Horton (Nova Scotia) Presbyterians agreed to sing Psalms and became Covenanters

Context

Glasgow describes the history of the Horton congregation in Nova Scotia. Originally a general Presbyterian congregation, it became Covenanter when Rev. William Sommerville was invited to settle there in 1832. The transition was conditioned on the congregation adopting Reformed Presbyterian worship practices including exclusive psalmody.

Extract

In 1832, the Rev. William Sommerville was invited by these people to settle in Horton. They promised him the use of a free house and garden owned by the congregation, and as much money as they could possibly raise for preaching every alternate Sabbath. They agreed also to sing the Psalms of David and comply to other practices of the church, and gradually the congregation became in theory, and practice a Covenanter congregation. He accepted their invitation and terms, and became the regular pastor in 1835.

Significance

This passage documents a congregation-level denominational transfer based explicitly on psalmody. The Horton Presbyterians actively agreed to adopt exclusive psalmody (“sing the Psalms of David”) as a condition of receiving Sommerville as their minister. The phrase “gradually the congregation became in theory, and practice a Covenanter congregation” shows that the transition was progressive rather than instantaneous - worship practice preceded full doctrinal alignment. This is important evidence that psalmody could be the entry point for denominational realignment, with general Presbyterians becoming Covenanters through adopting their worship practices.