HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2016-08-31, Page 88 News Record • Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Varna United Church.
Justine Alkema/Clinton News Record
Two girls from the neighbourhood watch the demolition. The building shortly after being demolished with just the archway remaining.
A brief history
of Varna United
Church
Varna Presbyterian
Church —1899-1925
It Varna, the Old Kirk Presby-
terians organized a congre-
gation as early as 1855. They
tried to construct a church of
gravel and grout where Varna
United Church stood, but the
building collapsed. Discour-
aged, they joined Anglican
and Methodist congregations
already worshipping in Varna.
In 1859, the graveyard was pur-
chased by the Bayfield Road
Presbyterians. It operated as a
community cemetery until 1925
with few burials after 1900. The
churchyard was fenced in for
many years, particularly to keep
the roving cow next door from
browsing on sacred ground!
Among those interred there
were Stephen Secord, nephew
of folk heroine, Laura Inger-
soll Secord, his wife Alice Mof-
fatt Secord, and his son Josiah
Brown Secord. Josiah, gener-
ally considered the "founder" of
Varna, was the first postmaster
and merchant in the hamlet.
In 1899, the Bayfield Road Con -
gregation voted 32 to 4 to move
their church to the site of the
Varna graveyard. The old church
on Bayfield Road was torn
down in September of 1899
and the bricks used in the new
one, which was built on the
"Old Kirk" foundation. The new
church was soon paid for and
was still in use 114 years later.
Varna United Church
1925-2013
In 1925, the Union of Method-
ist and Presbyterian Churches
formed the United Church of
Canada. The new union con-
gregation opted to use the
larger and newer Presby-
terian Church building, and
Varna United came into being.
As a United Church, it pro-
vided continuous service for
88 years with the exception of
one year from 1948-49 when
the basement was dug out and
rebuilt on a strengthened foun-
dation. The reopening of the
church was celebrated with
great fanfare and two spe-
cial services on June 5, 1949.
Until 2013, Varna United and its
sister church at Goshen were
the only two churches operat-
ing in Stanley Township. Varna
United Church was deconse-
crated on September 15, 2013.
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Varna United Church demolished
Justine Alkema
Clinton News Record
On August 26, Varna lost
an 117 year old historic
building - Varna United
Church.
The building hadn't been
occupied in over three years.
Three years ago Varna
United Church and three
other churches from the area
merged to become one
church, Brucefield United
Church. Since then the old
building has been vacant.
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There were a number of
reasons for the demolition of
the building with two of the
large ones being the discov-
ery of much asbestos found
in the church and the fact
that they could not sell a
graveyard, and the church
property was a graveyard.
Several parts of the church
will be preserved and recy-
cled to other uses including
the doors, stained glass, cor-
nerstone, concrete stairs and
much wood which will be
turned into furniture.
A number of community
members came out to watch
the place of worship come
down.
The graves were moved
aside for the demolition
equipment to come in, leav-
ing a green space in its spot,
which Brucefield United is
discussing turning into a
park.