Resolutions prepared by Wardens of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Williamsburg, February 26, 1827

Description
Creator
Hayunga, Herman, Author
Media Type
Text
Item Type
Documents
Description
Handwritten document listing four resolutions passed by the wardens of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Williamsburg. The resolutions ask the Lord Bishop of Quebec to resolve the issue of church ownership, and empowers Herman Hayunga as their representative. Also includes the minutes of the meeting which was held at the House of Conrad Frymire.
Notes
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Riverside Heights, Ontario is a member of the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. It began in the late 1700s as a congregation of settlers in Williamsburg Township, Upper Canada. In 1789 a church building was erected on the Center Commons Lot in the first Concession of Williamsburg Township. The church was originally named Zion Lutheran Church, but the name was quickly changed to St. George’s Church. The first pastor was Reverend Samuel Schwerdtfeger.

In 1814, St. George’s Church was taken over by the Church of England under the direction of Rev. John Gunther Weagant, a previous pastor of the Lutheran Church. The Lutherans were barred from St. George’s Church and were forced to hold services in the homes of congregation members. In 1826, Rev. Herman Hayunga accepted the call as pastor to the Lutherans in Williamsburg Township. He quickly formed two congregations in the area – St. John’s Church in Riverside, and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Williamsburg.

For several years Hayunga petitioned the government to deed St. George’s Church to the Lutheran congregation. When the government denied his request Hayunga demanded that the congregation receive financial compensation for the loss of property. In 1846 the government granted the Lutheran church the sum of 500 Canadian pounds.

In 1833 the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. John was consecrated by Rev. Hayunga. The new wooden frame building stood on a lot donated by church member Conrad Frymire. In 1863 a larger, brick church was built on the same lot. In 1956 the St. Lawrence Seaway Project forced the relocation of the Church. On December 7, 1958, the new St. John’s Lutheran Church was completed at Riverside Heights.

Transcribed by Shelby Campbell in 2015.
Date of Original
Feb. 26, 1827
Dimensions
Width: 38.6 cm
Height: 31.3 cm
Subject(s)
Clergy
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church (Riverside Heights, Ont.)
Hayunga, Herman
Local identifier
S2020_2.7
Collection
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Riverside Heights ON fonds
Language of Item
English
Geographic Coverage
  • Williamsburg
    Ontario, Canada
    Latitude: 44.9668 Longitude: -75.24932
Copyright Statement
Public domain: Copyright has expired according to Canadian law. No restrictions on use.
Recommended Citation
Wilfrid Laurier University Archives & Special Collections
Reproduction Notes
Text S100 Disc2
Contact
Wilfrid Laurier University Library
Email:libarch@wlu.ca
Website:
https://library.wlu.ca/archives

Agency street/mail address:

75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON Canada N2L 3C5

Full Text

[page 1]

Document

marked

Letter N. _

Resolutions H -

26th Febry. 1827

No 1

[page 2]

Williamsburg 26th Feb.y 1827.

The Wardens of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Williamsburg, having met, pursuant to appointment, for the purpose of Considering the interests and Welfare of their Church, came to the following Resolutions;

Resolved I that they both in behalf of their successors and in the Name of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Williamsburg, Eastern District Province of Upper Canada humbly petition the Lord Bishop of Quebec to settle the Controversy, which is agitated between them & the Reverend John Gunter Weagant, Missionary of the Church of England at Williamsburg.

Resolved II. That they respectfully submit to the Lord Bishop of Quebec a true statement of the grievances, they have suffered and still continue to suffer from the said Revd John G. Weagant.

Resolved III. That if the Lord Bishop of Quebec deem this subject worthy his attention, they are anxious that His Lordship may personally examine this pending controversy.

Resolved IV. That their present Evangelical Lutheran Minister the Reverend Hermanus Hayunga prepare in conformity with the preceding resolutions, a Petition and a Memorial - addressed to His Lordship the Bishop of Quebec, & that the same be sent as soon as possible.

[page 3]

Memorandum. The Meeting was called by the Revd H. Hayunga. All the Wardens assembled about 6 o'clock PM at the House of Conrad Frymire, one of the Wardens;

The Revd H. Hayunga took the Chair - & officiated at the same time as Secretary;

He opened the Meeting by calling the attention of the Wardens to the afflicting dispensation of Providence which had befallen yesterday their Church. He estimated the damage occasioned by fire ect. - to be great & that perhaps One Hundred Dollars would not repair the Building for fitness of use. He pressed it upon the attention of the Wardens that as they did not know to whom the Church ect. now belonged, it would be better to petition the Bishop of Quebec to settle the existing Controversy between the Lutheran & Church of England Congregation at this place; & that after having obtained due information relative to this point - they should repair the Church, by incurring necessary expenses.

Mr Peter Witteker proposed to repair the church as well as they could by not incurring any expences whatever, so as to be able to hold publick Worship in it, till such information be obtained -

This may Certify that this was the object & intent of the above mentioned meeting of the Wardens aforesaid & that the written mentioned four Resolution were unanimously passed -

In Witness whereof I have signed this Certificate.

Herman Hayunga

Pastor & Chairmen

Williamsburg 26th Febry 1827 -

Powered by / Alimenté par VITA Toolkit
Privacy Policy