Church of the Good Shepherd Anglican Church

 

Historical Notes

From the early 1850's until 1886, churchmen from the areas about Riverstown and Farewell made up Trinity Church, North Arthur. This building stood to the northwest of the present church. In 1886, they named the new building The Church of the Good Shepherd, Riverstown. Farewell separated from Riverstown and St. John's, Farewell, came into being in 1892. From the earliest times until 1948 the people were in the same parish with Mount Forest, except for the years 1904-1913, when they had their own rectors. Riverstown continues to be linked with Mount Forest.

1959 Reverend S. Houston became missionary to the Arthur district, succeeding the travelling missionaries from Elora. He baptized 376 individuals in the 61/2 years he ministered here, covering seven or more townships. In 1902, he became the second Dean of Niagara, the only Dean who was not a the same time the rector of the Cathedral.

1865 The first (?) Vestry elected J.C. Campbell, Toronto, as its delegate to the Synod of Toronto. J.C. Chadwick and R. Morrison were the wardens.

1866 Trinity Church was changed from slab-siding to rough-cast at a total cost of $91.38.

1870 Sunday School began with Robert Rooney, the two Robert Morrisons, Liza Harper and June Ann Shaw as teachers; the Rev. W.J. Mackenzie as Incumbent.

1872 Mr. Alex. Allen chosen as Lay Delegate, the first parishioner to be appointed.

1875 Parish now in Diocese of Niagara, with the Rev. H.L. Yewens as Rector. T. Stevenson, St., was the Lay Delegate when the Rev. T.B. Fuler was elected first Bishop of Niagara and the first delegate to the new Synod of Niagara was Robert Morrison, Sr.

1881 A site was to be selected for a new church.

1884 In October, the Rev. R.S. Radcliffe and his assistant, the Rev. C.G. Snepp were appointed to the parish.

1885 Vestry considered a new church between North Arthur and Farewell. Mr. Wm. Reid, Sr., offered a half-acre of land for a union church. 1886 Tuesday, July 13th, the Cornerstone was laid for The Church of the Good Shepherd, Riverstown. Mr. Johnston Shaw, Sr., gave the land for the church. The Building Committee consisted of Messrs. John Allen, William Lytle, William Ried, Robert Stevenson, R.B. Harper, and the wardens, Messrs. Johnston Shaw , Sr., and W.C. Morrison.

The Contractor was Mr. Wm. Gruer, grandfather of Bishop G.N. Luxton. The Bishop's mother, as a young girl, often drove by horse and buggy to Riverstown in order to pay the workmen.

The opening services were held on December 12th, 1886.

 

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I - List of Parish Registers

a) Statistical

b) General

II - Index of Statistical and General Records

a) Baptisms

b) Confirmations

c) Communicants

d) Burials

e) Families

f) Financial

g) Marriages

h) Minutes of the Vestry

i) Service Register

III - Other Records

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