Deanery of East Ontario — Church of the Nativity, L’Orignal

Anglican services in L’Orignal began in the 1850s, and from 1870 were held at the Prescott and Russell courthouse. Peter H. McIntosh donated land for a church in 1875. From 1870 to 1899, L’Orignal was a part of the Parish of Hawkesbury with services held at Alfred (from 1873 to 1876), Hawkesbury and Plantagenet (also from 1873 to 1876).

Construction of this frame church began in 1891, and it opened, appropriately, on 25 December 1891. The new church was a means of drawing better congregations and in every way putting new energy into a comparatively feeble branch of the Parish of Hawkesbury.

What better time could there be for a photograph of the interior of the Church of the Nativity than when this house of worship was decorated for Advent and Christmas. If we do not know the precise year this photograph was taken, we can estimate that it was taken in the early 20th century, probably before 1920, certainly before the advent of hydro-electricity.

The building of the Church of the Nativity not only strengthened the local congregation but made it the centre of a mission. In 1899, the parish of L’Orignal included outstations at Caledonia Springs and Alfred. These churches were grouped with Fenaghvale, Maxville, Plantagenet and Ross’s Schoolhouse to form the Parish of Plantagenet in 1903.

There was hope of growth at L’Orignal by 1903, with mills being built, hopefully to infuse new life into the whole neighbourhood and considerably augment the congregation of the Church of the Nativity. In 1904, L’Orignal moved to the Parish of Hawkesbury which included congregations at Alfred (from 1923 to 1965), Caledonia Springs (from 1921 to 1937), Crysler (in 1981 and 1982) Hawkesbury, L’Orignal and Plantagenet (from 1921 to 1923).

Despite the whole interior—floor, walls and ceiling—being covered with darkly painted wood or darkly stained panelling, we can clearly see every detail. Why? Was it because the photographer, John Brokham of Hawkesbury, used flash powder to illuminate it? Or, has he used a lengthy exposure to bring out details? Or, yet again, do the numerous, wide windows lining the nave of this church provide sufficient light to show up the details? Who can be sure?

Someone certainly had been busy decorating for Christmas. There were large trefoils made of cedar branches, featuring foil stars and the words ‘PEACE’ and ‘PRAISE’ on either side at the front. The top of the chancel window was accented by more cedar boughs to highlight the words ‘Glory to God in the Highest,’ crowned by a star.  There were sprigs of spruce in the vases on the altar, and boughs of spruce adorned the pulpit, the lectern, even the bottoms of the coal oil lamps hanging above the centre aisle.  Above each lamp we see the mechanism by which they could be lowered for cleaning and refilling.

The more permanent words on the chancel arch included the phrase ‘Reverence My Sanctuary.’ We can make out the details of the melodeon, the pews featuring a pointed arch at the base and a trefoil at the top, the herringbone design of the panelling both in the ceiling and in the walls above the wainscotting, the arrangement of the chancel being one step up from the nave, and the altar being two steps up from the chancel.

If you would like to help the Archives preserve the records of the Diocese and its parishes, why not become a Friend of the Archives?  Your $20 membership brings you three issues of the lively, informative Newsletter, and you will receive a tax receipt for further donations above that amount.