Holy Trinity Church
Hawkesbury ON

The Area Parish of Prescott, North Glengarry with Grenville and Calumet is a five point parish with Anglican Churches in Maxville, Vankleek Hill, Hawkesbury, Grenville and Calumet.

 

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The history of Hawkesbury’s Holy Trinity Anglican Church

In 1845, the request for a church was initiated by the correspondence of Thomas Higginson, backed by others from the community to Bishop Strachan of Toronto, to appoint a missionary to Hawkesbury. The land for the church was procured from the estate of the Hon. Peter McGill, for the cost of five shillings.

Building started immediately with blue and grey limestone quarried at the Ottawa river and from the community including Green Lane Road, under the direction of stonemason William Allison. The building of the church and later the rectory was entrusted to John W. Higginson, master builder and a member of one of the founding families of the church.

The church was erected in 1846, in a plain, uninteresting style with wide “Canadian Gothic” windows and a door at the base of the bell tower.

Holy Trinity opened with a first service on August 16th 1846, with Reverend S.S. Strong from Christ Church, Bytown, officiating. The following Sunday, August 26th, was the first service by the new incumbent, Rev. Francis Tremayne.

In 1857 repairs were needed, so changes were made. The balcony and stairs were removed. A side entrance, corner buttresses, a chancel and vestry were added. The work again was entrusted to John W. Higginson.

The church reopened in a thirteenth century English style, with a service December 18, 1859. As well as structural changes, the first stained glass windows behind the altar were installed. These three windows were copied from ones in Salisbury Cathedral and erected in memory of Lieutenant- Colonel George Hamilton by his sons.

The Hamiltons were a prominent family in Hawkesbury owning Hawkesbury Mills and were major contributors to the church.

Charles, the fourth son of Lt. Col. George Hamilton was influential in setting up Synodal government in the Anglican church. In 1896 the Diocese of Ottawa was formed and Charles became the first Anglican Bishop.

In following years, five more beautiful stained glassed windows were installed.

In 1872, plans were made to build a parsonage and outbuildings on the church lot. The Honourable John Hamilton would donate $1000.00 if the congregation would raise $500.00. On October 1st 1872 a contract was signed with John W. Higginson to build the rectory at a cost of $4,350.00. The contract included a coach house, stable with four stalls, a woodshed and privies, as well as the parsonage. The stone rectory, in a style to correspond with the church and the design furnished by John W. Higginson, was completed in 1873.

In 1872, a bell cast by Mears and Stainbanks of London at the cost of $450.00, was imported for the belfry at Holy Trinity. It was rung for the first time on December the 8th and was renowned at the time for the clear ringing of a Tenor C.

A new pipe organ was purchased from Casavant Freres in Quebec, at a cost of $5,775.00. It was dedicated in November 1957, in memory of members of the Armed Forces from the parish who lost their lives serving their country. This organ replaced an early Warren organ, built by Mr. Warren from Montreal. It had been presented to the church by the Hamilton family at a cost of $1,100.00. With the new organ, changes were again made within the church. The pulpit was moved to the left side of the church and half of the choir seats were removed.

Before the end of the 50’s, a decision was made to build a parish hall.

On May 28th 1961 a sod-turning event took place for the building of a parish hall, under the contract of Sinclair Supply Company Limited of Vankleek Hill. The cornerstone was laid by Miss Maria Higginson on June 25th 1961 and the hall was finished, with dedication on September 14th 1961. The corner pillars of the new hall were matching stone to the church and taken from the same quarry as in 1846.

“here is an edifice capable of resisting the wear and tear of time for many a generation, and an ornament that should be preserved as representing in stone the piety and zeal of half a century, till it has become one of the most interesting historic landmarks of the Ottawa Valley” (C. Thomas 1981)

“For each of us who have worshiped within these hallowed walls the memories will be different.” “This church then, is a symbol of our calling – to worship and to witness, to serve and to suffer” (William R. Byers 1981)

The history of the church was provided by long-time parishioner Eleanor Sides, who used the History of the Counties: Argenteuil, Quebec and Prescott, Ontario by C. Thomas (1981) and The Church On The Hill, by William R. Byers (1981).

From: https://thereview.ca/2021/08/09/175th-anniversary-is-a-look-back-at-memories-changes-at-holy-trinity-anglican-church-in-hawkesbury/