St. Paul’s Anglican Church celebrates 120 years of services as it amalgamates with three other area churches

St. Paul’s Anglican Church celebrates its 120-year anniversary with a final service Jan. 18.

Established in 1905, the first church service celebrated at St. Paul’s Anglican Church was held Jan. 14, 1906. This beautiful neighbourhood church has been home to families of Stratford for 120 years with active outreach within the community.

Prior to establishing the church residents know of today, there was a board and batten church constructed in 1875 at the corner of West Gore and Home Street. The congregation flourished thanks to the Grand Trunk Railway’s locomotive shops in town and the decision was made to build St. Paul’s Anglican Church at 9 Douro St.

“We have beautiful stained-glass windows in the church. These windows were donated by parishioners in memory of loved ones, some of whom were killed in world wars. Especially beautiful is the nativity window facing west onto Waterloo Street which is lit up from the inside in the evening,” said Rosalie Edwards, parishioner of over 85 years.

Edwards was baptised, confirmed and married in St. Paul’s where she had her wedding dinner in the newly constructed parish hall in 1959. At 12 years of age, she was confirmed along with 65 other young people and adults from the church. This was the largest class ever confirmed in the Diocese of Huron. Now, she is one of eight remaining parishioners who grew up at St. Paul’s.

Some of her earliest memories of coming to St. Paul’s are of traipsing to church on Sunday mornings, because everyone walked, and taking up a whole pew because there were six of them attending.

“Sunday school was big. All the downstairs was filled with classes. At one time, Sunday school was held at 2 p.m. Classes took place all over the basement of the church. Back in those days we also had evening prayer service at 7 p.m. so we attended three times on a Sunday, and everybody did,” said Edwards.

St. Paul’s congregation has always had a very strong sense of community. There were so many families and children.

“We’ve always been a very active church with many different groups involved. I especially remember the Mother’s Union group because mothers didn’t work outside the home at that time and all the little children that weren’t yet in school gathered in the Hope Bowra Hall for meetings and social time,” said Edwards.

At Christmas time, Santa Claus (a.k.a. Spence Doherty) would visit, and every child would be given a gift and a bag of candy. Doherty would raise a great deal of money for the church during the season by going all over the city.

“I remember as a little kid coming to the Christmas concert which was downstairs in the Hope Bowra Hall, and it would be packed with families of parents and their kids who were so excited Santa would come in. That was a highlight of my Christmas,” said Val Ford, another of the remaining eight Parishioners that grew up in the Church.

The sense of community of St. Paul’s has remained steadfast. Significant outreach through the Stratford Connection Centre, the warming centre, breakfast club, food bank, 12 step groups and community meals has made St. Paul’s a beacon. What has changed is stores now stay open on Sunday, kids’ sports are on Sundays, both parents work all week and Sunday is the only day to catch up. The congregation has aged and not many young people attend. And now, after 120 years, St. Paul’s will amalgamate with St James’ and St. Stephen’s to form a new congregation.

“I am going to miss our beautiful organ music and the chimes we have been so lucky to have. These chimes were given by long time members Rita and Spencer Doherty on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary. So many things have been given to the church in memory of loved ones,” said Edwards.

The last service of St. Paul’s Anglican Church was held Jan. 18, though this is not the end of their outreach. Programs in place will continue to operate out of the church uninterrupted for the foreseeable future.