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* LETITIA PRIM TL FARSI tg » Drs) ITH sem By TanierRrs ene RN AT \ OSHAWA DAILY TIMES, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1930 PAGE SEVEN' Bowmanville Church Rev.R.J.Shires Leaves Town "Next Week To Take Charge of -- Popular Rector Has Had Suc- cessful Career in Bowman- ville for the Past Five Years WAS PROMINENT SOCIAL WORKER His Leaving Bowmanville Is Regretted by All Walks and Creeds in Life -- Was a Friend to all It comes as rather a painful duty during a time when the Anglican Communipn in Bowmanville is cele- brating its 39th anniversary to have to announce the resignation of the present rector the Rev. R. J. Shires. After five years of perfect harmony with a congregation which literally worshipped their rector Mr, Shires accepted the challenge to take charge of the Haliburton Mission field where he will be in charge of three other ministers in that section of the country. It not only came as a shock ~ to the Anglicans of the town of Bow- manville but to all creeds for Mr. Shires has been universally admired by all walks of life and all creeds in the town. His ministrations have not only been amongst his own flock but have reached out wherever a helping hand was needed or a com- forting message required, His inter- est in the ex-service men of the community was recognized only last week when the Canadian Legion as/ & tribute to his interest in their wel- are attended church in a body to ar his last and most convincing sermon. Elsewhere on this' page other ministers in the town have ex- pressed their sorrow at the depar- ture of a fellow Christian worker and that sorrow is not confined t ministers but to everyone in town who has had the pleasure of coming in contact with Mr, Shires. Coming to Bowmanville as the un- animous selection of the church war- dens in 1925 Mr. Shires has, as the Lord Bishop predicted, been an asset to the community. During his ten. ure of office he has supervised a complete renovation of the church at a cost of $4,200, including a new roof and interior decorations and the removal of the old steeple which be came a public menace following a severe storm. The congregations "have much enlarged during his five years as rector and all sections of the church life have been strengthened by his presence. He was the prime mover in a proper" and dignified Community Welfare Board being ap- pointed and has held the position of sécretary--treasurer and secretary since its formation. He was last ar elected as the president of the owmanville Men's Canadian Club after being a vice president the pre- jon Feld In Haliburton RETIRING RECTOR REV. R. J. SHIRES, M.A., B.D. Rector of St. John's Anglican Chureh in Bowmanville for the past five years and who completes his term of office on Tuesday next. Mr. Shires has had a varied and brilliant career which has been the outcome of a determined effort on his part to do his duty to his fel- low man. Mr. Shires was born in the town of Peel, in the Isle of Man in 1885, He received his early education at the Clothmakers School in the Isle of Man and later at the Hunslet Parish Church School. He took his secondary education at the Leeds, Yorkshire, Southern Higher Grade school and won the Leeds County Council Scholarship in 1897. From 1902 to 1906 Mr. Shires received business training in England and in the latter year left for Canada where he joined the Royal North West Mounted Police from which he retired as a corpor- al in 1908. He then entered the University of Bishop's College at Lennoxville, Quebec, in 1908 ang was awarded the Jasper Nicholls Scholarship in the following year for the best matriculant. He also took the Harrison Prize for essays in 1910 while a master at Bishop's College School at Lennoxville. He was awarded his Bacheor.of Arts degrée with 1st class theological honors in 1912 and in the same year he was awarded the Waitte Memorial Scholarship. In 1912 and 1913 he was lectur- er at Bishop's College and, in the latter year took bis L.S.T, with 1st class honors. The same year he was awarded the Haensel Read. ing prize and later in the same year he was ordained a deacon of the Anglican Church in Quebec City, he was elevated to full priest- hood at Calgary, Alberta, in 1914, and became soon after the rector of Col n, Alberta. When war vious year. He has been pr t in anything that has been for "the good of the town and many poor le have him to thank for sup- plies and clothing in the hard winter months. He has been a great friend to the ex-soldier and has been the means on many occasions in getting for them their rights. A guardian of the widow and the orphan he has made a great and lasting mame for himself in the town. Nothing finer could be said of Mr, Shires than that which was said of a former rec- tor, Canon Macnab, "He was friend- ly to all and his presence was a Beng- diction to the Parish." Tribute should also be paid to the broke out he enlisted and was made chaplain or Padre of the 60th Battaion of the Canadian Expedi- tionary Force and was later made chaplain of the 1st Brigade C.F.A, In 1917 he became the rector of Le Tudgue, P.Q., and obtained three years late his B.D. at Lennoxville, He obtained his Master of Arts de- gree at the same college in 1922 and then became rector of Bows manville in the year 1925, Bow- manville is proud to have 'had as one of its ministers a man of such brilliant attainments and is natur- ally sorry that his time here is now so short. & wi Rector's wife for the able in which she has assisted him in his duties. Her interest im the affairs of women of the church has been a shining example and there is little doubt that the success of Mr. Shires' ministration in the parish has been closely entwined in the help of his wife and helper. RT, REV. J. L, SWEENEY D.D.,, LLD., Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Toronto, who will be the preacher at the Morning An- iversary Service at St. John's Anglican Church tomorrow, ST. JOHN'S CHURCH SPECIAL SERVICES FOR ANNIVERSARY Special Music and Special Preachers Will Feature the Services Tomorrow In keeping with the nature of the accasions the services at St. John's Church will be of a special character tomorrow, Mowing Service Holy Communion at 8 Morning prayer at 11 a.m. Order of service Processional hymn, "The Church is One Foundation." { Eshoration and General Confes- sion and the absolution, Venite, Exultemus Domino, fol- lowed by the psalms for the day and the first scripture lesson. The Te Deum laudamus. The second lesson. Jubilate Deo. The creed. The Responses and prayers. Hymn, "Christ is our Corner Stone." This hymn was sung on the occasion of the laying of the corner stone of St. John's Church 75 years ago. Prayers, General Thanksgiving. The Sermon. Preacher, the Right Reverend, The Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Toronto, D.D, D.C.L, LL.D. Offertory Anthem. Recessional Hymn, "Lord Behold us with Thy Favor." Evening Service Service will be at 7 o'clock. The usual order of evening prayer will be followed with special and ap- propriate hymns, prayers, and bible readings. The sermon will be preached by the Rev: F. H. Cosgrave, Provost of Trinity College, Toronto. Archdeacon Warren and the Rec- tor will assist in the services and will read the lessons and the order of service. Arrangements have been made by the church wardens to accomodate many extra at each service and service sheets will be pravided for those who have no prayer and hymn books. The Public are re- minded that all services are on Standard Time. Celebrates 95th Anniversary rr ST. JOHN'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, BOWMANVILLE which is tomerrow celebrating al double anniversary, the 05th of its founding and the 75th of the laying of the corner stone of the present Church. The church was during 1029 completely re novated at a cost of over $4,000 and the tower seen in the picture was, previous te the removation a steeple, which became badly damaged in an electric storm. a.m, A MILESTONE OF PROGRESS Ninety-five years is a long period in the history of a young com- munity like Bowmanville, and the fact that the St. John's Anglican Church. is this week-end celebrating its 95th Anniversary ic a tribute to the contribution which it has made, throughout its long history, to the well-being of the town. Churches are institutions which play a large part in the community life, They do more than provide a meeting place for worship. They build up the right type of community spirit, the spirit that makes community life wholesome and clean, and makes the community a desirable place in which to live. In this work of community building, the St. John's Anglican Church, under the guidance of a succession of inspired rectors, and devoted officials, has placed no small share. That is the reason for the progress it has made in a material way. Without spiritual growth, no church can hope to attain to any stature materially, and the present flourishing condition of the congregation testifies to its work in the extension of It is now passing another milestone of And the Kingdom of its Founder. progress, It can look back to an honored and honorable-career. it can also look forward to greater opportunities for service, oppor- tunities for playing an even greater part in the development of the community it is serving that it has enjoyed during its historic past. St. John's Anglican Church 'Temperance St.,, Bowmanville Anniversary Services Sunday, September 28th, 1930 8am. Holy Communior 11 am. MORNING PRAYER Preacher--The Lord Bishop of Toronto, 7 p.m. EVENING PRAYER Preacher--Rev. Provost Cosgrave, M.A, D.D. All services on standard time. Rev. R. J. Shires, Rector REV. F. H. COSGRAVE D.D. Provost of Trinity College, Toronto, woh will be the preacher at the evening service at #$t, John's Anglican Church on Sunday. ITEMS OF INTEREST CONCERNING THE CHURCH OF ST. JOHN Communion Service Was Gift of English Gentle- Some interesting facts concerning St. John's Church appear in Pro- fessor Squair's History of Darlington and Clarke. In recording the history of the church as far back as is known in the district he includes many interesting items. First Baptism The first baptism in St. John's Church took place on July 30, 1843, when a child of William Pethick and Mary Heall born on January 8, the same year, was christened with the names of Mary Elizabeth by the Rector the Rev. T, S. Kennedy, "First Marriage The first marriage to be solemn- ized in St. John's was on December 7. 1841, when Jane Heron became the wife of Joseph Gilfillan with the same minister conducting the cere- mony. First Burial The first burial service held in the church was on July 17, 1840, when Richard Lovekin, J.B, whose relatives still live in the district, was buried following a service in the church in the private burying ground in Clarke, e was stated in the church register to be 70 years old and formerly of Cork, Ireland. Rented Pews It is recorded in the minutes of a vestry meeting in the year 1838 that the wardens decided that the rent of a large pew should be ten shillings per year and a small pew five shill. ings per year, A letter was read at this same meeting stating that the Communion service which had beer. pronfised the church by Edwin Woodhouse, Es- quire of Leamington, England, would arrive as soon as shipping opened for the year. It is also recorded that the church front was given as a gift of thanks. giving to the church by the wife of the Rev. J. S. Kennedy, then rector, on the birth of their first child. 8 LOCAL PASTORS REGRET DEPARTURE OF REV. R. J SHIRES Bowmanville Ministers Com- ment on Regard for St. John's Rector (By Rev. W. J Todd) It is with profound regret that 1 have learned of the approaching de- parture of the Rev. R. J. Shires from Bowmanville, and remembering the kindly welcome he gave me on the evening of my induction at'St. An- drew's Presbyterian Church in the month of July, I feel exceedingly, the severing of the ties' then formed. Subsequent meetings with him have only served to deepen my impression of him as a Christian minister and a man worthy of the highest trust. We as a church fully appreciate the kindness shown us by the minister and congregation of St. John's and trust that the same happy relation- ship may continué between the two churches as here-to-fore. Our good wishes follow Mr, Shires to his new charge. By Rev. P. P. Butler 1 have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Shires. on humerous occasions and have found him to be a most zealqus character. His administra- tion in the town of Liowmanville has certainly done a great deal of good and brought forth much fruit. We of St. Joseph's Church, sympathize with the congregation of St. John's in their loss of a fine rector which is also a loss to the whole com- munity ( By Rev. D. W. Best, D.D.) As everyone knows, the Rev, R. J. Shires has not only under taken the work of his parish seriously and successfully but has entered readily into the lives and interests of the comunity at large, offering his services freely in furthering the interests of citizens along many lines. Feelings of regret at his departure will mingle with good wishes from every side for his hap- piness and prosperity in the im- portant work to which he is going. As one of the ministers of the Town, and as a member of the Min- isterial Association of West Dur- ham, I think with gratitude of the frank, friendly and helpful way in which Mr, Shires has taken part in all that we have found to do together, Personally I have ap- preciated his comradeship. REGTOR OF THE CHURCH OF ST. JOHN SINCE YEAR 1836 Rectors of St. John's Church, since its inception in 1836, are as follows: 1836-37--Rev, C. T. Wade. Travel- ling Missionary. 1838-52--Rev. T. S, Kennedy. 1852-91---Rev, Canon Macnab, D.D. 1892-98--Rev. R. A. Bilky. 1898-1904--~Rev, R. Seabron, M.A. 1904-10--Rev. W. E. Carroll, B.A. 1910-17--=Rev. T, A, Nind, ; 1917-23--Rey, C. P. Muirhead. yf 2 Z--Rev. G. S. Postlethwaite, Celebrates 95th Anniversary Sunday] St. John's Anglican Church Has Been Integral Part of E Community For Near Century Corner Stone of Present Church Was Laid Sev= enty-five Years Ago This; Year -- Was Once Mis-; sionary Post xy CHURCH HAS HAD NINE! RECTORS SINCE 1838 Interesting History of the Church in Past 95 Years: Shows Great Growth in! the Community ; {i The year 1930 marks the ninety- fifth anniversary of the commence= § ment of the first Anglican Church in Bowmanville, and also the seventy=] fifth anniversary of the laying of the! corner stone of the present building. The first Anglican services held in Bowmanville were conducted by the | Rev. Adam Elliott early in the year J 1832. These services were held in iN Maynard's Hall, a building which § stood approximately where Couch, | Johnston and Cryderman's store now stands. Mr. Elliott remained in charge of the district until 1835, and } it was during his time that the build- ing of the first church was com- § menced. Bishop Strachan mentions ! inspecting a frame building, then in- complete but intended for the first | St. John's Church, in 1835. It is as-' Hi sumed that the building was used for § Divine Service in the fall of thatl/§ year, though it was not properly completed and equipped until 1840.% Of this building an old member ofl the congregation writes, "The old church was a frame building, painted 48 white, and a ceiling was just an ore dinary flat ceiling like any house, whitewashed like the walls." building was demelished in 1855 to} make room for the present edifice which is built on the same site. y In 1836 the Rev. C. T. Wade came § to the district as Travelling Mission= ary. Working from Cobourg, with thes occasional assistance and to § some extent under the supervision of the Rev. A. N. Bethune, then rector of Cobourg, and afterwards § second Bishop of Toronto, Mr. Wade § served the three stations of Newton. § ville, Clarke (Newcastle) and Bow- manville (Darlington). He continued his ministrations until the end of 1837 to the beginning of 1838, to be succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Smith Kennedy. The earliest Parish Regis~ ter has the following preface written on the fly leaf: -- "I commenced my duties in this township of Darlington AD. 1838 in the month of November. I find that the total number of marriages, bap- tisms and 'burials for the past years | respectively were as follows: "1839. Baptisms 27, marriages 6, burials 5 w i "1840. Baptisms" 32, - marriages 6, burials 4. "The first three years there bein; no resident minister in Whitby ° used to officiate there occasionally, I also occasionally visited the Towns ship of Cartwright. "Signed, Thomas Smith Kennedy." As Mr. Kennedy was "licensed to the cure of souls in Drlington" he is rightly spoken of as the first in- § cumbent of Bowmanville. A The first vestry meeting was held on April 1st, 1839, when Hesry S, | Ried was chosen rector's warden and | Mr, Deykes as people's warden. | Messrs. Bowman, Cubitt and Hag- | garty were also mentioned as being | present. wf Under date of September 25th, 1841, "Village lots numbers 103 and 104 in the Village of Bowmanville" A 1925-30--Rev. R. J. Shires, M.A. B.D. (Continued on Page 12) E |W L. W. Nelson & Staff "~~ Bowmanville Churches and Merchants Fxtend C CONGRATULATIONS Church on Its Ninety Fifth Anniversary atulations To St. John's Canadian Radiant Company Ltd. | Olympia Cafe 'Rev. J. U. Robbins and Congregation Of Trinty United Church Rev D. W. Best and Congregation Of St. Paul's United Church "SCOTTY" Cleaners and Dyers Edmondstone's Meat Market Rev. W. J. Todd and. Congregation Ot St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. Rev. P. P. Butler and Colipepbiin of St. Joseph's R. C. Church " F.F. Morris Co. Fred W. Nelles 'Grocery | Corbett's Bakery . W, Jewell ig 20 Book Store Walker Stores Limited ---- -- Rovan's Shoe Store - Jury & Lovell Druggists-Rexall Store-Opticians Garton Coach Lines Rice and Co. BE i ---- a ---- P Dustan's Cash Hardware y 2 5 po-- "MR. B. H MORTLOCK AND CARRIER BOYS : John Mackay Limited | ad -- Si - 4 | The Oshawa Daily Times #4