Sturgeon Point Union Church
Sturgeon Point has sandy and gravelly soil, so it was not well suited to agriculture, but was more open than the surrounding forests, and was a beautiful spot to spend a summer day, having views of all three arms of Sturgeon Lake. When this waterfront did not develop as farmland like many other nearby lots did, Lindsay steamboat Captain George Crandell realized its potential. He founded the Sturgeon Point Hotel in 1876, and surveyed cottage lots for sale. In the years that followed, Sturgeon Point became a tourist destination and cottage community. Many of the cottagers and visitors were Lindsay business owners.
The opportunity to attend church was important for the visitors and summer residents at Sturgeon Point, however, they belonged to different denominations. To found a church at Sturgeon Point that could be inclusive, they agreed to make it non-denominational. In December 1888, trustees acquired a lot for $75, then erected a gazebo-like structure, which opened the following year. Since Sturgeon Point was a summer destination and cottage community, there was no need for year-round services.
In 1915, Clara (Ellsworth) Flavelle (later Lady Flavelle) gifted a beautiful new church to the community, to replace the old gazebo which had fallen into disrepair. Inspired by a building she saw while visiting Georgia, she hired Toronto architect A. Frank Wickson to design an octagonal church. With windows on seven sides, the eighth side incorporates the pulpit, choir seats and organ. The building also includes a vestry and anteroom. The ceiling slopes upwards from each wall to a centre post. Dormers on the roof admit additional light, and a belfry perched on the peak allowed the church bell to call the community to Sunday morning service. Clara ensured that the building was finished with Georgia pine. To allow for the larger design, the church acquired the adjacent lot, which had a cottage on it at the time.
The Sturgeon Point Union Church was presented to the community on July 8, 1915. Captain Charles Gray’s steamer Lintonia brought a crowd from Lindsay, allowing a total of 400-500 people to attend. The church was filled and many more listened from chairs outside the building. In the spirit of co-operation, the ministers from three Lindsay churches: Cambridge Street Methodist, Cambridge Street Baptist and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian all cooperated in the dedication service.
True to its founding principles, the Sturgeon Point Union Church remains non-denominational. It is managed by a volunteer board, and supported by free-will offerings, while donating to local charities. Visiting ministers and lay speakers lead the services. Being a striking architectural specimen, the church has hosted many weddings over the years. It is increasingly being used as a community centre, providing a venue for concerts, plays, speakers and other public events.
