Sebastopol's landmark churches
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Ballad Memories take me back to Renfrew Valley Where the Bonnechere winds its way, And here and there remains a building That reminds us of an earlier day; A once choice Algonquin hunting land Was transformed by work and time To a settlement of pioneers Along the Opeongo Line |
German Methodist Mission Church Site (Opeongo Rd and Baptist Church Rd)
German Methodist, probably was the first church established in the area.
 The Society installed an engraved stone at the church site and erected a metal cross. |
 The stone reads: "Site of Sebastopol German Methodist Mission established in early 1870's until early 1900's" (G. Kuehl, Archives) |
The following list of parishioners for 1881 was found at the Palmer Rapids Evangelical Church. These records are now at the United Church Archives in Toronto.
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Sebastebol Klasse 1881 Heinrich Radatz Wilhelmina Radatz Rheinhold Radatz Emilie Radatz Karl Muskulus Ottilla Muskulus August Kadatz Mathilte Kadatz Heinrich Weiland Chritina Weiland Friedrich Weiland Henricke Weiland Erstina Wörmke |
At first there were no pews, everyone brought their own small bench if they wished to sit. Later there were pews and when the church closed the pews were given to the families. One of these pews was at the Raddatz homestead for many years. A picture of this pew does exist.
The Methodist church later changed their name to the Evangelical Association or the Evangelical United Brethren.
The Sebastopol (German) Baptist Church (on the Baptist Church Rd.)
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Formally opened debt free on Sunday, September 14, 1914. A high frame building with scalloped pattern cement block exterior. An intricately patterned wood ceiling and interior walls show pride of craftsmanship. Pastor Rev. Edward Kneisler officiated at the opening , assisted by Rev. Charles Leborn of Killaloe.
Until 1930 services were held in German. Affiliated with Lyndock Baptist, the congregation struggled to support a pastor. During the 1960's when membership had dwindled, student pastors held summer services and bi-weekly winter services were performed by lay readers. Currently the church is used only for weddings, funerals, special services and an annnual memorial service.
St. John's Lutheran Church (5686 Opeongo Rd.)
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In 1890, land was purchased and the church was built. Timbers were purchased from a Catholic group who never completed their church below MacDonald's Mountain (near where the Heritage house now stands). Fred and George Morlock engineered the building. The church was dedicated on August 17, 1890 by Rev. Brackenbusch, Rev. A. Schultz and Rev. E. Schuelke. The first trustees were Christian Heideman, Rheinold Rose and Edward Ziebarth. The alter and pulpit were built by Fred Morlock, the pews built by August Quade.
In the1900s the exterior was clapboarded. In 1910, horse sheds were built. In 1914 the first organ was purchased and Mrs. Charles Gierman was organist for 40 years. In 1914 the tower and belfry were built and the bell was purchased for $125.00. Eleven pastors have served from 1889 until 1985. The church was saved from demolition by a group of former parishioners who bought it from the Parish in 1978. Funerals, weddings and annual memorial services still take place.
St. Clement's Anglican Church (3606 Opeongo Rd.)
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In 1892, a new white frame church was constructed on one acre of land donated by John Beckett. It was officially dedicated in 1895. The first wardens were John Beckett and Alexander Johnston. It was served for years by traveling missionaries.
Artie Hass and Howard Edwards have been noted for their faithful work and the obtaining of volunteer labour for the upkeep and maintenance of their place of worship. At the 110th anniversary on May 29, 2002, Rev. Gale Edmundson spoke about the faith history of the community and St. Clement, a Bishop of Rome, a patron saint of the church.
This church is now classed as a chapel and used only for weddings, funerals, and a yearly memorial service.
St. Joseph's (Esmonde) Roman Catholic Church (2720 Opeongo Rd.)
Father John McCormac of Mt. St. Patrick ordered a chapel to be erected in Curry's Settlement (later renamed Esmonde) during the 1870s. In 1887, Father Dowdall came as pastor to Mt. St. Patrick with Esmonde and Griffith as missions. The settlement grew and a splendid stone church 60 ft. x 35 ft. with the old church serving as the sacristy, was erected. The contractor was Mr. C. Caron of Renfrew. The church's cornerstone was placed in June and the building was dedicated to St. Joseph in September 1890.
Rev. Camille Dagenais supervised the building of a presbytery at Esmonde around 1900. A new bell was installed in 1903. Rev. Desmond Dorhan directed the building of a church hall in 1938.
In November 1977, Rev. J.F. O'Malley was appointed adminstrator and a gradual improvemnt of interior decorations were completed in 1980. A new electric organ was also added. In 1983 a final touch was the unveiling of an outdoor statue of St. Joseph as a memorial to the pioneers of the Opeongo Road. Twenty-two pastors have served at St. Joseph's from 1870 until 2003.
St. Ann's (Cormac) Roman Catholic Church (2.5 km north on hwy 512 from the Opeongo Road)
In 1891, the original church at Cormac was built under the guidance of Father James McCormac, and was a mission of Brudenell. The frame church burned in 1916. The present church was erected from cement blocks and the timber was cut by parishioners. Lumber was sawn by William, Joseph and Martin Corrigan. The blessing of the bell took place in 1920.
Father J.N. George became the first resident pastor at Cormac when it was established as a parish in 1919. He initiated a major building program which included the parish house and driving sheds in additon to the church. Land for expansion of the church grounds was donated by Thomas Kelly. On Tuesday, July 26, 1938, the first of many pilgrimages was held at the shrine of St. Ann.
The beautiful paintings on the wall on either side of the church's altar were done in 1949 by artist A. Lesperance of Montreal.
For the 1984 pilgrimage, Father Grant Neville directed the erection of a new building to serve light lunches, and a large canopy to provide shade for pilgrimage visitors. Eleven pastors have served at St. Ann's from 1919 to 2003.