The Lucknow Sentinel, 2015-01-21, Page 22 Lucknow Sentinel • Wednesday, January 21, 2015
A Historyof St. PAnglican Church
As read at the Deconsecration Service
January 17, 2015
Submitted
In 1874, the Anglicans of
the recently incorporated vil-
lage of Lucknow requested
the Rector of St. Paul's Dun-
gannon, the Rev. Edward
Bland, to conduct worship
services in Lucknow. Worship
services were held every two
weeks in rooms over Button's
Butcher Shop. The first service
was attended by 38 people.
Four years later, the enthu-
siastic parish built its own
church on the present site of
land donated by Mrs. West, a
member. In 1891 a house
next to the church on Outram
Street was purchased for a
rectory. By the year 1900, the
church was enlarged and
renovated with a tower and
belfry added.
For many years the congre-
gation felt the need for a par-
ish hall and in 1954 a build-
ing fund was set up and
added to when possible. In
1960 a campaign was
launched for funds to build
the hall behind the church on
Hamilton Street. On Easter
day 1961, the first sod was
turned and with considerable
voluntary assistance, the hall
was built and dedicated on
June 15, 1962.
In 1974, St. Peter's
celebrated its centennial. A
special worship service was
held on June 30 at which
Bishop David Ragg was the
guest preacher. Commemo-
rative plates and history
books were offered for sale to
mark the occasion.
In 1978, the Rectory was
sold as it was in need of con-
siderable renovations. The
Rector, the Rev. George Gar-
ratt lived in his own home. In
1984, when the Garratt's
moved to Toronto, their house
on Ross Street was purchased
for a Rectory. In 1992, he Rec-
tory was renovated by making
the double garage into extra
living quarters.
Over the years the church
has been enhanced and
improved by many beautiful
and useful gifts - mostly as
memorials to loved ones and
former parishioners. The
buildings have been kept in
a good state of repair by gen-
erous donations from the
congregation whenever he
need arose.
The congregation of St.
Peter's has always been
blessed with an active and
generous ACW and over the
years, the ladies of our ACW
have always willfully given of
their resources to help main-
tain the church. In 1893, they
were called the Church
Workers Society - then the
Ladies Guild and in 1927, it
was called Women's Auxil-
iary. In 1968, it became the
Anglican Church Women.
Projects have been bazaars,
bake sales, making turkey
and beef pies for sale, cater-
ing meals for other organiza-
tions, family gatherings,
yearly fish fries, pancake sup-
pers on Shrove Tuesday, etc.
It should be noted that a
unique feature of St. Peter's is
the curved Communion rail
in the Sanctuary. The stained
glass windows in the Nave of
the church were given to St.
Peter's when Christ Church
in Dungannon was closed in
1972. The window behind the
pulpit is in memory of
George Burritt who died in
1871. The window above the
doorway of the Narthex is in
memory of John Massie Rob-
erts who died in 1914.
An unusual event for a
small parish took place at St.
Peter's on November 19, 1988
when David Atwell, the Rec-
tor, was ordained a Deacon
by Bishop Robert Townsend,
and again in 1992 when Rev.
Linda Hill was ordained and
inducted as Rector of the
Lucknow Anglican Parish.
The principals in this cere-
mony were all women.
A special frontal for the
Altar was designed and made
by Mrs. Jill Soffe, a member of
IFFTST.
rWM i bi3 Et: .'dolt,%
At St. Peter's Anglican Church final dinner a group photo was taken of those who were key people at
that time in the church's history. Back from left: Red. Jo -Anne Todd, Treasurer Kim Phillips, Rev. Perry
Chuipka, Lore Chuipka, Licenced Lay Reader Jill Beardsley, Organist Marilyn Scott. Front from left:
Warden Ruth Dobrenskey, Warden Karen Gaunt, President ACW Irene Haldenby. December 16, 2014.
Photos by Valerie Gillies/Lucknow Sentinel
The members of the choir who performed at the Deconsecration Service at St. Peter's Anglican
Church in Lucknow on January 17, 2015 were: Back from left: Bill Farnell, John Beardsley, Bob
Hollenbeck, Marilyn Scott. Middle from left: Linda Hollenbeck, Jill Beardsley. Front from left: Sue
Steip, Bill Seymour, Carole McInnis, Mary Webb.
St. Peter's. This unique frontal
in shades of purple signifies
the Royalty of Christ and His
Kingdom and is used on spe-
cial worship services and
during the season of Lent. Jill
also made a white altar cloth
which is used during Holy
Eucharist and on Resurrec-
tion Sunday.
In 2007, due to changing
times, economic difficulties
and a reduction in congrega-
tion numbers, St. Peter's,
Lucknow, St. Paul's Trinity,
Wingham, Trinity, Blyth and
St. John's, Brussels, joined
together as the Parish of New
Beginnings and eventually
hired Rev. Perry Chuipka to
be our Rector.
In the fall of 2014, after
much soul searching, it was
decided to close St. Peter's
and with heavy hearts, our
last service was held on
December 28, 2014 with a full
house consisting of members
from all four churches of the
Parish of New Beginnings.
Several clergy officiated at the Deconsecration Service at St. Peter's Anglican Church in Lucknow on
January 17, 2015. Back from left: Lore Chuipka, Rev. Perry Chuipka, Rev. Jo -Anne Todd, Rev. Wayne
Malott. Front from left: Rev. Grayeme Bancott, Bishop Robert Bennett, Deacon Sandra Clark, Deacon
Peter Zoeller, Deacon Ella Ives.