This year, we are celebrating 50 years of Ministry.
In April 1953 a meeting was held in the home of Mr. Percy &
Mrs. Celia Watts. At that meeting attended by some twenty men and women, all agreed that a
Sunday School should be organised by the fall of that year. Other meetings were held at
the homes of interested members during which plans were laid for a survey of the built-up
areas. This survey was carried out and resulted in the listing of 90 Anglican families
with 122 children. On November 29th 1953 the Sunday School held its opening meeting at the
Crang Plaza auditorium (now the North York Sheridan Mall). Fifty years later, this
ministry continues.
Our anniversary committee has been hard at work planning this grand occasion. Have a look at the events found on this page. We invite you to not only pray for us, but to come and join us if you are able.
ANNIVERSARY TRIVIA
50 YEARS: A MOMENT/PERSON IN OUR TIME
May 2, 1954: The Rev’d. Frank Fry, our first priest, and family arrived in the community.
May 9, 1954: Services started in a portable church. The Sunday School was transferred to the portable church a week later.
Thelma Cunningham was the first female Warden at St. Stephen.
Irene Canfield served as a warden during the incumbencies of three Rectors: Frs. Jim Garland, John Craig and Tim Grew.
The Cornerstone of our church was laid in May 1956.
On November 29, 1953, The St. Stephen’s Sunday met for the first time in The Crang Plaza auditorium.
The first meeting to discuss the establishment of a Sunday School in our parish was held in the home of Percy and Celia Watts during the month of April, 1953.
The first Black member of our church was George Williams. He joined St. Stephen’s in 1966.
The Austrian Pine tree at the northwestern end of the ramp was planted by Albert Jeffries and his son, Ron.
A three-week fund raising canvass to finance the building of the our church realized $65,000.
The land on which our church stands measures 360 feet wide and 165 feet deep.
A second Sunday School was opened in Roding School a year after the first Sunday School was established. The combined registration totalled 325 with a regular attendance of 200.
St. Stephen’s church bell, which formerly rang on the railways, now rings in a church in Lagos (Abuja), Nigeria.
Church of St.
Stephen
