Excerpt from www.balamactieranglican.com: Originally named Trinity Church , our parish church was
erected during the summer of 1920 by builder Richard Hamill
and was consecrated by Archbishop George Thornloe on
July 3rd. 1921.

Property and funds to erect the church were donated by Mr. George Edwards in 1919. The building was dedicated free of debt due to the generosity of the summer visitors combined with a considerable sum raised by permanent residents.

The building, built upon solid rock has a masonry foundation and is a frame structure. The exterior and roof were shingled with British Columbia cedar. The church design is Tudor Gothic ,carefully modified in detail for the sake of simplicity and to harmonize with the picturesque environment. The plan of the church is cruciform. The stained glass windows were manufactured by the Dominion Glass Company and the furnishings were designed by The Valley City Seating Company. The electricity was generated from the nearby falls.

As a “summer church” it was never insulated to accommodate winter services. A coal furnace was installed in the blasted out rock beneath the church. Christopher Lord was the church’s first ordained minister, he remained until 1931.

The Ven. J.H. Watson, former Rector of Trinity ( 1967—1980 ) had a growing need for a small room in which to hold Lenten services. Using one of the vestry rooms he created “The Chapel of the Welsh Saints” This name being chosen to comply with the association of Bala, Ontario with the lovely little town of Bala Wales. The Chapel of the Welsh Saints was dedicated by the Archbishop William Wright in 1974. Around this same time the church itself underwent a modification of it’s own name, from Trinity Church to Trinity St. Albans. This being added to commemorate the fact there had been a small church in near by Torrance by that name. This little church had fallen into disrepair and had been taken down in the 1950’s.

In 1975 the Guild room was added under the direction of Rev. Watson and lay reader Jock Menzies.

During Rev. Watson’s stay, the coal furnace was replaced with overhead electric heaters.

The church rectory built in the 1940’s , ceased being used in 1994 and was taken down around 1996. The Guild room at this time also needed replacing and was taken down a short time later.

In 2004 the parish hall was added and was dedicated in Sept. 2005 by the Right Rev. Ronald C Ferris, Bishop of Algoma.

In the spring of 2006 a Belfry following the design of the original by St. John the Divine was constructed and a historic bell was installed. A dedication on the bell of Saints John took place in June of 2006 by the rev. Dr. David Hardie and the Rev. Margaret Johnston under the authorization and approval of Bishop Ferris.

Tags:   Trinity St. Alban's Anglican Church Places of Worship Bala Ontario Canada

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Tags:   Bala Falls Bala Ontario Canada Nice As It Gets-Level 1 **Heart Awards** Monde de la photo Waterfalls

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Around Bala Bay in Lake Muskoka.

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Excerpt from the plaque: In 1892, Thomas Burgess donated land for the construction of the Bala Church. This church was used by the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Anglican congregations. Between 1920 and 1925, the Anglicans and the Presbyterians decided to build their own churches. The Bala Church was renamed Bala United Church. In 1934, the church was destroyed by fire, and replaced with the current brick church that was dedicated in May 1935.

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