Rev. Johnston was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1905 and, after an early education in his native land, he came to Canada in 1926 to enter McMaster University at Hami1ton. He then undertook Theological studies at Knox College, from which he graduated in 1937.
During his student years, he preached at Rockwood, Eden Hills and Guelph, and it was to this latter city that he returned when ordained. After two years, he accepted the pastorate in Queen St. E. Presbyterian Church, Toronto. St. Paul’s church presented a call to him in 1944, and he vas inducted here on the 30th November that year.
It seemed that Rev. Johnston bad barely commenced his ministry here with us, when he received another call, one from which there is no reca1l. While on vacation in August 1946, he suffered a fata1 heart attack. Rev. Dr. Louis H. Fowler, a former classmate of Rev. Johnston, in his address at the funeral service in St. Paul's referred to him as “a man endowed with a great capacity for friendship. In Rev. Johnston, this endowment was of a superlative nature. He will be missed, not only by his congregation, but by the people of Peterborough, who have some knowledge of his worth beyond his activities within the Church.”
Rev. Samuel Johnston is also buried in Peterborough at Little Lake cemetery.