This week in The Leader – February 12, 2020

The Williamsburg United Church has been conditionally sold.

On March 14th, Reverend Ralph Taylor confirmed that the church’s congregation had indeed accepted an offer made to purchase the building.

With things not quite finalized, Taylor felt it best not to pinpoint anything for certain. What he did say, however, is that the church has been ‘sold’ to a young couple who wish to turn the church into a home.

At the moment, he revealed, that the church officials are working with the township of South Dundas to change the current zoning for the lot to residential.

Taylor also indicated that they are “in the process of negotiating  with somebody who bought a former school within the general area” for a possible lease on a temporary worship center. He pointed out that a contract has not yet been signed.

Should things work out, “this is going to be our tabernacle while we work on our future.”

“There might be other churches in the Presbytery looking for some partnerships and rather than tie ourselves down, this (school) will be our interim kind of place.”

Taylor told his congregation: “we’re like the people with Moses; we’ve gone out in the wilderness.”

All decisions involved in the selling of the church went through the congregation for discussion and approval, said Taylor.

“In a way we were surprised, we thought we’d be listed for a long time.”

“There’s a sadness and a joy,” said Taylor, referring to the years of worship and memories attached to the church.

With that said, however, Taylor added, “we made the right decision. We’re on the right road to our future.”

[…]

  The spirit of Christmas is in the air. And one of the most delightful symbols of that spirit is music, the wonderful songs, old and new, that celebrate the Christmas season. On Sunday, December […]

Details of the 2014 Royal Tour of The Princess Royal were announced October 17, and that tour will bring a member of the Royal Family to South Dundas.

The Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages announced that Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal (Princess Anne) and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence will tour the National Capital Region on November 10 and 11, 2014.

To highlight the War of 1812, Vice Admiral Laurence will visit the Crysler’s Farm Battlefield Memorial. 

The Battle of Crysler’s Farm—fought on November 11, 1813, in Morrisburg, Ontario—was a key battle that saw Aboriginal, Canadian and British forces work together to repel a large invading American army and win the field, despite being outnumbered. The victory at Crysler’s Farm turned the tide of the war.

The theme for this tour is “Canada’s Heroes: A Celebration of Accomplishment and Pride,” and Her Royal Highness will join Canadians and the world in marking the anniversaries of the start of both World Wars. 

During the two-day tour, The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Laurence will participate in the National Remembrance Day Ceremony activities at the National War Memorial. 

The Memorial, originally built as a tribute to those Canadians who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the First World War, was unveiled 75 years ago by Her Royal Highness’s grandparents, Their Majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother).

In addition, Her Royal Highness will also meet those individuals many Canadians would consider to be everyday heroes, who do outstanding work in and for their communities and country. 

Her Royal Highness will meet with members of the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association, an organization that uses riding to empower children and adults with disabilities. 

An expert horsewoman and Olympian, Her Royal Highness is patron of the organization.

The full itinerary has not yet been released.

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