Village Squire, 1975-03, Page 12The country church
lives another life
BY ELAINE TOWNSEND
Your sturdy red brick walls withstood forty
years of wind, snow, rain and hail. The black
shingles on your roof survived an attack by
flames from a nearby barn fire. Your
varnished door was never locked; you
welcomed everyone who visited you.
You didn't have a parking lot as the modern
churches do. During your initial years as a
church, a shed protected horses and cutters
from the winter weather on Sunday mornings.
In the summer, Model A and Model T Fords
parked in front of you.
In later years, Chevys, Ramblers and
Dodges Tined both sides of the road.
Sometimes a pickup truck sat among the cars.
Your lawn was small but neat. Along your
south wall, spirea, forsythia and barberry
bushes bloomed during the spring and
summer. The pavement leading to your front
door contained several cracks; two cedar trees
shaded your entrance; above your door, a
cement slab bore the inscription, "Grace
United Church, 1927."
Inside the door, a short flight of steps
straight ahead entered your basement, in
For the bride and groom we have
special discount prices on room
groupings. Drop in...we will be
pleased to help you choose wisely, at
money saving prices for beautiful
rooms.
BALL and MUTCH
Wonte 3u'niikingi
PHONE 182-9505
CLINTON, ONTARIO
10, VILLAGE SQUIRE/MARCH 1975
which the Sunday School lessons were
coducted.
Your Sunday School room contained
several rows of chairs in the centre, tables
and benches along the sides, a platform at the
front a piano in a corner. At the back of the
room, sprawled a tempermental old wood
furnace. 01Thr white curtains divided the
classes; on the wall above each table hung a
colourful attendance chart.
At the top.of the Sunday School steps, two
winding staircases - one to the left, the other
to the right - led to your upper floor. A
swinging door, that could be opened with a
gentle push, hung at the head of each
stairway.
Your rows of oak pews were divided into
three sections - a short seat for four persons
on each side and a long section for eight
people in the middle. A grey and rose floral
carpet covered your two aisles.
On a platform at the front of the room
stood your pulpit, which bore and elaborate
design carved in its dark wood. Before the
altar, a low table held the two silver offertory
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