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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1985-11-27, Page 2• .,, • i,,••••' 1,3ge 2.,„„puNToNNEWS*MRD, WEDNESDAY, NOYE*En 27 FOOD ARKET "Your Knechtel Associate Store" CLINTON FROM THE PRODUCE DEPT. •• • . , . • . • GROCERY DEPARTMENT alette,iiteaz-k•e tT,-;•••• MEAT DEPARTMENT By ElizabethKettlewell CLINTON - At St. Paul's Anglican Chur- ch, Clinton, one of the most meaningful ser- vices in the history of the church will be celebrated on December 1 at 11 a.m. The oc- casion honors the 120th anniversary of the building of the present church, and coin- cides with the celebration of St. Paul's 150th Anniversary. The guest Celebrant will be the Right Rev. Derwyn D. Junes, Bishop of the Diocese of Huron. The foundation of St. Paul's history was created with the coming of the Canada Com- pany. In 1832 one acre of land of Lot 24 Hullet was set aside by the Canada Com- pany as a site for the building of a small frame church for the handful of settlers at "the Corners". This is the location af the present St. Paul's Anglican Church. Supervision of the church and property had been entrusted in 1835 to Mr. H. Ransford, W. Pugh, and E. Ledyard by the Episcopal Church of England and Ireland; thus the history of St. Paul's dates from that time. From 1835 until 1839 the church was in the Diocese of Quebec, as the founding of St. Paul's predates both the Diocese of Huron and the Diocese of Toronto. Fire was a constant threat in every little community in the early days of Huron Coun- ty, and local histories record the tragic loss of many architecturally significant buildings. Fire fighting 'equipment at that time was merely ineffectual leather bucket4 in the hands of brave volunteers. The flimsy first church was razed by fire in 1845; then in 1856, the year when "Vanderburgh's Cor- ners" became Clinton, a second church was built. It too was frame in construction, and intended to serve temporarily until suffi- cient funds could be raised to build a fine brick church. In 1859, •St. Paul's was formal- ly constituted as a parish with the Rev. James Carmichael as its first incumbent. 1862 was a joyful year at St. Paul's! Through the dedicated efforts of the entire congregation, the long-awaited brick church was built at a cost of $4,000. Many well known Clinton names were'recorded in the building activities - Robert Cooper, Jonas Gibbings, John Pollack, Thomas Plummer, Isaac and William Rattenbury, Robert Beacom, Horatio Hale, Thomas Rance, to mention just a few. A numbing disaster struck St. Paul's on Sunday, January 15, 1865 when shortly after midnight, flames were noticed in the chur- ch. Fire 'burst through the floor, and even before help arrived, nothing could be saved. A description of the destruction of St. Faun was published in the True Briton onthe following day: - "It is our painful duty to chronicle the complete destruction of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, so recently erected in this village. The fire was discovered about half past one o'clock yesterday (Sunday ) morning, and as the sexton had been engaged in firing up in .order to have the church comfortable for morning 'service, t (hot air being used for warming purposes ) it is supposed to have originated in some way connected with the furnace or other heating apparatus. In an almost increditable short space of time the whole church was a mass of flame and quite beyond any human power to save. Nothing whatever was saved except some trifling furniture inthe vestry: Entrance into the body of the church was impossible. The burning pile was cert ainly a magnifi- cent sight, but as intensely melancholy as it was grand, for the mind would inadvertent- ly wander. back to the recently manifested zeal and untiring exertions of the much beloved. and energetic incumbent ef the Parish, the' Rev. James Carmichael, assisted by zealous members of the con- gregation, put forth in erecting and eOna- pleting the structure so fast turning to ashes. Kind friends from all points of the compas 'generously contributed • of their means to aid in the good work. Along with the building perished many articles donated to the congregation, amongst them were the following: a pulpit from Trinity Chur6h, Galt: a Saxon Font from F.W. Thomas Esq. of Goderich: richly carved Gothic Commu- nion Table from T, Stevenson Esq. of Clin- ton: a splendid Eight Day Clock from J. Bid- dlenombe Esq. of Clinton: a Gothic Reading Desk from the Workmen of T. Evershed, Clinton: the Coinmunion Chairs from A. Smith Esq. late of Clinton: a Damask Arm- chair from Paulin and Prior, late of Clinton: the Carpet in the Chancel from Mrs. Car- michael:, and last but not least the Bible and Guaranteed Investment Certificates 9, th„,:saL 1 Year Term Interest paid annually minimum deposit $500 Rates subject to change without notice , "4. • 45; . ; t • ';.`5••••, r = • ,-; St. Paul's Anglican Church in Clinton underwent extensive repairs and restoration this past year and this weekend the 120 year old structure will be honored with a special Sun- day service. Rev. Derwyn D. Jones, Bishop if the Diocese of Huron, will take part in the 11 a.m. service., 1835 t'9" Church Service Books, from the Church Society through his Lard.ibip the Bishopof the Diocese. These, though costly in themselves. cannot of course • be considered as a part of the cost of the church; but the costly. Harnionium, the books of the Choir. the Chairs, lamps, etc.; can; those joined with the whole cost of the building, pewing, heating etc.; bring the cost in round figures to $4,000. The whole of this valuable property perished in almost an hour. 'Tis sad to think that the labour of so, many days and so many individuals should he swept away in so short a time. But such, lufWever, are the facts, and which will doubtless form a source of deep anxiety to the pastor and people. for many a day to come,." ;The writer sympathized with the Rev. Mr. Carmichael but assured him that "the energies of his people are nota buri. beneath the ashes, but are as vital as ever, and that a new church would rise "Phoenix like on the site of the old one,as it was at once a credit and an ornament to our village." The writer's confident and optimistic prediction materialized, and tin November 19, 1865 the present , St. Paul's Anglican Church was opened... a miracle indeed. In thdir book of church architecture in Upper. Canada, titled "Hallowed Walls", restora- tion architects r Anthony Adamson and Marion MacRae speak . of the "ghostly presence of an unremembered architect surrounds the harmonious composition of basic Gothic form in white brick which in 1865 became St. Paul's Anglican Church, Clinton. Sweeping steps, neatly -curved about the doorway in the tower 'base, save graceful access to the gallery whose aftad- .ed, front was shaded • by an acorn -tipped, scalloped verge -board in the Itaiianate style.' The service.being arranged by the Rev. Gordon Simmons fOr St. Paul's Anglican Church, Sunday, December 1 at 11 a.m. is 'a celebration of the re- dedication of the pre- sent church. The Lord Bishop of the Diocese was present at the re -opening of St. Paul's in 1865, and the present Bishop of the Diocese of Huron, the Right Reverend Derwyn D. Jones will be the guest celebrant on this historic occasion. Laurel Lavis, organist and choirmaster of St. Paul's has arranged special music for this Sunday's service, and her guest soloist will be Barbara Hodgins. Rev. Gordon Simmons, rector -of St. Paul's, and i embers of the congregation, will welcome friends and visitors attending this service, and ektend a cordial invitation' to join in the social hour being presented by the Ladies of the Friendship Guild in the Parish Hall following the service. ( Description of the church fire of 1865 was • fund by Mrs. Josephine Winter in her conti- nuing search for history of St. Paul's Anglican Church. Higher Interest on Your Investments •••-, ••• Guaranteed Investment Certificates STORE HOURS: Mon., Tues., Wed. & Sat. 8:30 a.m. • 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday 8:30 a.m. • 9 p.m. OPEN 'TILL 9 P.M. THURSDAY & FRIDAY 30-59 Days Interest paid at maturity. Minimum deposit $5000 Special rates on amounts over $50,000. Rates subject to change without notice. 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