On a beautiful crisp late September morning, a small group gathered in front of St. Thomas Silver Creek, as the mayor of the municipality of Lochaber-Partie-Ouest, M. Pierre Renaud, made a presentation on how important it is to have a citation of a heritage asset and how proud the citizens are to see their cultural heritage preserved. He then unveiled two historical plaques, one in English and one in French. This chapel has stood near the crossroads just northwest of Thurso since 1877 and the plaques outline the history and importance of the building.
St. Thomas Silver Creek has served the small rural community of Anglicans for almost 150 years. Services are held twice a year, at Christmas and at Easter, as well as on occasions when clergy can be found to conduct a service. The most recent service was held on August 24, 2022, and was well attended as worshippers could finally gather in person.
Local support for the chapel has helped ensure its continued existence. Mr. Dan Berndt has been tending the charming chapel garden and Mr. Royden Brown is the chapel steward. Royden wished “to thank the Diocese of Ottawa for the support navigating through this process [the erection of the plaques] and look[s] forward to a renewed relationship with the municipality….especially [as this is] the only church within their boundaries”.
The unveiling was attended by representatives of the municipality, local residents, as well as the Ven. Eric Morin, Archdeacon of West Quebec; M. Michel Prévost, president of the Société d’histoire de l’Outaouais; Mme Marie-France Bertrand, cultural development officer for the MRC of Papineau; Meriel Beament Bradford, diocesan representative on the Outaouais advisory table for the Conseil du patrimoine religieux du Québec (CPRQ). The mayor, M. Pierre Renaud, the municipal Heritage Committee and its chair, councillor Guylaine Ouellet, helped spearhead the effort to recognise this local historical jewel.
The CPRQ is a Quebec government agency which promotes the preservation and transformation of religious heritage buildings and cemeteries, through funding, information sessions and special events such as les Journées du patrimoine religieux, held each September. Several churches in the Deanery of West Quebec, including Christ Church Aylmer and St Paul’s Shawville, have benefitted from the CPRQ funding programs.
“Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be.”