HomeMy WebLinkAbout486"ALMONDS UNITED CHURCH by LISA SHERIN.
Miniature memory: Motorists travelling along Hwy. 2, at the Whitby,
Ajax border have likely noticed a tiny building standing alone along the south side of the
road.
This little building, which is constructed of stone and has a slate roof, is a perfect,
miniature replica of a church that once existed in that location.
Local residents may remember the Almonds United Church, which had an active
congregation of 134 until it ceased operation in 1971. According to Whitby historian and
Chamber of Commerce board member, Brian Winters the fact that the church was erected
in about 1837, made it the second oldest church in Ontario County.
Almonds has an interesting history, to say the least. Until its closing in 1971 it was one of
the few original pioneer churches still operating between Kingston and Toronto and dated
back to the earliest days of the Methodist Church in Canada.
In 1837, an English squire named James Almond and his wife Mary came to Canada and
donated the land where Almonds Church, was located.
At the time, there was no ""town of Whitby"", as of yet. But by 1830, Almonds had became
the central preaching place in the Whitby circuit. In 1864, Almonds, Whitby, Brooklin,
Columbus and Kedron were one circuit.
The area's population grew and a new Methodist Church was opened in the town at Mary
and Centre Streets. In 1876, the Methodist Tabernacle, now St. Mark's United was opened.
More than 100 years later the congregation at Almonds amalgamated with that of
St. Mark's United Church. The church board decided to do this, says Mr. Winter,
because of a lack of interest in the upkeep and maintenance of the buildings and it
wasn't 'feasible' to keep two congregations going. At the time, the board was torn
between amalgamation with St. Mark's or relocating the church.
In 1971 it was hoped the church would be allowed to remain standing, but,
says Mr. Winter, it was the 'victim' of the minimum standards bylaw governing
unoccupied buildings and was torn down.
From: Kindred Spirits (publication of the Whitby-Oshawa Genealogical Society)
Aug. 1989
Pp 7-8
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Saufay Setavt An<v¢tmrty
NaxeM1 if, IBdf.
ALIUINOS HH17ED CHURCH
cantirwed.
The gainaz in connection with the above
'
wetttloned aurivateatY cave °66 on
wedvsday, eveoung fbdC, and Wu m
ID'.,ePta�� f 1903, ttm t Y
betiava a a°npfP¢te weceee every
Ix^sse a0d a Plaque were plo®
On tho pxape¢tY to ranmmmte
the existence of the ttistnxiral
iM1e e.W.Manceppnnu Pe°Pln wee gteatet
6Y Sat.iM ffmadated
"" AuaA m
the Xa.CCbethoagh
¢Hoax, aft got ptewj b not and ad tea
ate had antes and toxo eati.d6x¢A a
.iy, Ua po¢y of cad
loge quantitty 06 pxaviaiand unto
d/epaeed o6 by a•.etion. The uppu
p� 1n may
partL o6 the N¢CC wzd atauiN atmos[
to avex6lmang to been M¢ ne¢itatians
ct 9 see Associated
and sing%M• which an to ua.Pl AeMutd
-.tlw lattu wve ptep¢xed und" the
with
awugesaatt o6 W. Z. P. Kant, who
hue pawed huaeet6 a eoiryw,teM in-
Ata¢vds Imam
ntxucLM o6 the young.
Owing the ¢vr wg. nam Me uu¢ mde
rnvrrh
Exon the pfat6°xm by the Rev. Nt. Hoa-
1037 - 1971
pu and also by Me Rev. 4t. lumeden,
pastor 06 the Gxietlan ahatrh. Rev.
Nn. Pinch, padtox o6 the at
CMieiian CM1wefi axis uwAie to be
The Loyd ie in Xie
px¢eaxf, owing to me dailgexoeqoze
Xoly ttthe
de
ifl'wae 06 !Ate. Pl,whr eine deceasede
let Alt the Eartth
The ptoeeeds a$ the Aaiivetearty te ¢rte
-
in6oxmed, amwt to eomethiug w
ee6weSHw.w¢
6aahi do Uaxe.
pehaun Vtadiutat.
oar appr� Lon is exF Nod to Pres. C.S.
ooidge Bell, foe ¢aiding ve ttese e0pies
of early tickets for the Orand Otlnk Paiway
w4ed� 3inkal the village of 13< klin and
tle town of Whitby.
'Ae pwomger a used tlnse ti tas
did on m SepO 30, 1900.