ALGOMA ANGLICAN September 2011 Official Voice of the Diocese of Algoma – A section of the Anglican Journal Vol. 55 – No. 7 St. John’s, Chisholm celebrates 100 years By Keith Topps Chisholm, 1890-1891, were held first at the St. John’s Anglican Church in Chisholm Topps home and later at the Boxwell and HISTORIC CHURCH: A special service was held on Saturday, July Township was built in 1910. At the first ser- Wraight homes by Rev. White. The minister 2, 2011 at St. John’s Anglican Church, Chisholm in celebration of the vice held in the church on March 5, 1911, the traveled on foot from Powassan on one day, church’s 100th anniversary. The first service at this church was held on congregation sat on rough homemade wood- during the week, and returned the next day. March 5, 1911. St. John’s was officially opened and dedicated on March en benches and those in attendance included Bishop Thornloe conducted the first Confir- 12, 1911 by the Rt. Rev. George Thorneloe, who was the third Bishop of many supporters from other denominations mation service in 1909 at the Boxwell home. within the Chisholm community. Hearty The first Sunday service was held by Rev. Algoma. singing was unaccompanied but reinforced Rowland, who came by horse and buggy or by the choir from St. Mary’s in Powassan. on horseback. It was also Rev. E. Rowland The church was officially opened and dedi- who travelled to Ottawa in December of 1909 cated on March 12, 1911 by Rt. Rev. George at the invitation of His Grace Dr. C Hamil- Thorneloe, Bishop of Algoma. In his remarks, ton, Archbishop of Ottawa to collect enough Bishop Thorneloe described it as “The pretti- money to begin construction of an Anglican est and best finished church of its size in the church in Chisholm. diocese.” The first vestry meeting was held April The history of Anglican worship in the area 14, 1909 and a church building meeting on goes back much further than this. The com- February 17, 1910. The building committee munity itself was and is actually in the Dio- consisted of Edward Topps, Henry Wraight, cese of Ottawa, but the location put its people William Boxwell, Herbert Topps, John Price, too far away to be served by a clergyman Edwin Wraight and Rev. E. Rowland. Prop- from any church in that diocese. From ear- erties were offered by both Henry Wraight liest times the congregation has been served and Tom McCormick, but the location on the from St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Powassan, edge of the Wraight farm was finally selected which was part of the Diocese of Algoma. So for the new church. in a sense, St. Mary’s has long been consid- Edward Topps had been apprenticed as a ered as the Mother Church of the Chisholm joiner in England, and later as a skilled car- church and its history is also, in a sense, the penter he was responsible for the manufacture history of St. John’s. and shipment of a great deal of wooden mold- During the two decades between 1885 and ings that were sent across to the New World 1906, several pioneer families arrived in this for the interiors of prefabricated churches area whose spiritual background was asso- in Canada. Mr. Topps supervised the build- ciated with the Church of England. These ing of the St. John’s Church as he had previ- BEAUTIFUL WOODWORK: This photograph shows the exquisite families obtained their land by means of the ously done for the first Anglican churches in wood work of the sanctuary and altar at St. John’s, Chisholm. The Free Grants and Homestead Act of 1886 and Powassan and Callander. The congregation church recently celebrated the 100th anniversary at a special service in literally hewed their homes out of the for- provided materials and labour. The fine detail July. est. Among the earliest were the families of of the carpenter work inside the church was Michael and Penella (Mick) Boxwell, 1885; mainly a result of winter work by Edward ings were sent as gifts from friends in Eng- as secretary-treasurer until 1955. The W.A. Edward and Phoebe (Wraight) Topps, 1888; Topps, Henry Wraight, Henry Skinner, and land. The Bishop donated Altar linens, and at St. John’s was organised by Rev. and Mrs. Henry and Susan (Topps) Wraight, 1888; Herbert Topps with John Parkin, John Price, Phoebe Topps did a great deal of fine lace H. Peeling in April of 1925 and continued Henry and Matilda (Hoyte) Skinner, 1891; Ed Wraight, the Andersons, the Hodgins and work on the altar coverings and chancel until 1974. John and Margaret (Aitken) Parkin, 1894; the Merediths also giving generously in the linens. An Altar cross and crosses for the In 1956 the church was wired for elec- James and Mary Jane (Hodgins) Anderson, way of work. For several years (1905-1914) roof peaks outside were carved by Edward tricity. Carpet was purchased for the church 1894; Albert and Mrs. Beech, 1892; G. John- community picnics held in Wraight’s bush Topps. Shortly afterwards, the Chancel area Aisle. Radiant heaters were installed to re- ston, 1903; and John and Christina (Johnson) behind the church site became an anticipated was carpeted, and Mrs. Price collected mon- place the box woodstove that had heated the Price, 1903. As early as 1889 Mrs. Wraight, annual event used to raise money for church ey to purchase the Bishops Chair. A much- church for many years. On October 22 and Mrs. Topps and Florrie Topps carried baby construction. needed drive shed was built to shelter horses 23, 1960 the congregation at St. John’s was Will Wraight over the rough trail to Powas- The altar and the first organ came from and buggies during services. Alice Topps joined by a numberof returning members, san for baptism. Pembroke; the lectern at the front was made was the organist on dedication Sunday and visitors and well-wishers as they celebrated The earliest recorded Anglican services in by Stanley Topps; and some other furnish- for a total of 46 years. Herbert Topps acted the 50th See Many– p. 6 Inside Annual “Festival Major renovations of Flowers” held in being made to cha- Next deadline Emsdale pel at Thorneloe The deadline for the next The Rev. Edna Murdy preached Renovations are being made to St. issue of The Algoma Anglican is Mark’s Chapel at Thorneloe Uni- Wednesday, September 7. at the Sunday service on July, Send items to: 10, 2011 held during the week- versity in Sudbury. The changes Mail or courier: end of the annual “Festival of will allow the chapel to become P.O. Box 221 Flowers”. The service incor- a more accessible and flexible 1148 Hwy 141 porated elements related to the space. Rosseau P0C 1J0 theme of the festival. E-mail: See p. 5 [email protected] See p. 8 (2) Algoma Anglican, September 2011 Diocese of Algoma How Tom found Anglican Church Women DEVOTIONS FOR SEPTEMBER God and my friend understood By the Rev. Grahame Stap something he would never forgot. A few years ago a friend of mine “Because God knows my name” became the rector of a church with said Tom. “Every Sunday when I about four hundred on the parish come to receive the Eucharist you list. Being a man of deep convic- say ‘Tom the body of Christ bro- tions he knew the only way to feel ken for you’ and if God knows my the pulse of the parish was to meet name then maybe I should get to each person in their homes and talk know him better.” My friend felt a about what the church meant to tear start to well up in the corner of them. It was not an easy task what his eye. He reached over and gave with all the other opportunities of Tom a big hug. ministry that a priest encounters but after two years all but one pa- rishioner had been visited. Thoughts from How amazed and thankful I am ists and locals alike. in Dartford in Kent while I lived Tom, the last on the list, could Grahame for the hand God has taken in my During my fourteen years as in Welling, Kent during WWII. not be persuaded to accept a visit life. When speaking about “My Museum Curator, I had the plea- These two cities are only about an he always had an excuse. My friend Spiritual Journey” in Haileybury sure of traveling around North hour apart. How amazing. I also almost gave up but decided to give Some weeks later Tom ap- last autumn at the Temiskam- Bay and area giving slide shows met Ingrid Koropeski, the lady it one more try. He first asked the proached my friend and said per- ing Deanery Annual Meeting, a of our colourful history and can who has written this Devotions wardens if they could think of a haps it was time he was baptized. most unexpected jog took place remember visiting the Tri-Town column for many years. Thank reason why Tom was evading all of- My friend, a very conservative in my journey. The talk was ac- area for such an occasion. I know you Ingrid for all the your won- fers of a visit. The wardens smiled. priest was shocked. “Tom I thought companied by travel slides taken I had met Muriel many years ago derful words. I am looking for- They had had a bet between them you were already baptized” he over the years which in turn were and maybe she had given me the ward to meeting you and Debra that my friend would not get to see said.