century ago the Congregationalists of England resolved on a forward denimonational movement. Correspondence was opened with some parties in St. John, but the writer does not know how or by whom the correspondence originated. In 1843 Rev. James C. GALLAWAY of West Bromwich, England arrived in St. John with his family. He was in the 35th year of his age, energetic and active, a fluent speaker of considerable ability. On his arrival he was the guest for s few weeks of Hon. W.B. KINNEAR, who was friendly to the movement, but it does not appear that he was identified with it. Services were commenced in the ediface of the Second Baptist Church, which was then unoccupied and negotiations were opened with a view to purchase; but the Presbyterians having previously the offer of the building, obtained it and established the St. John Presbyterian Church. Mr. Gallaway soon gathered around him a congregation wholly from other denominations and services were transferred to the Mechanics' Institute. The congregation resolved to erect a church ediface and a public meeting was called. A provisional committee was appointed, consisting of John HAMMOND, Ebenezer STEPHEN and John FLEMING. According to the records, in the year 1844 a Sunday school was formed and a church organized, the latter having originally nine members. Alfred SMITHERS, who was connected with the Bank of British North America, was assigned the following offices: church treasurer and Sunday school superintendent. He was also the only deacon until 1845, when Robert DAVIDSON was elected his coadjutor. In 1847 Mr. Smithers left St. John. An election of deacons resulted in the choice of William BARLOW and John B. SULIS, who continued until 1854, when Joseph ROBINSON and William LASH were elected. The new church ediface was opened for worship in May 1845. The following persons composed the original building committee: J.C. Gallaway, William HAMMOND, John Hammond, W.G. LAWTON, E. Stephen, Joseph Robinson, Richard THOMPSON, E. SANCTON and J. FLEMING. The trustees elected in 1847 were as follows: William Barlow, John B. Sulis, W.B. FROST, G.V. NOWLIN, W.H.A. KEANS, H. WISDOM, Robert LAWTON, F. CLERKE, C. CLERKE, Joel READING, John FLEWWELLING and Moses H. PERLEY. Mr. Gallaway did not remain long enough to consolidate and train them in Congregational church principles. In after years many of them returned to the denomination in which they were educated. In 1847 Mr. Gallaway resigned his charge, partly on account of the death of three of his children and partly to throw himself into the rising aggressive Congregational church movement, which was coming to the front in England. There he afterwards became secretary of the Congregational Church Building Society. Rev. Charles MACKAY followed Mr. Gallaway in the pastoral office. His ministry continued seven years until the time of his death. The subsequent pastors were Rev. G. SCHOFIELD, Rev. James B. THORNTON, Rev. T.B. SMITH, Rev. Oliver BROWN, Rev. J. HASTINGS, Rev. S.G. DODD, Rev. C.B. WOODCOCK, Rev. Addison BLANCHARD, Rev. Irving L. BEMAN, Rev. John B. SAER, Rev. David HOWIE and the present pastor, Rev. Norman McKINNON. In 1855 the following were the names of the trustees: Joeph Robinson, James HORSFALL, W.B. Frost, William THOMPSON, Thomas ALLAN and Otis SMALL. In 1864: W.R. REYNOLDS, George EATON, S.P. OSGOOD, Isaac BURPEE, Richard Thompson, Geo. V. Nowlin, W.B. Frost, H.B. CROSBY and Charles A. BOVEY. In 1877, the year of the great fire: S.P. Osgood, Richard Thompson, Hon. I. Burpee, James WOODROW, A.L. KERR, T.B. BARKER, S. CROTHERS, T.F. BARKER and Samuel T. KING. In 1894: James Woodrow, C.H. DEARBORN, William KERR, Josiah FOWLER, S. CROTHERS, S.B. PATERSON, G.S. FISHER, John WADE and Charles CLERKE. (see original)