The Old Church
This is the history of our Old Church as written by Mrs. Hilda Dean and read by Mrs. Glenys Upshall at the
deconsecration of our old structure and the dedication of our New Church. Mrs. Dean passed away in March, 2005,
and we dedicate this page to her memory.
This building, which we now call "The Old Church", was once a very busy school. It was built on the hill just below
the old Anglican cemetery. It was built in 1950. Rev. Charles Smith was minister here at that time. He applied for
a grant from the Dept. Of Education and received it to build the school. There were two men employed for two or
three months.
There were fourteen children attending school at that time. The school looked like a church with a very steep roof
and a chancel built on the end for church services. A minister came about four times per year.
But things don't stay the same forever. Children grow up and leave home. Families move away. At one time, there
were only four Anglican families left - two Deans and two Bakers, but still we held on to the Anglican faith. Then
with centralization, things changed again. Anglican families moved here from Port Ann, Kingwell, Tack's Beach and
Harbor Buffett. A time to rejoice! Soon we had twenty families.
Now the school chapel was too small. These people who moved here were used to a bigger and better place. The
A.E.W.A. was formed. There was no vestry at that time. Public meetings were held. We decided to move the little
School Chapel off the hill and float it by water and haul it up where it is now.
But quite a lot of remodeling and enlarging had to be done. All this work was done completely free labor - the whole
building free labor. The A. E. W. A. raised all the money for materials. We asked for and received a loan from
the bank, which we soon repaid. The Church was ready for service in a few months.
It has lasted us for about thirty years. Some of the materials, being old to start with, began to rot.
So began the plans for a new Church at least five year's ago. But now it's completed, and we look at it with
thankful hearts.
But we now must say good-bye to the "Old Church" that has served us well for many years.