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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1983-12-07, Page 2PAGE 2—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, )ECEMBER 7,1983 St 1's Churc By Wendy Somerville The towns of Clinton and Seaforth have had a special visitor in the past week. Richard Moorehouse, an architect with the Ontario Heritage Foundation, has inspected both St. Paul's and St. Thomas Anglican Churches to determine whether or not they are eligible for government grants. Before a small audience in the St. Paul's Chapel in Clinton, Nov. 29, with the aid of a slide presentation, Mr. Moorehouse explain- ed what he and a construction crew would be doing if the churches received the grants. Using the "before" and "after" method of instruction, Mr. Moorehouse showed members of the Clinton and Seaforth Local Architectural Conservation Committee Ad- visory (LACAC) and a few concerned citizens that, "We have to look at the ex- terior and interior of the building to deter- mine whether it is eligible for heritage designation." The grants available for the renovation of both churches come under the heading of the Building Rehabilitation and Improve- ment Program (BRIC). BRIC is a program with a series of grants that are set up by the Ministry of Citizenship and Culture, under the Board of Industrial Leadership and Development (BILD). The program makes $8.5 million available in grants over a five-year period. This corn- y receiv plements the work of the Ontario Heritage Foundation and various Wintario programs that provide funds to conserve structures considered to be off particular importance to the province. BRIC supports the con- servation of properties designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, both individual pro- jects and those in Heritage Conservation Districts. Across the province, communities have taken an active role in heritage con- servation. Since 1974, when the Ontario Heritage Act was enacted, municipal coun- cils have established more than 135 LACAC groups. These committees advise councils on matters related to conservation. To date, more than 1,500 individual properties have been designated. According to BRIC, through repair restoration and re -use, an area's image is enhanced. Its distinctive identity is strengthened and increased tourist spen- ding is often a significant result. Mr. Moorehouse related an incident where St. Raphaels, a Catholic church in Ontario, had applied for a grant. The inside of the church had been burnt beyond repair and citizens realized they did not have enough money to have the damage repaired. They decided to rebuild the outside struc- ture and use the interior as a grassed picnic and concert area (similar to what many 5 r ' novati k uropean countries have chosen for their ancient ruins). BRIC provides assistance to significant heritage properties representing a wide variety of historic building types. It claims to: encourage and expand investment from the private sector, encourage im- provements to heritage properties and Heritage Conservation Districts, provide funds to places where little conservation has taken place, and promote an increased awareness of heritage conservation through an education program and the provision of technical information. Presently, there are three categories of funding:' corporate sector grants, designated property grants, and Heritage Conservation District funds. A fourth category, Community Heritage Funds (formerly Municipal Heritage Funds), is under consideration at this time. St. Paul's and St. Thomas Churches are concerned with designated property grants and Heritage Conservation District Funds. According to BRIC, the designated pro- perty grants enable municipalities to assist the conservation of properties designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. Grants to a maximum of $2,000 are available through the municipality, but must be matched on a 50-50 basis with the owner. Any work that conserves or enhances a ns specified element is eligible for , grant assistance. This can include the con- servation or restoration of significant ar- chitectural features such as doors, windows, decorative trim, chimneys and more. It may even include the reconstruction off such features when there is documentary evidence of their original appearance. "It is really important to have any research material of the building before we begin restoration, by that I mean old pic- tures or diaries, anything that will help us determine what the original structure look- ed like," explained Mr. Moorehouse. "This makes it much easier for us, and it allows us to come close to reconstructing the original." The conservation or renewal of original siding or roofing is also eligible for grant assistance, as is work necessary to restore the structural soundness of the historical fabric of the building. The architect said many still believe that sandblasting brick on a building is an ideal way to bring back the original quality of the outside structure. "Sandblasting is no longer good. When you sandblast, you remove the outer protective coating that was put there in the beginning to protect the brick from decay. By eliminating this layer, Turn to page 3 _0* to $3Yak%tii/NO lavr Q P�e� �OQ �C� G. �Q S SSS IS *I o4 ffP eti• s Sponsored b CBIA CLINTON BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA WATCH FOR THIS DISPLAY AD IN THE WINDOWS OF ALL PARTICIPATING STORES AND SAVE ALL PURCHASES MADE BY SENIOR CITIZENS HAVE Afternoon Tea COMPLIMENTS OF THE CLINTON B&I.A.! FREE TEA, COFFEE AND CHRISTMAS GOODIES FOR ALL SENIORS WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14 1-4 R.M. AT THE CLINTON LIBRARY FREE DOOR PRIZES DRAWN AT 1:30-2:30 AND 3:30 (Refreshments available to all others at nominal cost) Richard Moorehouse, seen standing outside the doors of St. Paul's Anglican Church in Clinton, is an architect with the Ontario Heritage Foundation and was a guest speaker in the St. Paul's chapel on Nov. 29. Mr. Moorehouse spoke to church and LACAC members from Clinton and Seaforth about the possibility of receiving grants from the government for renovations to their churches. ( Wendy Somerville photo) Church once affiliated with Quebec Diocese Clinton's St. Paul's Anglican Church may be receiving a grant in the near future from the Ontario Heritage Foundation. If the ap- plication for the grant is approved, LACAC is responsible for collecting as much research as possible about the church and its history so renovators can try to duplicate the original. St. Paul's is older than the Diocese of Toronto or of Huron, so for the early part of its history it was affiliated with the Diocese of Quebec. Then, as churches developed in Ontario, it became part of the Diocese of Toronto in 1839 and later in 1857 with Huron. The original frame church, built in 1832, had been poorly constructed and was con- sidered wholly inadequate. In fact, while visiting missionaries and services were held in connection with St. Paul's Church, ser- vices were often held in the homes. This building burnt down in 1845. In 1835, the present spot where St. Paul's now stands, was deeded by Peter Vander - burgh in trust for the Church of England and Ireland. Adjoining property was deeded by the Rattenbury and Racey families for a rectory. In 1857, another church was erected on that property and was designed to ser- vice the community until a more permanent structure could be built. In 1863, the first brick church was built and the frame struc- ture then became the Sunday School. In 1865, the new brick church was destroyed by fire, and the present picturesque church was erected in that same year. Until 1875, the church revenues were derived from the rental of pews and "sit- tings". It was not until the early 1900's that the voluntary system of givings, and free pews, was introduced. The doors were then removed from the pews and used' for wainscotting in the new Sunday School. About 1877 sidesmen had to be appointed, "to keep order in the gallery of the church during divine service", so the church was apparently thriving. St. Paul's magnificent stained glass win- dows have a history of their own. The first was installed in 1882, in memory of Thos. Biggins, who died at the age of fifteen. Other windows followed to commemorate old Huron County names - Rattenbury, Mount - castle, Farren, Rance and Hovey. In 1887 the chancel was added to the chur- ch, and in 1913 Owen Memorial Hall was erected and the Sunday School extended to meet it. A new Rectory was built in 1961, and in 1960 the Doan-Rumball Kindergarten rooms were constructed. Save for your (first home...and beat next spring's income tax problems! with A Creclit Union Registered Home Ownership Savings Plan... *Deadline day for the 1983 taxation year is December 31, 1983. *We pay a competitive rate of interest Into your plan. `We have no administration charges, and no withdrawal charge after 6 months. 'Save on your Income tax - your deposit to your R.H.O.S.P. reduces your taxable Income. NOW % PAYING Clinton Community CREDIT UNION —31 years of service - 70 Ontario Street 374 Main South CLINTON 482-3467 EXETER 235-0640