When pandemic restrictions are lifted and parishioners are once again able to gather in the hall of St. Margaret’s, Vanier, they will see that the church hall and kitchen that serve many in the parish and community have received a make-over. It’s all thanks to a generous gift from Andy Billingsley in honour of his late brother, John Billingsley, who was a parishioner at the church.
Warden Bernie Delmaire told Crosstalk that the gift enabled the parish to replace a regular household dishwasher with a commercial, sanitizing one; the regular sink with a deep restaurant-style one with sprayers; and an old stove with a new one.
St. Margaret’s has an active outreach and works closely with many in the community, “so our hall is really busy. Before the pandemic, it was busy every day. We also do a soup meal program every week after church on Sundays,” he said, adding that the after-church meals are not possible now but will resume once pandemic restrictions are lifted.
The legacy gift also allowed St. Margaret’s to purchase an upright freezer, which Delmaire explained, will be helpful, particularly when the Inuit congregation at St. Margaret’s gets a donation of food from the North, such as cariboo or seal. “It doesn’t happen very often, but when it happens, it is really enjoyed,” he said. “Before, we were always rushing to serve it as quickly as possible because we didn’t have a proper place to keep it.”
The Billingsley gift is also transforming the hall into a more inviting space. Worn floor tiles have been replaced with new flooring. The curtains are also being replaced and the hall is being painted.
Andy Billingsley is pleased with the impact of the gift. “I’ve seen what they’ve done with most of the money, and I was almost moved to tears. St. Margaret’s have just been outstanding in what they have accomplished.” Since John did not have children, Andy said the gift was a way to leave a legacy for those who meant so much to John and ensure he’d not be forgotten.
John Billingsley came to St. Margaret’s after All Saints Sandy Hill closed. “His church was very important to him,” his sister Charlotte Ward said.
Both she and Andy thought the renovations to the kitchen and hall were a fitting way for St. Margaret’s to use the gift because John would have been a part of and enjoyed the social activities taking place there and because he liked to cook and cooked for himself as a bachelor for many years. “He was quite amazing because he would set his table for one with a placemat and probably a linen serviette and he cooked [according to] the Canada Food Guide for most meals for himself every night which would be two veggies, a potato, meat or fish, a salad and a dessert. So he did that for himself every night and sat there watching TV or maybe listening to the radio,” said Charlotte.
As a young man, John travelled to a Cree community north of Thunder Bay with a group of youth from Anglican churches to help out and paint a church, Andy recalled, adding that he was pleased that the gift would also benefit another Indigenous group, St. Margaret’s Inuit congregation.
Charlotte recalled that “in John’s heyday, he was a passionate square dancer and a sought-after dance partner. His acute memory helped him remember all the intricate dance patterns and movements involved in the dosey-does and promenade involved in square dancing. And he wore some wicked shirts and string ties.”
She described him as a gentle, compassionate man who loved his family, and always stayed in touch with family members and friends. “He was devoted to his nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews, and he seemed to have a special knack for selecting just the right gifts for them.”
Thls gift to St. Margaret’s seems to have that special touch too.
Information about making a legacy gift to support the mission and ministry of your church, as well as suggested bequest wording, is on the diocesan website at this link https://ottawa.anglican.ca/legacy-giving/. If you would like to explore legacy giving options, please call Jane Scanlon, Director of Communications and Stewardship Development, at 613-232-7124, ext. 225.
Deanery of East Ontario — Church of the Nativity, L’Orignal