Sketch LXXX

Old St. John’s Church

The first move made towards the organization of a “Protestant Episcopal Church of England for the County of Norfolk in the district of London, and Province of Upper Canada,” as it was termed, was made January 3rd, 1803, at a meeting convened at Job Loder’s house, at the town of Charlotteville. John Backhouse, Esquire, presided over this meeting, and Stephen Bartow officiated as “clerk.” Jonathan Williams, William Hutchinson and Isaac Gilbert, were elected Trustees “to represent said church.” Two subscription sheets were drawn up—one for the raising of funds for the support of an Episcopal clergyman, and the other for the raising of funds for the building of a parsonage.

On the twenty-second day of the same month they met again at the same place, when it was resolved by motion of Jonathan Williams, “That the parsonage, when built, shall be a joint property of the three townships of Woodhouse, Charlotteville and Walsingham, and the township in which the parsonage may be built, shall be answerable to the other townships, and pay over the valuation of their shares of said parsonage at the separation;” also, by motion of Mr. Van Allan, “That said parsonage shall be built in the township of Charlotteville;” also, by motion of William Hutchinson, “That Samuel Ryerse, John Backhouse and Jonathan Williams, Esquires, be, and hereby are, authorized to enquire in what manner a glebe lot may be obtained from Government, and also to enquire in what manner a clergyman may be established according to the custom of England.” It was also resolved at this meeting that “£40 be offered as a support (to be paid in produce of this country) to a clergyman for the said three townships.

The next meeting occurred on April 11th following, being Easter Monday. Jonathan Williams occupied the chair. A vote was taken to reinstate the previously elected trustees for the ensuing year; also, to reinstate Stephen Bartow as clerk for the ensuing year.

At the annual meeting held on Easter Monday, April 2nd, 1804, William Hutchinson officiated as chairman. Lot Tisdale was elected clerk, and Isaac Gilbert and Joseph Ryerson were elected church wardens. At this meeting a vestry was established, consisting of the following seven members; Samuel Ryerson, Esq., Jonathan Williams, Esq., Stephen Bartow, Ephraim Tisdale, Israel Wood, Henry Van Allan, and John Backhouse. The church wardens and vestry were authorized “to collect the subscriptions and pay it over into the hands of John Backhouse, Samuel Ryerse, Thomas Welch, and Joseph Ryerson, for the use of the clergyman when he arrives.”

The record ends here, and we are unable to follow this pioneer movement further; but it is said that an ecclesiastical benefice was subsequently secured, consisting of one hundred acres of land, located at Turkey Point. This glebe land was never improved or occupied for the benefit of the church, as the “Town of Charlotteville” was doomed to die in infancy and pass into history as a mere accidental condition of pioneer times.

In 1815 Vittoria became judicial headquarters, and when the new Court-house was erected it was used for a time for occasional religious services, by the Episcopalians and Methodists—the Baptists having a meeting-house of their own. Early in the second decade of the century the Episcopalians decided to build a church edifice at Vittoria, and the location chosen was the rise of ground south of the village, on the side road running through the farm of Joseph McCall. The timbers were gotten out and delivered on the ground, but owing to changes in the condition of settlement and other matters, the building was not erected. Some of the Charlotteville communicants had allied themselves with other denominations, while the number in the vicinity of Simcoe had increased. This state of affairs demanded a change of location, and a more central point was accordingly chosen. Joseph Culver generously donated the land and before the first quarter of the century was completed, St. John’s Church was added to the pioneer churches of Norfolk.

Old St. John’s first regularly-established clergyman was the Rev. Francis Evans, a man of most exemplary character. The name of Francis Evans will always occupy a prominent place among the clerical pioneers of Norfolk. Both he and his wife possessed a fine education; and their pleasing address, refined tastes and cultured manners exerted a most beneficent influence on the social status of these primitive times. They had a family of twelve children; and, being indefatigable workers themselves, taught them the dignity of labor and the blighting effects of idleness. Mr. Evans was so strongly impressed with the duty of parents in respect to keeping their children out of the demoralizing slough of idleness, that he used to say that if he could not find anything else for his children to do, he would make them pick up, scatter, and pick up chips until something turned up which might prove more profitable. The stipend received by Mr. Evans was insufficient for the support of himself, his wife, and his twelve children in any degree of luxury. Indeed, it was barely sufficient to provide the family with the common necessaries of life, and to make the struggle less severe the parsonage was converted into a boarding-house and a select school. The income derived from these sources, in addition to the stipend and the hard-earned products of the glebe lands, furnished the means of a frugal livelihood—a condition best suited to the proper rearing of children and developing them into useful men and women. Three or four of the sons in this large family became clergymen, and one daughter married a clergyman. One of these sons, Rev. William Evans, subsequently became rector of St. John’s, thereby proving himself a “noble son of the grand old sire.” Rev. Francis Evans was far in advance of the times in his enunciated opinions on the hygienic and economic phases of the temperance question. He was a staunch advocate of temperance, and by both precept and example did a noble work in moulding a more rational public sentiment on the demoralizing and devitalizing effects of strong drink. When the County Grammar School was established in Simcoe, Mr. Evans was placed in charge, thereby becoming the pioneer teacher in Norfolk’s higher course of education at the county seat. Mr. Evans was an efficient educator, as shown by the large number of his pupils who have distinguished themselves in the various walks of life.

Previous to the coming of Mr. Evans, the Magistrates did pretty much all the marrying for the Episcopalians, as all dissenting clergymen, especially Methodists and Baptists, were not at first allowed to solemnize marriages. This was the cause of much friction among the settlers.

A story is told of a couple who came to the rectory from one of the back townships to be married. They came twelve miles through the woods with an ox team, and when they arrived at the rectory they objected to Mr. Evans’ request to go on to the church, as it would add another mile to the journey, and make them that much later in reaching home. The clergyman did not believe in solemnizing marriages outside of the church, but he was liberal and obliging, and on this occasion yielded to the force of circumstances and consented to marry them at the rectory. But the house had but one room and this room had just been carpeted with a new carpet woven by the busy fingers of the rector’s wife, and being averse to having this carpet ruined by mud-bespattered applicants for admission to the mystic realm of matrimony, she suggested that the couple be “spliced” in the barn. This aroused the ire of the would-be husband, and he indulged in a little plain talk. He became abusive, but was suddenly checked by the blushing girl who stepped forward, and, with a wave of her hand, said: ”No John, no; we will be married in the stable. If our Saviour could be born in a stable, I guess I can be married in one.” This stilled the storm and they were so married.

The County of Norfolk is included in the Diocese of Huron. The present Rural Dean of the county is the Rev. R. Hicks, B.D., a gentleman eminently qualified for the position. The present Rector of old St. John’s is Rev. Canon Young, B.D. The Rural Dean resides in the parish of Simcoe, which includes one hundred and fifty families. Outside of Simcoe parish there are eleven other English Episcopal churches in the county, located as follows:

St. John’s, Woodhouse, thirteen families, Rev. Canon Young.

Trinity church, Waterford, nine families, Rev. Canon Young.

St. John’s church, Port Rowan, twenty-seven families; St. William’s with seventeen families, and Gireh church, Rowan Mills, fifteen families—all in charge of Rev. Arthur Shore.

St. Paul’s church, Port Dover, thirty-six families, and Christ church, Vittoria, nine families—both in charge of Rev. J.R. Newall.

St. Alban’s church, Delhi, nineteen families; Christ church, Lynedoch, seven families; St. Jude’s church, Courtland, five families, and St. Paul’s church, Langton, four families—all in charge of Rev. F. Leigh.

The total number of Norfolk families adhering to the English Church is 311, and this represents a population of about 1,555. The actual church population of the parish of Simcoe is 709, being a little under the usual proportion, while in other places excesses are shown, so that the average is fairly represented by the above figures.

The above statistical facts are taken from the returns for 1896, and it appears that in that year these 311 families raised the sum of $5,293.03 for church purposes, being an average of over $17.00 to the family. This is a remarkably good showing and redounds to the credit of the givers.