By the Rt. Rev. Michael Oulton
During my three-day visit to the Deanery of Temiskaming at the end of June, I was reminded again and again of the warmth and faithfulness that defines Northern Ontario.
I arrived in North Bay and began the visit with a barbecue supper and conversation at St. Brice’s Church with a number of clergy and their spouses. It was a wonderful way to begin, sharing stories and laughter with Archdeacon Linda White, Rev. Grant Churcher, Rev. Derek Neal, Archdeacon Joan Locke, Rev. Beth Hewson, Rev. Peter Armstrong, Nancy Armstrong, Tom Zink, and Isobel Churcher.
The next morning, Archdeacon Joan Locke and I set out to visit several communities and learn more about the ministries taking place across the deanery. Our first stop was St. James Anglican Church in Cobalt, part of the Parish of Northern Lights. It was the perfect day to visit because it was the fourth Saturday of the month—and that means “Soup’s On” at St. James. This wonderful free lunch ministry draws together 30 to 50 people from the community once a month for food and fellowship. Barb Dombrowski, a parishioner, visited a similar program in Kitchener and thought, “We can do that!” When the township passed on the idea, the good people of St. James stepped up and made it happen. With grant money, donations, and a hearty group of volunteers, they launched the ministry, and today the free-will offering taken each month covers the cost. I enjoyed a bowl of potato and bacon soup with a fresh tea biscuit, baked every month by volunteer Rosie Deveaux. Blessings to Deacon Incumbent Val Paterson and Deacon Kate Scott for their ministries in the parish!
From Cobalt, we travelled to Haileybury and the Church of St. Paul and St. John, the second point of the Parish of Northern Lights. On the way, Linda and Joan told me about the Great Fire of 1922, which devastated Haileybury and is remembered as one of Canada’s top ten natural disasters. Fleeing the fire, residents sought refuge in the waters of Lake Temiskaming, covering themselves with wet blankets. Ninety percent of the town was destroyed in just a few hours. Today, a memorial stands on the lakefront, reminding the community of both tragedy and resilience.
The church, constructed just after the fire, features a distinctive Norman Tower and is spacious and bright inside. The new parish hall, built in 2019, is the result of generous donors, including the Anglican Foundation of Canada. Archdeacons Linda and Joan and Deacon Val told me the wonderful story of pie sale fundraisers that help cover the hall’s costs. The bakers of the parish manage to produce nearly 1,000 pies a year for sale in the community! The new hall is one of the few accessible public gathering places in the area and is increasingly used by community groups.
I was also introduced to some of the beautiful artwork of Muriel E. Newton-White, including a 1962 illustrated BCP altar missal and a mural in the parish hall. It’s no mystery that Muriel was also a renowned producer and illustrator of children’s books.
Our next stop was the Deanery Camp on the shores of Frere Lake. It’s one of those places where photos cannot capture the beauty and serenity of being there. Both Archdeacon Linda and Archdeacon Joan have long histories with the camp—Linda from her early ministry days in Algoma, and Joan from her time as a camper when her father, also Archdeacon Locke, was involved. It was a privilege to stand with Joan beside the stone fireplace her dad and brother built for the “Locke House” pavilion.
We concluded the day at St. Simon’s Church, Temagami—the tiniest church building in the diocese! Thank you, Archdeacons Joan and Linda, for shepherding me around a part of God’s creation that is so obviously dear to your hearts.
The visit concluded on Sunday with a deanery service of baptism, confirmation, and renewal of baptismal vows at St. John’s Church in North Bay, where we observed the Feast Day of St. Peter and St. Paul. Twelve candidates were confirmed, and one baptized. Earlier that morning, Archbishop Anne Germond called to say that General Synod would be praying for them specifically as they renewed their baptismal vows before the installation of our new Primate, Shane Parker. Prayers were also offered for Archbishop Anne as she concluded her time as Acting Primate.
After worship, I toured the Bliss Gillmor Apartments, thirteen units of rent-geared-to-income housing attached to St. John’s Church. The Diocese of Algoma owns the building, leasing it to the Board of the Bliss Gillmor Apartments, named for the first two rectors of St. John’s. In consultation with the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Board rents the units to CMHA clients. It was moving to step into one of the apartments and see how this visionary project has changed lives.
Thank you to the clergy and people of the Deanery of Temiskaming for your warm welcome and for showing me the various ministries in which you are engaged. Many prayers as you continue in the Mission of Christ.