Saint Stephen's Mailbag

Where would we be without you? Your donations and letters are so welcome and uplifting - a real boost to our morale, not to mention our finances !

Lorna (Clark) Treich wrote just before Christmas recalling those moving Christmas Eve Services so many years ago. She wrote, "Memories sometimes grow dim, however, I recall the ground covered with a fresh snowfall and huge snowflakes gently wafting down upon us as we left the Church after most Christmas Eve Services. It is a memory I will always cherish". Thank you,for recalling those magic evenings, Lorna.

Editor's Note:Lorna was a contemporary of mine - Sunday School and AYPA, especially. I also remember some Christmas Eves when "Mr. Kirby" arranged to have a loud speaker playing carols out by the Lych Gate.

Carol (Grigsby) Turkington, "has very fond memories of worshipping at Saint Stephen's, going to Sunday School and church bazaars. My sister, Joyce, and I were baptized and confirmed there". Carol reminds us that her parents were Doris and Ernie Grigsby (a long-time Warden).

Both Lorna Treich's and Carol Turkington's parents are buried in our Churchyard.

Vernon Wells writes from his home in Florida to thank us for sending the Newsletter. Vernon wrote, "It's been several years since Leila and I have managed to visit my old church, but at age 86 I think my trips by car from our summer visits to our daughter's home in Michigan may be drawing to a close. I still have fond memories of my days in the Choir." We all remember when Leila and Vernon "dropped by" two or three years ago. It happened on one of those Sundays the congregation was going to the Topaze after the Eucharist for Sunday Brunch. Leila and Vernon joined us and we had a great time! Many thanks, Vernon.

Gloria (Glasspoole) Gardner echoes Vernon's gratitude for the Newsletter. Gloria exclaims that, "Saint Stephen's will always be close to my heart! The photo that I "won" last year sits proudly on my buffet bringing back so many fond memories of my childhood. Memories of when all seven of our family sang in the choir, of my confirmation, of my wedding and of just Sunday by Sunday worship." To see photos of the choir from 1945 you can go to the church's website. I clearly remember seeing Gloria as well as Bernice Davies and my uncle, Eric Leonard in the Children's Choir section of that photo. Many other old and new photos are available on the church's website. The photo Gloria refers to is one taken of the church by Norm Shaw. Gloria ends with a beautiful exhortation, "May the spiritual journey of others be as richly blessed as mine was through the ministry of Saint Stephen's."

Short notes and donations came from many people on our mailing list who live too far to see us very often: Violet Ashmore, New Jersey U.S.A.; Betty Anne Jolly, and Vera Gowans, Alberta; Joan (Spicer) Readman, Lancaster; Audrey and Thelma Eastwood, Belwood; Joan Rimer, Grimsby; Nishe (Luchuk) Catherine, Toronto; Herbie Kane, Sault Ste. Marie; Nora Grant, and Monica (Kirby) Mason, London, ON; Caroline (Wilkins) Eynom, and George Wilkinson, Vancouver, Terry Huntington, Victoria; Dorothy (Cavell) Sims, Mt-Tremblant; Richard Leonard, Greenfield Park; Brian Kane, Moncton.

It is noteworthy to mention that four of our former clergy have also sent donations during the year: Canon Oswald Slattery, June and Charles Nixon, Holly Ratcliffe and Canon Linda and Martin Taylor.

Other faithful folk close to home; Barbara and Stewart Hungate, Mary Hague, Mary, Bob and Julia Sinclair, Rita Sheepwash, Richard Luchuk, Flo Parker, Gillian and Mark Brenchley, Lucy and Peter Lofthouse, Susan and Charles Cavell, Lynda Thibault (niece of Grace Goodwin), Chris (Jarvis) Groulx and Beverly Besser.

It is always dangerous to complie a list of this nature because we have, no doubt, omitted someone. This is certainly unintentional, but please let us know!