HomeMy WebLinkAbout354"Article from the News Advertiser Nov.25/92 p. 1, 6.
Historic church gets a facelift
Built in 1856, St. George's Anglican Church in Pickering Village underwent extensive restoration
including new stained-glass windows. Father James Blackmore supervised the work.
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"Historic church gets a $400,000 facelift
By Angela Rafferty
PHS co-op student.
The Mother Church of Pickering Village, deemed an historic monument in 1985 by local
architectural conservation advisory committee, has been undergoing major restoration since July.
In the process, the church has slowly revealed bits of its history in the form of various artifacts.
A fireplace, said to be the culprit behind a 1929 fire, was uncovered behind a wall.
Small pieces of a 1927 newspaper issue and old photographs were also found. Inside the
original archway was a 1900 memorial note and pennies dating back to 1858.
The church was constructed in 1859, and served as the main congregation for Pickering village
and surrounding area including Uxbridge and Whitby Although the exterior walls and roof were
restored in 1985, it was expected the interior would be done sometime in the future. Recent work
included the entire heating and electrical system. It has been updated to maximize lighting and
improve heating throughout the church. All floor boards and pews are re-varnished.
A stained glass window has been added.
There will be 5 feet more space in the chancel and sanctuary with an additional 2 feet at the
communion rail for the congregation. The complete interior will also be repainted.
The original archways will be moved forward and up, and then extended the width of the church.
""We knew this was going to be an extensive project when we started, but it had to be done,""
Father Jim Blackmore told The Bay News.
The biggest task was financing and figuring out a way to create more space without expanding
the church. The site is surrounded by graves which cannot be disturbed.
The total cost of the work was approximately $400,000. The sale of land belonging to the church
raised 50 per cent of the needed money. The rest came from donations by churchgoers and an
$84,000 Ontario Heritage Grant.
Blackmore, who has supervised renovations, has been with the church for seven years.
""It's the right thing to do for the area. It is historical and should be preserved,"" Blackmore said.
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