Chapter 3 – The Parish in a Parish Church

"... We now come to discuss the most urgent problem of all, the providing of a church building for the new congregation of St. Mark’s, Carleton Heights. This area, being south of the Experimental Farm is almost two miles from the nearest street car line and hence has become a community in itself.

In 1949 a canvass revealed that there were 44 Anglican families in the area and this number has now grown to more than 100 families and it is expected that another 30 or 40 will be added this year. In October 1949 we began a monthly Communion service in the new school and in August 1950 we began regular Sunday services. In September we started a Sunday School and now have an enrollment of 53 children and six teachers. We also have an active Ladies' Guild, a Men's club and a Junior A.Y.P.A., and all these meetings have to be held in the school or in the homes of parishioners.

The first annual vestry report showed that the total receipts for the year were $2,828.98 and since the expenses were only $367.58, $2,400 was voted into the building fund. The budget for 1951 calls for the raising of $3,000 of which $1,500 is to be raised by duplex envelopes and $1,500 by parochial organizations.

An acre of land has been purchased as a site for a new church and rectory, but to get the money to build is the big problem. To erect a church in this area without financial help from the diocese is impossible. To wait till these people are able to raise sufficient funds by themselves is out of reason altogether under the present circumstances. It is true that in times past other new housing areas had to provide their own churches, but such areas came into being as a normal gradual development and were not the result of a mushroom growth on a mass-production scale to meet an acute housing shortage such as this one. This fact, together with the extreme high cost of these houses and the high-cost of living creates an abnormal situation and one that is without precedent. Therefore it cannot be compared with housing developments of other areas. Most of these people are not living in these expensive homes by any choice of their own. They were compelled to put themselves in financial circumstances beyond their means by the necessity of getting a place in which to live. These people are victims of circumstances beyond their control and cannot be expected to be able to provide a church in their community without help.

In the years following World War I, the great expansion was in the West and North and was mostly rural. To meet this situation the church as a unit rose to the occasion and brought the ministrations of the church to these people. In the years following World War II the re-adjustment and expansion was definitely urban and has therefore created a situation that the diocese as a unit must try and meet by helping to provide churches and parish halls. Since our diocese has no funds for such purposes, it is not unreasonable to ask the 40,000 Anglicans in this diocese to work together as a unit and create a building fund to help solve the problem of building new churches in these new areas. A capital sum of $250,000 would be necessary because the South of Ottawa area alone needs at least $75,000. This would prove a good investment for the diocese, as in a short time these parishes would be self-supporting and thus be able to assist in the general upkeep of the diocese."

That piece by Robert Shannon was good staff work and a good staff paper. Whether it was his idea or not is not as important as having the concept put forward to lay the foundation. That concept of having central funding for at least part of the money would have an important impact on the Diocese and St. Mark’s in particular. It wasn’t all easy and Laurie Baker, the People’s Warden of that time, frequently referred to it years later as "having faith." He also added at times "It was a miracle."

Initial plans for the Church were prepared by Jim Strutt of Gilleland and Strutt in February and March 1954. The Parish was invited to the Community Centre for March 1, 1954 to view a scale model of the Church. After that, plans were prepared in May 1954. The design theme was to provide for the most church for the least amount of money. An "A" frame construction was chosen with large pre-fabricated beams of B.C. fir with walls and roof of cedar. The front was almost a glass wall that fitted up into the high pointed roof. Even though the windows in the glass wall were classified as "insulated," heat passed through them easily to the outside. The sanctuary end wall was 2 x 4 construction with 1" cedar on both sides. There was no insulation in the wall, which is still true in 1999. The only insulation in the ceiling was provided by the 4" thick cedar roof boards and the layer of cedar shingles on top. However, fuel oil and heating was inexpensive at that time. The building was designed so that it could be extended toward Fisher Avenue. The church was not considered completed as first planned and built, but just a first stage.

Provision was made for a basement and for a kitchen in a corner of the basement, however it was left for the parishioners to complete.

In order to cut costs, they eliminated the drainage tile around the basement wall, a decision that would come back to haunt the decision makers quickly as water in the spring or after a heavy rainfall would seep into the basement. Even a sump pump could not keep up with the heavy downfalls. It is still a pain in 1999.

There were two washrooms installed in the back of the basement near the boiler room for which a sewage charge was levied by the VLA. The charge originally was $3 per toilet, but decreased to $2 when Ottawa took over the water supply. The small charge generated enormous paper work with a letter giving the charge every quarter, a letter paying the bill with a cheque, and another letter giving a receipt.

A St. Mark’s Church Building Fund Canvas was held in May 1954. The canvassers carried around to each parish family the architect’s conception of the final church and a floor plan. A model was made available at a "CHURCH BY CHRISTMAS SUPPER" which was held on May 31, 1954 at 6:00 P.M. The Canvass Committee consisted of the Chairman, F.E. Richens, and members: J.H. Morgan, D.C. West, L.M Baker, G.G.F. May, F.G. Shipman, L.A. Gillespie, J.H. Chapman, L.J.C. Rule, H.M. Genn, J.S. Kirby, O.W. Wier, A. Davis, C. Bassett, E. Forde, A. Fraser, and A.W. MacKinnon.

When the plans were completed and accepted by Parish and Diocese, bids were requested. The winning bid was submitted by F.E. Cummings Construction. The bid has been recorded as $65,000 in many of the Parish documents, which appears like a rounded value. A handwritten annotation on one of the plans lists the winning bid as $64,810, which is close to the amount recorded in the Ottawa newspapers as $64,800. So in the end, the Parish borrowed $60,000. The amount paid for architect and other building fees is not recorded so the funds from the Parish must have been the remaining $4,810 for the Contractor and enough other funds to cover the architect and other fees.

It was time to think of sod turning.

To Commemorate The Breaking of the Ground for the Church of St. Mark's, Carleton Heights, Ottawa By the VENERABLE C.G.HEPBURN, Archdeacon of Ottawa Wednesday, June 23rd, 1954 at 7:30pm The Rev. A.E.O.Anderson, BA, AKC, Rector The Rev. R.V.A.Rogers, BA, LTh, Assistant R.T.Rump and L.M.Baker, Church Wardens John H.Morgan, Cahirman of the Building Committee Gilleland and Strutt, Architects F.E.Cummings, Building Contractor

Drawing on a souvenir postcard printed for the sod turning in 1954

The sod turning took place on June 23, 1954 by Archdeacon C.G. Hepburn, as shown on the left in the picture. From left to right, the others are Bert Rump (Rector’s Warden), Laurie Baker (People’s Warden), John Morgan (Chair of Building Committee), Allan Rogers, Frank Richens (Chair of the Finance Committee), and A.E.O. Anderson. Hidden from view in this picture were Norm Moody, Chairman of the Church Extension Commission and V.S. McClenaghan, Chancellor of the Diocese.

The shovel in the photo was donated by Bert Rump. It was painted aluminium colour to cover its full history before becoming a ceremonial item.

A 1955 photo shows the completed Church. Notice the front of the Church. There is no link. There is a flat roofed porch or portico in front of the Church. Notice as well there is no office or choir room. On the inside of the Church there were no pews. The parishioners sat on stacking chairs.

Though there was still much to be done on the building, the floors were still rough concrete, and there was no furniture, the eager congregation celebrated their first service in the Church on Christmas Eve, 1954, with Allan Rogers. The unfinished Sanctuary was decorated with small pine trees shimmering with foil icicles. An Altar was constructed from packing cases and many brought their own chairs. There were 186 at the Christmas Eve service with 124 communicants. The donated reed organ was used, although the organist is not recorded. It is fondly remembered in 1999 as a joyous occasion. AEO took the Christmas Day service the next day at 11:15 A.M. with 103 in attendance and 70 communicants.

After the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services, the congregation returned to the Carleton Heights School to let the Contractor finish the job.

It was business as usual for the Congregation after they returned to Carleton Heights School. Weekly leaflets continued to be written by AEO , typed by Mrs. Dunbar of St. Peter’s, and run off on a Mimeograph machine at St. Peter’s. The leaflet on the Second Sunday after Epiphany in January 1955 gave notice of the Annual Vestry to be held at the School, confirmation classes, the purchase of a Viewlex film strip projector for the Sunday School, and a note about the musical instrument used at the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services at the Church. AEO wrote:

"Church Harmonium - You will be interested to know that the Harmonium which served us so well in the Church for our Christmas Services was the gift of Mrs. Dowler's (Audrey Dowler) parents, Mr. and Mrs. F.H. Roy of Buckingham, P.Q. The harmonium belonged to Mrs. Dowler’s grandparents originally it was felt that they would be very happy to have the organ in an Anglican Church."

A "harmonium" is another name for a reed organ. Bud Magee remembers picking it up from the Perth area rather than Buckingham.. The organ was manufactured by Thomas Organ Co. of Woodstock, Ontario.

The Congregation returned to the Church to hold the Vestry Meeting on January 31, 1995. That was the first meeting held in the Church. The first Service was on February 6, 1955. The Altar Guild was formed as soon as the Congregation returned. Elsie Kempsey was the first member as she had been involved since the beginning in 1949. The other five founding members were Alta Montgomery, Peggy Johnson, Marguerite Godin, and Dorothy Brigley. Dorothy notes with pride that all except Marguerite are alive today in 1999 - that says something about Altar Guild duty. Susan Helen daughter of Jack & Pam Zoubie, Karen Joan daughter of Jack & Estelle Reid, and Philip Percy son of Fred & Phyllis Sorfleet were baptised on February 20, 1955. These were the first baptisms in the Church. The leaflet prepared by AEO Anderson for Sexagesima or the Second Sunday before Lent (February 13, 1955) carried the following words, which must have been written with both sadness and relief:

"Dedication of St. Marks - As you know, February 24th, St. Matthias Day, is to be the day of Dedication. That is a day to remember from now on. Many Churches keep their Feast of Dedication (when they know its date) as well as their Patronal Festival (St. Mark's Day, April 25th). We are inviting the Clergy of the Diocese, the Executive Committee of the Diocese and the Extension Committee, all of which have helped us in one way or another to build this Church of which we are justly proud.

When St. Marks is dedicated, the particular work which Bishop Jefferson asked me to do will have been completed and my work here done. I will cease then to be the Incumbent of St. Mark’s and will be able to give my full energy to St. Peter’s which is developing fast. I am not saying goodbye today, I am simply making you aware of the change which will take place after Feb. 24th. Mr Rogers will remain at St. Mark’s as Curate-in-Charge under the Bishop. In this way there will be some continuity with the past, during the early stages of the Parish adapting itself to its Church and hal1."

The Church was dedicated on February 24, 1955 by Bishop Ernie Reed. It was a packed Church with 285 in attendance. Along with Bishop Reed, the Vestry Book records AEO Anderson, Douglas Christie, Stephen Kenward, Eric Osborne, Bruce Black, E.A. Johnston, J.C. Anderson, D.W. Thomson, Ralph Smith, and Allan Rogers. Many distinguished guests, including Mayor Charlotte Whitton, attended. Life was not all money and work. A note in the March 31, 1955 Newsletter by Allan Rogers gives the following information:

"The following day, Monday April 18th, Circle 2 is holding a square dance in the Parish Hall. Tickets are available. The evening costs about $1.25 per couple, which is very reasonable indeed. Added to this is the fact that Mr. Jack Zoubie is to be the Master of Ceremonies. These are two good bids for the occasion’s popularity and success. Incidentally, I understand the Bishop’s position in the matter of dancing in the Parish Hall is that an informal party among ourselves is acceptable. The other extreme, renting the hall for dances, appeals neither to him nor to us."

Well how about that! In cash strapped years later not only would it be rented for dances, but it was rented out as well to pure drinking parties for sports organizations. Incidentally, Jack Zoubie was one of the pioneer square dance teachers in the early 50s in Ottawa. He helped found the movement which is still going today. He was well respected and well loved by the square dancers of the area and his loss was felt by everyone. He called in latter years many happy square dances for the Marksmen. Jack was well ahead of his time in what we would call ecumenism today. He was very sad when the Interdenominational Church failed and was replaced by separate churches.

It wasn’t long before the Harmonium, or reed organ as it was generally known, was fitted with a vacuum cleaner blower to replace the foot pedal and an amplifier to give more sound by John Chapman and a new outer case was built by John Perry and John Morgan. Dr. John Chapman was the father of the Canadian Space program and a very active parishioner. Enjoy the words of John Chapman in the June 20th, 1955 edition of a quarterly bulletin.

"The organ for our new Church was not forgotten by the Building Committee when plans were being laid for building, about a year ago. Gradually it became evident that the $1,500.00 to $2,500.00 needed for a suitable electronic organ were not going to be available after the Building itself was provided. Hence several members of the Committee and one parishioner, rather diffidently suggested that an electronic organ might be built, using as a basis a reed organ given to St. Mark’s some years ago. As always, the amount of work needed to effect the conversion was underestimated and the task has taken much longer than anticipated. Such is usually the case with amateur organ builders.

The design of the amplifier, and electronic techniques used, are taken from a commercial organ, which shall be un-named in case of a feeling of jealousy on the part of the manufacturer. A vacuum-cleaner motor (donated) replaces the knee-action air supply. A collection of tubes, transformers, resistors, and condensers from three basements, and a few dollars worth of new components has been combined into an amplifier. After much head scratching, and application of cut-and-try methods, the whole organ has reached the stage of producing electronic music. The final stages of assembly are now in process, tuning is complete, and the cabinet is being refinished to harmonize with the Church interior. In a few weeks we shall be able to judge how successful the attempt to build an electronic organ has been.

This particular type of instrument is relatively easy to play and has a much purer tone than the reed organ from which it is derived. It is, however, not nearly as versatile as the Hammond organ or the epitome of Church organs, a full pipe organ. The three amateur organ builders are wondering now if the task of building a full pipe organ, using a very fine console, which has been given to St. Mark's, is beyond their abilities, and the patience of their wives."

"Editor’s Note: Thank you, Mr. Chapman, Mr. Perry, and others who have given of your particular ability in this field. Wives. Love your husbands and admire their endeavours."

The plans for the conversion were taken from articles in Electronics for Communications by Markus & Zeluff (no year shown on the Archives copy) and Radio-Craft for April 1941 by W.K. Allan. Essentially, a bolt was placed with the tip close to each reed so that when the reed vibrated, contact was made with the screw tip, which in turn was used to control the controlling grid of a tube. Each reed was constructed to vibrate at a specific frequency to produce the required note. For the power amplifier stage, John used a 20 watt Heathkit amplifier. He hand wound the coil to control the swell pedal through a 6H6 tube amplifier.

John Perry and John Morgan did an excellent job on the outer case using leftover cedar. It must have looked right at home in the Church.

And one more item from that Bulletin about the Strawberry Festival which had been a fund raising part of St. Mark’s since the beginning. It gives a flavour of the work that was going on to make the Church the centre of the community.

"Again this year, Mr. Doug. Baker is the general Convenor of the Strawberry Festival. It will be held June 25th, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall and on the Church grounds. Tickets are only 35 cents and children who sell 10 get a free ticket. A mammoth bake sale will be the attraction, and donations are solicited from each household. The members of the Guild are asked for four items for the bake table. They plan on bread, buns, pies, cakes, cookies, salads of all sorts, cold meats, etc. Norma Grand, the food Convener, is willing to have anyone 'phone her (3-2624) for specific information or donations. The girls hope, of course, for a very large bake sale since they are not having candy or bazaar materials (drygoods). A good bake sale sounds like an excellent accompaniment to a strawberry festival.

The Men's Fellowship will try to entertain the children with games of many sorts, pony rides, fish pond, etc. Something new has been added: Mr. Turnbull plans a demonstration and sale of plastics. Mr. Fillman is planning a NEW-TO-YOU table. Good but outgrown summer wear, clean and attractive, are solicited from any source. Other saleable new-to-you items-are going to be on hand too. Just bring any contributions with you, or contact Joe Savill, Art Fillman or George Sparling. We watch this event with interest.

The choir has a scheme of sales too, and perhaps the potential AYPA may have a plan. From some source there are rumours of hot-dogs and freshly popped corn.

Added Attraction - There will be a chocolate bar man just loaded with free chocolate bars, one each for Church School and pre-Church School members of St. Mark's Church. The quantity is limited to one per child as long as the bars last, but we have a fair supply too. Somehow, we just knew the children would love this "bar" story.

Punch Line - Sorry, don't get confused. We are merely drawing to the conclusion of the Strawberry Festival news. Anyway, all of this sounds just like the affair one would not think of missing. Plan now to attend -- to take your part in it. Invite all your friends of Church and State and make this the biggest and best Strawberry Festival ever."

The parishioners, interested clergy, and churches in the Diocese wasted no time in helping to furnish the new building. Les McCrum could lay his hands on a big truck. There was no end of volunteers and the general principal was "You call; We haul." Bud Magee recalls many trips in the back of the truck (try that in 1999) with Fred Shipman, Ewart Forde, Jack Reid, Godfrey (Benny) Goodman, and others.

Among the gifts were the Altar rail that came from St Matthias’ Church on Fairmont Ave, before they moved to Parkdale. It was in place for the Christmas Eve service in 1954 and is clearly visible in photographs taken at the service. The rail is still in use in the Church in 1999.

The white marble baptismal font has an interesting history and background. The font is one of many in the Diocese that are still in active use. By the way, it is another of the things brought to the Church in 1955 by the St. Mark’s "You call, We Haul" crew, as it had been in storage at St. Thomas’ Church.

Sheila Vaudrey presented the following on Easter Day, April 2, 1997.

"In the mid 1870s, just after the Confederation of Canada, most of Ontario suffered a brief economic depression until the early 1890s. Immediately after, when things started to boom again, many new churches were built to meet the growing population's demands. This was when Ottawa was a fraction of its current size and still an Archdeaconry within the Diocese of Ontario, rather than a diocese unto itself.

In 1889 a dispute over liturgy in St. George's on Metcalfe Street led to a breakaway of only 30 people forming the new parish of Grace Church, which was built in 1891 at Elgin and Somerset. For a small parish, it soon produced an extremely active children's ministry, known as the Children's Church Missionary Guild, a junior version of the Women's Auxiliary. This guild had been inaugurated in Ottawa in 1889; by 1893 the membership at Grace Church was 40, the largest in Ottawa at that time. Its purpose was to interest children in working for the missionary cause of Jesus Christ, primarily by collections and crafts to raise funds for needy missions. It was led by one superintendent of the Women's Auxiliary and 3 officers elected by the children themselves, and its motto was "Serving the Lord."

In 1912 St. John the Evangelist on Rideau Street at Sussex was completely destroyed by fire. After much debate the parish amalgamated with Grace Church, taking the name St. John the Evangelist. The identity of Grace Church was gone . . . and yet, it has left its legacy behind. For most of its brief history, the Children's Guild at Grace Church had been so successful in missionary fund-raising that, along with St. Alban's, Ottawa, they were able to present the gift of a font to a new parish almost every year. Grace Church gave fonts to St. Mary's, Calabogie, and to St. Alban's, Mattawa, in 1890 alone, one to St. Margaret's, Rutherglen near North Bay in 1892, one to St. John the Baptist, Pierces' Corners near North Gower, in 1893, one to St. Matthias, Ottawa, in 1894 (then on Wellington Street), and one to St. Andrew's, Sharbot Lake, in 1895. These fonts were of native white marble, about three feet high and of simple yet elegant design, each bearing the invocation "Suffer the little children to come unto Me," and the inscription "CCMG, Grace Church, Ottawa" and the presentation date. By Anglican tradition they were octagonal in shape, symbolizing the eighth day of creation - the new creation through the resurrection of Christ; and also by tradition, they were presented at Eastertide. A solid marble font in those days and at those prices cost about $35. In March of 1897, a font was given by Grace Church to the Rev. F. Ritchie, pastor of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Plantagenet near Hawksbury. It had been founded in 1860, built by 1875, and finally consecrated in 1896. The first baptism with this new font was held in June 1897; the last on record in July 1916, at which point the congregation had dwindled to three families: a total of 10 parishioners. The church itself was taken down in 1922, and its vessels and furniture placed in cold storage, divided between the basement of St. Thomas’ Ellwood and St. George's, Hawthorne, both parts of one Parish.

History has a curious way of repeating itself. A second depression in the 1930s, followed by World War II, suspended construction on new churches or much else for that matter. At war's end veterans flooded into Ottawa, and a fresh boom of church-building erupted, especially around the Carleton Heights area. The incumbent of St. Thomas, the Rev. Robert Shannon, offered up any of the artifacts which had been stored and forgotten for thirty years to a new mission that had spun out of St. Peter's, and to which he had been appointed: a new parish that was in the process of building its own church structure at this time. St. George's also provided several pieces, among them a certain brass cross and an ornate set of candlesticks . . . but it was St. Thomas who unveiled the white marble font."

As well as gifts from other Churches, the talented members of St. Mark’s made many items themselves in 1955. These were labours of love and were accepted as such: an altar was made by John Morgan out of leftover cedar; a Clergy pew was made by John Morgan and John Perry; a coat rack was made by John Perry and Bert Rump out of leftover cedar; and a Processional Cross was made by John Perry. John Perry made the aluminum tube lights that hung from the ceiling. Kitchen cupboards were built by Emile Godin and Warren Watkinson in the basement corner kitchen. All in all, a very busy year. But what a glorious time in the life of the Parish!

Under the heading of the "good old days", the eight pages printed both sides of four sheets Parish Newsletter was mailed out on September 9, 1955 to all parishioners for 2 cents. It was also just folded in three and stapled in one corner. That would cost 46 cents in 1999 and would require an envelope, or 92 cents without an envelope.

Allan Rogers returned to the Parish of Bearbrook in October 1955 and was replaced by George Foy who came to the Parish in November 1955 from the Diocese of Moosonee. In addition to St. Mark’s, George was assigned the historic Parish of St. John the Divine in the Merivale-Slack Rd area.

The first wedding in the Church was on June 2, 1956. Joan Kempsey and Don Wilson were the bride and groom. Joan is the daughter of Emil and Elsie Kempsey as well the first president of the Anglican Young Peoples’ Association or AYPA.

A note in the weekly leaflet for January 27, 1957 (Epiphany III) gave more positive news about the health of the Parish:

"St. Mark's Seventh Annua1 Vestry Meeting is now history. The meeting held Friday Evening in the Church Hall, was well attended (55 parishioners signed the register) and will be remembered as the occasion on which St. Mark’s Parish shed the shackles of infancy to become full-grown by the unanimous decision of the vestry to become self-supporting effective January 1st, 1957."

The decision to be self-supporting allowed George Foy, finally, to be inducted as Rector on February 10, 1957.

On March 4, 1957 the 72nd Ottawa Scout Group was granted a charter. George May, the first Cubmaster, recalls trying for the even number of "70", but it was gone. So the 72nd was born. It was boom time for kids and soon the Group was filled to capacity.

In an act of great faith and at the urging of the Bishop, the building of a Rectory at the rear of the Church on Normandy Crescent was begun in 1957. Laurie Baker years later still talked of it as a miracle.

John Chapman, as People’s Warden, was heavily involved and kept good notes. He polled the Council to see whether a split level or two storey was preferred. There were strong views both ways, but in the end Eleanor Foy carried the day. Because the Rectory would be used for meetings, and because she thought the meetings would go late, she did not want any design that would not give her some privacy once she had retired. So a two storey house was built. That was good thinking. The design has proven very practical. In another bit of good thinking, John Chapman reasoned that the planned garage would be much more useful as a study/meeting room rather than a garage. With the Church and Hall in full use, the only space available was the Rectory. It is still a well used part of the Rectory today.

The Central Mortgage & Housing Corporation (CMHC, a Federal Government Crown Corporation) application was signed by John Chapman, Laurie Baker, and George Foy on April 27, 1957. It was approved by CMHC April 30, 1957. Tenders were called and James Taylor Construction won. Taylor was building the houses in Copeland Park at the time and his pricing was very good. According to Joy Bowerman who lived in one for a few years, Taylor houses are still known today as well constructed houses. The completion date was September 1, 1957. George Foy and his family who had been living on 1418 Laperriere St moved into the Rectory as soon as it was completed. A National Housing Authority (NHA) mortgage of $13,050 at 6% was taken in 1958 with the Toronto-Dominion Bank.

The Photo Directory in 1993 records that on Grey Cup Day in 1957 some men of the Parish went to the Seaway area to pick up 26 pine pews which came from a church in Finch that had been torn down to make room for the Seaway. The Memorial Book records that there were 23 purchased and that they originally came to the Finch church from St. Matthias’ Church on Fairmont Avenue. The tip that these were available came from Ben Bickford. The pews were purchased from Ontario Hydro for a cost to $150 and had been stored in a deserted schoolhouse with broken windows, which of course made a good home for pigeons. When the pews arrived, the ladies had a considerable cleaning task to do. The pews were installed along with 10 oak pews that had been given to St. Mark’s from a closed Church in Alfred. In 1999 there are 24 of these original pine pews left so the value of 26 would seem the right one. Of the 10 oak pews, 5 oak pews are still in use as Choir pews. For the sentimentally inclined, there must have been a joyous reunion of the altar rail and the pine pews, both of which came from St. Matthias on Fairmont Avenue.

In 1958 over 500 loads of fill were donated to the Church from the construction of Baseline Rd. Bert Rump always had his ear to the ground and when he heard about the widening and the fill, he took action. The fill was levelled by volunteers (that’s us) and became the first parking lot extending from the rear of the Church towards the Rectory. Every once in a while a piece of this fills comes to the surface to remind us of Bert Rump and his tremendous work for the Church in the early days. Bert didn’t drive and he smoked cigars. So whenever someone picked him up to take him somewhere, they had to be prepared for heavy cigar smoke which lingered in the car for days.

The Financial Statement for the year ending December 31, 1958 showed Open as $788.50, Current as $10,016.03, and total income of $17,209.34. Expenses were $16,893.29.

The Church in 1955 and the Rectory in 1957 should have been the end of the building for a while. But as noted earlier, there was tremendous growth going on in the area. The population doubled in a few short years and doubled again, and again. Even the building of St. Richard’s on Merivale Road was not enough to handle new Anglicans in the area. George Foy went to the assessment rolls and added all the listed Anglicans to the Parish List and it grew to over 600. Sunday schools were full to overflowing, but as luck would have it, arrangements were made with St. Rita’s School to hold the Sunday School there. Just as well because there were over 200 children in Sunday School at that time and the Church could only hold about 200.

The modified reed organ could not keep up with the demands of the organists and choir. It was just too limited. Someone heard about a two manual electro-pneumatic organ from Casavant Frères in Ste. Hyacinthe which was used as a demonstrator at Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. George Foy, the Organist (no agreement on who it was today), John Chapman, and John Kirby drove to the factory to look at the instrument. It was a bargain at $10,000. They arranged for purchase and it was installed in 1962. The console was installed on the north side of the chancel and the pipes on the south side. Electrical wires connected the two so that when a key was pressed, a signal was sent to a solenoid in the pipe box, the pipe was opened, and the note sounded. It worked and was a great step forward over the reed organ. The new organ was dedicated Sunday, September 9, 1962 to the memory of those who gave their lives in two World Wars. The old reed organ finally ended up in parishioner Jenny Morphew’s home, where it still makes music in 1999.

In 1963 St John the Divine was split from St. Mark’s to allow George Foy more time with St. Mark’s. With four services a day, the Basement Hall being used every night of the week by the Scouts, Guides, Cubs, and Brownies, the Church had reached it capacity.

At the end of Chapter 4 a list of the Wardens and Treasurers has been included for the years 1955 to 1965.