History
of
St.
George's Fairvalley Anglican
Church
Capt Elmes Steele, Royal
Navy.
In 1832, Captain Elmes Steele of the Royal
Navy, immigrated from England to a land grant in Medonte
Township, Simcoe County. He donated 4 acres on a
height of
land overlooking the valley, in the East half of Lot 10 Concession 11,
for a Church and cemetery. He also found 100 acres
(East
half, lot 11, Concession 11) for a home and farm for an
Anglican
minister. In 1835, the Reverend Mr. George Hallen
came from
Worcestershire, England with his family and settled in this new
parish. Early services were held in local homes, taverns and
schoolhouses until a log church was built in 1837.
Eleanor Hallen Monument Pre-consecration
burials
included several members of the Eplett family in 1844, the first wife
of Captain Elmes Steele in Feb.1846, and Rev. Hallen’s
daughter,
Eleanora, in May 1846 while her parents were away in England.
Elizabeth Beard, the first burial after the cemetery was consecrated,
was entered in Rev. Hallen’s register in Sept 1847.
Burials
are still taking place in the churchyard.
The cemetery is very well-kept today,
but in an
earlier period some of the earlier stones had fallen over and grass
grew on top. A number of these are now cleaned, but flat on
the
ground, cracked and partially or totally illegible. All
stones
face East, unless otherwise noted, and some stones have inscriptions on
all four sides.
Anglican services are still conducted
regularly in
the Church, one of the few country Churches where this is still
true. Today the Church and Cemetery are found at the East end
of
the Fairvalley Church Road off the 11th Line North, and just
south of the Mount Saint Louis side road, in Oro-Medonte Township.
Capt Elmes Steele, Royal
Navy. 