Saint Mary's, Celebrating 125 Years

125th Anniversary

The Anglican Parish of Saint Mary's Richmond Hill was founded in 1872. This year, 1997, marks 125 years of worship and service to our community. In celebration, the parish has planned a number of events to take place between November 1997 and June 1998. The first of these events was our Birthday Cake float in the town's Santa Claus Parade. Celebrations begin officially with a special service on December 7 and culminate with a birthday party June 7.

Calendar of Special Events

Sunday, November 16, 1997	Richmond Hill Santa Claus Parade Saint Mary's participates with 125th Anniversary Float
Sunday, December 7, 1997	Historical Service presentation of Processional Banner presentation of Choral Anthem
Monday, December 8, 1997	Saint Mary's turns 125
Saturday, February 21, 1998	Quiet Day on Prayer Led by Wendy Lywood of the Daybreak Community
March, 1998	Lenten Sermon Series With guest preachers each Sunday
March 4 through April 1, 1998	Five Wednesday Evenings in Lent A Speakers Series addressing issues relating to Faith and Public Life
Saturday, April 25, 1998	ACW Afternoon Tea
Saturday, May 9, 1998	Music Concert
Sunday, June 7, 1998	125th Birthday Party

Richmond Hill Santa Claus Parade 1997

[ Saint Mary's 125th Anniversary Birthday Cake Float which participated in the 1997 Richmond Hill Santa Claus Parade. Image courtesy of Joan Connolly. All rights reserved. ] Richmond Hill's Annual Santa Claus Parade took place this year on Sunday, November 16.

As a kick-off to our parish's 125th Anniversary Celebrations we participated in the parade with a float bearing a six-foot cake and a large company of children and parents.

[ Saint Mary's 125th Anniversary Birthday Cake. Image courtesy of Joan Connolly. All rights reserved. ] The cake carried the requisite one hundred and twenty-five candles and was topped with a model of our original chapel.

Original photographs kindly provided by Joan Connolly. All rights reserved. Reprocessed to reduce loading time.

Historical Service

On Sunday, December 7, 1997 we held a special service to mark the official opening of our 125th Anniversary celebrations. The guest preacher was the Reverend Canon James O'Neil, Rector of Saint Mary's from 1957 to 1968. The service itself reflected the traditions and practices of the 1800's. The choir sang an anthem commissioned for the occasion.

Full Order of Service with Notes (61kB)
Article in The Message Vol.8 No.4 - December 1997

Processional Banner

The processional banner was commissioned for the 125th Anniversary and created for Saint Mary's by Audrey Gill Grantham. It was dedicated at the Historical Service.

Processional Banner

Rectors

Although the parish was founded in 1872, a worshiping Anglican community existed in Richmond Hill as early as 1832 under the leadership of Isaac Fidler. A list of rectors, which appeared in a booklet published by the parish in 1973 for its Centenary, has been brought up-to-date.

Parish Story Committee

Beginning Monday, February 16, "parish history buffs and writers, researchers, interviewers and folks who can do layout and design" will turn themselves into a Parish Story Committee to produce an update of our parish history.

Look for the fruit of their labours on this site.

Please use the Feedback page to offer comments or suggestions, to request more information on anything here, or to suggest events or activities for possible inclusion. Thank you.

The Saint Mary's Anglican Church, Richmond Hill, web-site is maintained by a parishioner with material and editorial direction from the clergy and other parishioners.

Updated August 9, 1998.

URL: http://saintmaryschurch.ca/125/index.html