A Brief History of St. Paul’s United Church, Milton, Ontario

by Jim Dills

The prominent copper-covered spire of St. Paul’s United Church has been a landmark on Milton’s Main Street for 126 years. It is the successor to the first Wesleyan Brick Chapel opened in 1852 and succeeded 110 years later by St. Paul’s Christian Education Centre in 1962.

The present Gothic Revival-style brick church and its spire, with its street-facing rose window, over a row of stained-glass memorial windows, honouring the lost of World War I, looks out over James Street. Other stained-glass windows from the studio of Robert McCausland Limited are located on the south and north walls.

Late on June 30, 2010, fire broke out in the sanctuary of St. Paul’s. Divisive discussions resulted in significant renovations in the former Christian Education Centre, reinforcement of the sanctuary roof and restoration of the sanctuary interior. Investigators determined the fire was set by an arsonist, never apprehended.

The restored sanctuary of today, was first dedicated March 8, 1891. In the Christian Guardian, an article described the ‘commodious’ building of terra cotta pressed brick from the local Toronto Brick Company. The mason work and plastering were done under the direction of Mr. Joseph Cookson of Blenheim, and the carpentry work was by Josiah Mason of Brampton. The seating in the auditorium was by Messrs. Pennington, Baker & Co. of Hamilton with their new three-ply, true-curve, lap-joint pew back seating. The building was heated by three of Copp;s largest size furnaces. The system of ventilation was that of Smead, Dowd & Co. and the lighting was with a gas machine, illuminating 150 lights, from the Detroit Heating and Lighting Co.

Seven cornerstones had been laid in 1890 as a prelude to the construction of the new building which incorporated the Brick Chapel and new sanctuary.

Changes over the years have altered the interior of the sanctuary, while the exterior has remained virtually unchanged. Heating systems have come and gone. The most significant change was the installation, in 1905, of an Edward Lye pipe organ, including alterations to the platform. By 1907, the church and Sunday School (the original brick chapel) were lighted with incandescent electric lights.

In 1928 when the console, located at the rear of the choir loft to accommodate the tracker organ, moved forward, C.F. Legge Organ Co. altered the organ, introducing magnets and electrical contacts to transfer the key action to the valves under the pipes.

In 1989, Keates-Geissler Pipe Organs Limited undertook a restoration program on the organ providing a new console, adding some new stops and refurbished operating mechanisms. Recent cleaning and restoration in the post-fire period in the sanctuary saw the organ dismantled and removed for work by Andrew Mead. The corrosive effect of the soot saw the console electronics written off and replaced as well as other required work.

Without any change in physical structure the Milton Wesleyan Church became St. Paul’s United Church in 1925, at the time of union between Methodist, some Presbyterian and Congregational Churches.

After World War II a growing Sunday School provided accommodation challenges. After several plans were rejected, a contract with Welcon Construction Co. for $133,000 plus architect’s fee and $10,000 for heating both buildings was accepted to build the Christian Education Centre. The original Wesleyan Chapel and an adjoining house were removed to locate the new building on the site designed by Hanks, Irwin and Pearson, Toronto.

To provide ramped access to the sanctuary from the parking lot, the Crozier entrance was opened in 1990 and, in 1992, new wiring and lighting was installed in the sanctuary.

The enlargement of the platform in the sanctuary in 1995 extended its accommodation. Installation of a copper covering of the steeple was undertaken in 1996 when serious water damage was discovered.

The 1999 construction of the Lift Lobby provided access to all levels of the church property. It also included additional rooms on the third floor and accessible washrooms.

The property was enlarged in 2004 when Trustees approved purchase of the adjacent house, long owned by Cliff and Lil Houston.

Troubling engineering reports about the stability of the roof in the sanctuary led to studies and debate from 2006. In 2007, columns were installed to carry the roof load. The columns were installed in pairs of two at four locations. They were placed at the ends of the bottom chords of the trusses.

Later studies indicated further work was required to preserve the building and, when the fire struck in 2010, the congregation’s discussion as to whether to preserve the existing buildings or consider redevelopment of the entire site divided the congregation. After considerable controversy, the congregation, in a vote of members, narrowly approved restoration of the sanctuary, knowing the costs would be significant.

As plans moved ahead the renovation of the Christian Education Centre was added to the project. The project was completed in two phases, with the congregation returning to the renamed community building in December 2013, while work with the insurance company on restoration of the sanctuary continued. It was re-opened for use in December 2014 and officially rededicated in November 2015. The restoration architect was VG Architects and sanctuary restoration was by Zanatta Construction.

The sanctuary is a blend of architectural styles – large Gothic windows on the north and south with the rose window on the east; a high flat Italian-style ceiling and Renaissance style reflected in the pillars that support the balcony. The pine floor is sloped towards the front. The entire room is outlined in a pine wainscoting.

The total renovation and restoration project, with insurance proceeds, came in at nearly $6 million. The congregation raised $1.2 million, realized further funds from a property sale and cashing of assets to achieve the significant project, with a mortgage to be reduced on a schedule.

This article was originally published in November 2016 in the publication, Milton And Area Churches, and is re-published with the permission of the co-authors of the book, John Challinor II and Jim Dills.