263 Victoria Street, Highgate, N0P 1T0

Sunday services 9:30 AM

Churchwardens

Sheila Fleming

Brad Gosnell

Organist

Dianne Wootton

Treasurer and Lay Delegate to Synod

Ruth Boos

And there they are – Sheila to the left and Dianne to the right. (Photo courtesy of Jean James)

And this is Ruth:

Highgate puts on wonderful music nights once a year. That, to the left) is a photo taken at one of them, and there are more posted as a collage on the Letters/Photos page (link to the left, and below).

This photo, below, comes courtesy of the Rev’d Michelle Collins-Wongkee and features the chocolatiers of Highgate, women a person really should get to know. Just in time for St Valentine’s giving every year they put together bouquets of handmade chocolate roses. Sales of these were spectacular in 2005, a record two thousand! (That’s up from sixteen hundred in 2004.) In 2006 sales were in excess of 1650. They thank all who made, sold, bought, and ate. They take custom orders for weddings, gifts, etc. Contact the office to place your chocolate-on-a-stick order.

History of the chapel

The ANGLICAN CHURCH of the REDEEMER, HIGHGATE, ONTARIO

After 1873 when the Canada Southwestern Railway came through, the hamlet of Highgate increased considerably. The Methodists had a church and parsonage but the Anglicans had nothing of their own. They met, at first, in the flat above the store built by Matthew Martin and owned by William Gosnell on the site of the old Bank of Montreal. Then they moved to the temperance Hall until the present church was built. The first clergy to serve Highgate was the Rev. Dr. Newton. In 1876 the people of Highgate decided to build a church. At a committee meeting on 9 June 1876, it was decided to build a brick structure using the plans submitted by John Johnston and Isaac Morehouse with the amended size of approximately 60 feet long by 30 feet wide. They bought the land from Matthew Martin and let the contract to Issac Morehouse, the owner of the planing mill and sash and door factory, who drew the plans, also made the pulpit, communion table, railing, prayer desk and chairs. Mr. Wootton Hardy remembered that his mother owned a book from which the designs for the furnishings were copied. The seats were bought and were too low so cushions were made for them.

Highgate Mission, formally part of the Morpeth Parish, was erected into a separate Parish on July 26, 1879. The Rev. R. F. Dixon was appointed. There were then assigned three preaching stations: Highgate – Church, Duart – Township Hall and Clearville – S.S. #1 Schoolhouse for weekly services.

In 1882 Highgate Church was realigned with Ridgetown making this a two-point parish.

In April 1896 the Highgate Monitor reported that at the Annual Vestry meeting, presided over by the Rev. W. E. Scott, the wardens reported the parish clear of debt with a small cash balance on hand. Offerings increased 25%, collections 33% and attendance 25%.

In 1902 the Women’s Auxiliary was formed in the Church of the Redeemer. In 1903 Easter boxes were presented.

In 1904 J.G. Tolson, Dr. Wilson and M. Attridge were elected a committee to consider the purchase of an organ, cost not to exceed $150.00. On November 11, a meeting was held to report that the organ installed on trial by Mr. Bobier of Rodney could be traded in for another if not satisfied. Mr. Tolson’s motion to purchase lost. Mr. Ed Beattie was later paid $5.00 to clean the old organ.

In 1906 the congregation had thoughts of forming their own parish and requested this of the Bishop of the Diocese. This never materialized because the congregation was not large enough to maintain a separate parish.

In 1908 at the Annual Vestry Meeting on April 21, the Rector wondered if a parish room might be possible and whether the Duart church could be sold and the proceeds used for this purpose. A committee was named to look into this possibility. In 1917 or 18 during the incumbency of Rev. T. J. Hamilton a basement was finally built using materials from the Duart Church. All the men got busy and made tables, Mr. J. Crosby gave a lot of chairs. Dishes were rented for dinners, teas and bazaars which were held to help pay for the basement. In 1926 a pipe organ fund was begun. A passing New York Central Express killed the chief canvasser, Mr. Elgin Richard “Mac” McColl, people’s warden and station agent. The organ fund was quickly augmented and the organ installed by Lye and Sons, Toronto and dedicated to Mr. McColl’s memory by the Right Rev. Bishop of Huron, Dr. Williams. At this time the church was completely renovated and redecorated. Mottoes and lettering were painted by the Frogman artist, Mr. William Dowling.

During the incumbency of the Rev. Walter Jones, the Spring Deanery was held in Highgate on June 2, 1936, with the Rev. W. W. Judd the guest speaker.

In 1939 new hangings were purchased, the interior of the church remodeled to allow a centre aisle, the altar was made with a re-table and a reading desk was added. The cushions were recovered, woodwork varnished, new lights installed and money given for floodlights and vases. The work was done by the Rector the Rev. John Geoghagen and the men of the congregation. The money was raised by the Guild that celebrated its 60^th anniversary in September that year.

In 1940 the rector the Rev. Carmen Queen, later Bishop of Huron, and the men of the Parish painted the outside trim. At this time Mrs. Gordon gave a pulpit light.

In 1941 the budget was paid 100%, the first time in 12 years.

In 1942 the Rev. C. Queen, Messrs. S. Howell, A. Miller, W. Spear planted shrubs and 4 trees in the church yard, which were donated by the Highgate Horticultural Society at a cost of $180.00. The Red Cross for jam making during the war years used the kitchen. The Guild quilted for the Red Cross in the parish room.

* * *

Don continues with this, added later:

I am sorry to say that our history died with Marion and I am now attempting to research records that no one seems to know about. Here's all I have been able to obtain thus far.

Rev. D. S. Henry 1944

The Red Cross for making jam used the kitchen during the war years. The Guild quilted for the Red Cross in the parish room. Parcels were sent to all the boys from the congregations who were in the Service.

Rev. Canon J. H. Smith 1950

In 1952 the Women’s Auxiliary the Golden Jubilee of the Organization. A good attendance from neighbouring churches and Anglican Churches throughout the Deanery made the day very successful.

Rev. D. E. S. Ewald 1963

Rev. L. S. Dixon 1966

Rev. William Bennett 1970

Rev. Gary Oldridge 1976

Rev. John Marsh 1982

Rev. Steve Oldham 1984

Rev. Robert Skirving 1988

Rev. David Pickett 1992

Rev. Edward Richmond 1995

Rev. James Carr 1996

Rev. Heather Robinson 2001

Formed the Parish of the Transfiguration 2002 (with the guidance of Rev. Dr. Greg Gilson)

Parish Webmaster’s Note: the Highgate page looks a little different from the other chapel pages. It was merely proofread and sometimes hacked with photos (see above) by the webmaster. It was typed and updated by Don Boos until his death in November 2006. I’m leaving it up as he had it as a simple memorial to a good man.

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