This ongoing series from Barrie Historical Archive curator Deb Exel shows old photos from the collection and one from the present day, as well as the story behind them.
Minesing Methodist Church
Not the first, but likely the last United Church in the village of Minesing.
The very first Methodist church in Minesing was built in 1868 on land purchased for a dollar. The church became an independent charge in 1884, along with Edenvale and Anten Mills, forming the Minesing Circuit.
Early in 1896, the firm of Eustace Bird and Eden Smith requested tenders for the construction of a new Methodist church in Minesing. Eustace Bird, architect, the son of well-known Barrie architect Shearman Bird, designed several important buildings in Barrie, notably the Grand Opera House in 1896-97, before departing for New York City in 1898 to implement his design for the main branch of the New York Public Library on 5th Avenue.
The new Minesing church would be built on the spot where the old one stood.
The masonry work on the English Gothic style church began in July 1896, starting with the stone basement. By mid-September, the brick work was progressing well, with six men labouring on it. The exterior of the church was quite solid looking, with long, projecting buttresses tapering from the eaves to the base of the building, giving it an unique appearance. Under the belfry was a rose window, with buttresses at the front portico as well. Beautiful stained glass windows lined both sides of the church.
Inside the hot air-heated church, opera chairs provided the seating, and deep crimson carpet covered the floors of the altar, pulpit platform and apse at the rear of the church, where the organ and choir would be located. It was considered an extremely handsome church and the people of Minesing were quite pleased with the new building.
Over time, the church would change, as they so often do. In 1925 the Methodist and Presbyterian congregations of Minesing combined as the new United Church of Canada.
There would be physical changes as well. In the 1950s, a kitchen was built in the basement, an electric organ dedicated, an oil furnace installed and organ chimes added in the sanctuary. The Christian Education wing was built in the 1960s and the Minesing United Church welcomed members of the Edenvale congregation when their church closed. More improvements, such as a replacement organ and a new digital piano followed in the 1970s.
The brick church designed by Eustace Bird held its opening services on Jan. 17, 1897, with sermons morning, afternoon and evening. The following night, the church was filled again. After a plentiful supper in the basement, upstairs there was music and an inspiring address. When the hat was passed around, $1,000 was collected to cover the remaining debt on the church. It was an impressive day in Minesing and a joyful one for a grateful congregation.
And now, 125 years and three months to the day after that first service, the last service in the old Minesing Methodist Church will be held on April 17, 2022.
