2012 is a special year for Sheffield United Church. It marks 200 years
since John A. Cornell started his own church in Sheffield, which
gradually evolved into Sheffield United Church.
Schedule
of Events
October
2011
Sheffield
Cemetery Restoration
Sheffield
United Church paid to have a
section of gravestones
straightened and repaired in October 2011, including the founder of
Sheffield (and our church) John A. Cornell.
Click here
for more information on this project.
During the summer of 2012, the City of Hamilton will be paying to have
the more dangerously leaning gravestones repaired. We
hope to be able to add to what the city is paying for.
We are encouraging the community and those with ancestors in the
Sheffield Cemetery to donate money toward this project so that we can
fix up as many gravestones as possible, and get the cemetery looking
respectable again. All
proceeds from our 200th
anniversary events and
sales of our history book will be put toward this project.
22
October, 2011
Heritage Fashion
Show (8:00pm @
Sheffield United Church)
This
is our kick-off event, even
though it's still 2011, we thought
we'd start early with this fashion show to give people ideas and
inspiration for lining up there own costumes to wear at some of our
events in 2012.
The fashion show is an interesting display of how people dressed in
Canada from the late 18th century to the early 20th century. Admission
is free, and there are refreshments after.
Sunday 15 January,
2012 Guest
Speaker - Former Sheffield
Minister Rev. John A.Cornell
(10:30am @ Sheffield United
Church)
Rev.
John A. Cornell will be
making his first address to his new church in 1812.
Sunday
29 January, 2012
Guest Speaker - Former Sheffield
Minister Rev. John A.Cornell
(10:30am @ Sheffield
United
Church)
Rev.
John A. Cornell will
be addressing his congregation about pacifism and the War of
1812.
Sunday
26 February,
2012 Guest Speaker - Former
Sheffield
Minister Rev. John A.Cornell
(10:30am @ Sheffield United
Church)
Rev.
John A. Cornell will be
addressing his congregation about the
rules and doctrines of his church.
March
1, 2, and 3, 2012
A Musical Comedy
entitled “A
CHURCH HISTORY...SORT OF”
(will
be performed on
these 3 evenings at 7:30pm, at
Sheffield United Church)
Click
on the photo above for more
images of this event.
Sunday
23 March,
2012
Guest Speaker - Former
Sheffield Methodist Minister - Rev. Thomas Fawcett
(10:30am
@ Sheffield United
Church)
A
Wesleyan Methodist Circuit Rider will speak to a group in Sheffield
about forming a
congregation in
1832.
Sunday 1 April, 2012
Guest Speaker - Former Sheffield
Minister - Rev.
John A.Cornell (10:30am
@ Sheffield United Church) Rev.
John A. Cornell will be welcoming his
congregation to their newly constructed
church building in 1834.
Sunday 15 April, 2012
Guest Speaker - Former Sheffield Minister
- Rev. John
A.Cornell (10:30am
@ Sheffield United Church)
Rev. John A. Cornell will be speaking to
his
congregation in 1854 about what will
become of the church
after he has
passed on.
Sunday 29
April,
2012
Guest Speaker
- Former Sheffield
Minister - Rev. Israel Sloane
(10:30am
@ Sheffield United
Church)
Rev. Sloane will be inviting the congregation to officially join the
United Brethren in Christ, in 1854.
Sunday
6 May, 2012
Guest Speaker
- Former Sheffield
Minister - Rev. Gary Shuttleworth (in
the flesh -
not a re-enactment)
(10:30am
@ Sheffield
United
Church)
Rev. Shuttleworth was Sheffield United's minister from 1987-1990.
Part 1
Part 2
Sunday 20 May,
2012
Guest Speaker
- Former Sheffield
Minister - Rev. Charles Freshman
(10:30am
@ Sheffield United
Church)
Rev. Freshman will be introducing himself to the Sheffield community
ca. 1860, and talking a bit about his interesting life. Rev. Freshman
was formerly a Hungarian Rabbi.
Sunday 27 May,
2012
Guest Speaker
- Former Sheffield
Minister - Rev. George Plowman
(10:30am
@ Sheffield United
Church)
Rev. Plowman will be addressing the congregation regarding the highly
divisive issue of allowing members of secret societies to join the
United Brethren in 1889.
Sunday
3 June,
2012
"Ode To Sheffield"
- A poem in
honour of
Sheffield United's 200th Anniversary year,
written by Rev. Tom Watson.
It's
just a sleepy little town,
To
the world outside of scant renown,
But
in this sleepy little place
There
beats a heart
Exuding
warm...and charm...and grace.
It's
just off the beaten track--
They
changed the highway some years back--
So
you can pass right by and never know
The
friendly nature that oerflows
From
vein and pore of all who live
Within
the core and all around
This
sleepy little country town.
Two
hundred years
ago they came--
John
Cornell and Huldah Ames--
To
tame a wilderness and build
A
settlement where good and kind
And
decent law-abiding folks would find
A
wholesome spot to raise their young,
To
praise their God on Sunday morn,
And
carve out a future yet unborn.
It
was a brave and noble venture,
Fraught
with all the early danger
That
settlers always faced
When'er
they placed their stake and sought
Some
newfound ground to break.
They
worked from dawn 'til after dusk--
Trees
to fell, logs to hue, corn to husk, and plant the food
To
fill the brood that they had birthed
Since
first they stepped on Sheffield's earth.
Their
days are now long come and gone
But
still the village marches on.
What
keeps it going strong these days
Amid
the world's fast whirling maze?
The
same resolute, intrepid spirit
Imbued
by forebears to inherit,
And
thus to fashion for our time
A
place where all folks good and kind
May
come and dwell and daily find
Peace...contentment...friendship...grace.
Today,
within this sleepy little place.
In
folks you meet you'll clearly find
The
same enduring heart still beats
Deep...embedded...rich...enshrined.
Sunday 3
June,
2012
Guest Speaker
- Former Sheffield
Minister - Rev. Joseph Showers
(10:30am
@ Sheffield United
Church)
Due to recent upheavals in the choir loft, Rev. Showers will
be
reading the new "Rules for the Choir" to the congregation of the
Sheffield United Brethren Church in 1897.
Sunday
10 June,
2012
Guest Speaker
- Former Sheffield Organist - Sister Olivia Hammill
(10:30am
@ Sheffield United
Church)
In light of the trial of the Choir Leader for insulting the former
Organist's sister, Miss Hammill will be reading the new "Rules for the
Choir" to the congregation of the Sheffield Methodist Church in 1893.
Sunday
10 June,
2012
Guest Speaker
- Former Sheffield Minister - Rev. J. W. Schofield
(10:30am
@ Sheffield United
Church)
Rev. Schofield will be speaking to the Sheffield United Brethren about
joining the Congregationalists.
Thursday
June 28,
2012
Strawberry
Social (5:30 pm @ Sheffield
United Church)
Hamburgers,
hot dogs, chips, strawberries, ice cream, and some entertainment will
be provided. All you need to bring is a lawn chair...and it is
suggested you wear a funny hat (or funny hair).
Tickets $10 Adult, $5 children, family max $25. Dave Hall and Gerry
Pullin have tickets.
Click on the photo to see more pictures from this event.
Sunday
26 August, 2012A bus/wine
tour of Prince Edward
County
Leave
Sheffield at 7:45 AM. Service at Grace United, Trenton at 11 AM,
followed by lunch. Go to Hay Bay Church for service at 3 PM with Roy
Bonisteel as guest speaker. Go to winery/cidery for tasting, and then
sight-seeing of Lake On The Mountain. Arrive back in Sheffield at 10 PM. For
info and booking call Gerry Pullin at 519-740-1969or
email at gpullin@silomail.com Bus is not yet full so being opened up
to Rockton
congregation
Click on the photo to see more pictures from this event
Sunday
16 September,
2012 Guest Speaker - Former Sheffield
Minister - Rev.
Tim Hayward (in the flesh -
not a
re-enactment)
Sunday 30 September, 2012 Guest Speaker -
Former
Minister Rev. James Knight (10:30
am @ Sheffield United Church)
Rev. Knight will be speaking to the Sheffield Methodists in 1924 about
their future in the
United
Church of Canada
Sunday
30 September,
2012 Cemetery
Day (12:30 pm @ Sheffield
Cemetery, Seaton Road, Sheffield)
A
visit to the Sheffield Cemetery for a brief tour of the restoration
work that has
been
done, a visit with
our forebears, and a short dedication service.
October
21,
2012
New History Book - "The First Churches of
Sheffield" - Now Available for $20!
This
is really three books in one. It includes:
-John A. Cornell's "First Church of Beverly", which has been out of
print for nearly a century.
-Rev. John A. Cornell's book from 1825, which is a very rare book with
only one original copy known to exist.
-A new history of the Sheffield United Church (including the
Methodists), which is all based on current research.
Available at Settlers Supplies, 1139 Settlers Road, Sheffield, On.
(M-Fr 8-5:30, Sat 8-4), or by mail order (email
to place order).
Saturday
20 October,
2012 1812 Banquet and Dance
(6:00
pm at Farm and Home Building,
Rockton Fairgrounds, Rockton,
Ontario)
There will be an 1812 dinner and dance, which will include
a chance to do dancing from ca. 1812. Catered roast beef meal. Tickets
$30 adults, $15 children 5 to 12, under 5 free. Music by Settlers Band.
Period dress encouraged, but optional.
For tickets call Grace Pullin at 519-740-1969.
(10:30am
@ Sheffield United
Church)
The service included a sermon by the new United Church
moderator
Gary Paterson, some historical vignettes, greetings
from
dignitaries, and the Royal City Ambassadors (Barbershop
Chorus). Some
170 people packed the sanctuary and choir loft, and an additional 80 in
the lower hall joined
in worship via closed circuit TV
30
December, 2012
Guest Speaker - Rev. John A. Cornell
(10:30
am - Sheffield United Church, Sheffield, Ontario)
Our founder wishes us farewell for the 200th anniversary year
