Arson suspected by authorities
SHEGUIANDAH FN—A Friday afternoon fire consumed an historic decommissioned Anglican church, St. Andrew’s, located on Sheguiandah First Nation.
According to locals, the building, largely constructed of cedar shingles was built sometime in the 1880s but became run down since being decommissioned. It was lovingly restored thanks to the efforts of Sheguiandah Elder Clara Waindubence baa and Lucie Robitaille, an Espanola woman who helped Ms. Waindubence realize her dream of restoring the building to its earlier glory. Both women were acknowledged with certificates from the Ontario Heritage Foundation and a feast held in their honour following the restoration work—it was hoped at the time the church would become a community museum.
Then Sheguiandah Chief Georgina Thompson noted that the restoration process took a lot of time and effort, with final touches such as cleaning and the removal of a few lingering bats occurring just that week.
The former St. Andrew’s Anglican Church was nestled in a grove of pine trees just off of Highway 6 where the turnoff to the band powwow grounds, health centre and administration buildings are located.
Then-Expositor editor Jim Moodie described the building:
“Late afternoon sun burnished the new, honey-coloured cedar siding and illuminated the beautiful stained-glass windows that have recently been installed, as well as the striking cross at the top of the steeple—a mosaic of stained-glass fragments from the original windows. Inside, a unique sign, whose letters are formed from recycled square nails, welcomes visitors in three languages, reading: ‘Boozhoo, Bienvenue, Welcome.’ A new floor has been laid down and the pews have been sanded and stained, as have the interior walls, which are adorned with historical records. A 200-year-old bible, donated back to the church by one of its former reverends, occupies a glass case made by the father of summer resident and Exploring Manitoulin author Shelley Pearen, whose great-grandfather, Jabez Sims, was instrumental in establishing the church in 1867.
The original church was a log structure, replaced by the present frame building in 1886. The bell in the church dates to 1875.
Ms. Robitaille noted at the time that when she first learned of the church, the property was so overgrown that she didn’t even notice it at first. “Once the work began, it took a full year to complete. We started on the powwow weekend and finished the following year on the same weekend,” noted Ms. Robitaille.
The handywoman, with the help of her nephews Francois-Xavier and Matthew McLean, milled all the wood for the exterior themselves at their sawmill near Massey, using white cedar logs that were cut in Silver Water. They removed the old siding (an arduous task in itself), then nailed up the new planks. They built and installed the new stained-glass windows, as well as the unique cross, and performed all the grunt work of sanding and staining. Also assisting in the project was Leo Atawish, who cleared away the overgrown brush on the property.
Ms. Waindubence was beaming as she stood in the nave of the refurbished church, gazing at the red-and-blue windows and the gleaming pews. Later, as she stood outside, looking at the neatly-angled door and the bat-free belfry above, she still couldn’t stop smiling.
For both women, the certificates from the Ontario Heritage Foundation, while appreciated, would be secondary to the pleasure and pride they took in beholding the fruition of their efforts. A revived church that should inspire others for many years to come—that was the true reward.
Nothing of substance remains of the building.
Chop Waindubence witnessed the conflagration, asserting that there were what he described as clear signs of arson at the back of the church. Some of the plaques inside the church were rescued by the property owners before the fire was fully developed.
UCCM Police are investigating the fire as an arson. Police Chief James Killeen told The Expositor that officers are still interviewing witnesses.
