The History of the Old St. Thomas Church
by Heather Jackson, Chair of the Bicentennial Committee Located on Walnut Street in the City of St. Thomas, the Old St. Thomas Church is one of the oldest structures in St. Thomas. Surrounded by a graveyard dating back to 1819, the churchyard is the final resting place of many generations of Anglicans in St. Thomas. The Old St. Thomas Church was founded on land donated by Captain Daniel Rapelje, the founder of St. Thomas. It is considered an early example of North American pioneer architecture. Daniel Rapelje (1774-1828), an American who came to Upper Canada in 1802, became a captain of the 1st Middlesex Militia after serving in the War of 1812. Following the war, Capt. Rapelje built a grist mill which attracted new settlers to the area. In 1821, Rapelje donated two acres of his original land grant to be used for a church building and a burial ground for Anglican adherents in the area. Rapelje had already buried two sons on the site by 1819. The church was constructed with bricks made in the Kettle Creek Valley between 1822 and 1824, and a tower, steeple, and chancel were added in 1825. A donation from Col. Thomas Talbot financed these additions. As one of the earliest churches in the area, the congregation had to rely on visiting missionary ministers of different denominations until a permanent Rector could be secured.
The most important visiting minister was Rev. Charles James Stewart, who spent much of his career helping to establish the Anglican church in southwestern Ontario. Rev. Stewart (1775- 1837) arranged for the first Holy Communion at the church on June 19, 1825. Though Stewart became the Bishop of Quebec in 1826, he often returned to St. Thomas. The church’s first incumbent was the Rev. Alexander Mackintosh, a missionary deacon who served from 1824-1829 and was also the village’s schoolmaster. The congregation began with only 12 parishioners in 1825 but quickly grew to 41 by 1827. The church was consecrated in 1833 and would serve the congregation continuously until 1877 when Trinity Church opened. The 1824 church building then served as a Sunday school, losing its bell to Trinity Church. In the 1840s, the church was extended to the south, and transept galleries and a vestry were added. The pulpit was also relocated to the junction of the nave and transept at that time. The interior
Photo courtesy of Elgin County Archives.
We Celebrate Your 200th Anniversary!
and Agricultural Centre Sharing history for 30 Years Hours of Operation Wednesday to Saturday 10 am – 4 pm $10 Adult / $5 Child
Congratulates Old St. Thomas Church on its 200th Anniversary Here’s to many more years of community, celebration and growth.
29424 Lakeview Line, south of Wallacetown (519) 762-3072 • www.backuspagehouse.ca
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OLD ST. THOMAS CHURCH 200th ANNIVERSARY GUIDE
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