Events

Past Events

Monument cleaning workshops
We are learning how to clean monuments and markers.  Watch for some of our oldest tombstones growing brighter and easier to read! We will be holding a workshop for members of the congregation on September 25, 2022 after church. Mark your calendars!

BEFORE CLEANING TREATMENT

2021 Events

Trinity Streetsville Cemetery Designated Historic Cemetery
In September 2021, Trinity Streetsville’s cemetery was officially designated an historic cemetery.  A plaque was placed, soldiers in traditional garb marched and fired muskets, as we recognized three militia men who served in the War of 1812 and rest in Trinity Streetsville cemetery:

John Barnhart (1790-1863), a Private with the Embodied Militia of the 1st Regiment of Lennox Militia

William Birdsall (1791-1877), a Sergeant, who participated in the Battle of Queenston Heights.

James Davidson (1787-1864) was a Private, who was at St. David’s and the Battle of Lundy’s Lane in 1814. His rare gravestone depicts a soldier in uniform standing in front of a cannon.

Cemetery Tours 2021
Amanda Templeton, a long-time Cemetery Committee volunteer with a passion for history, led visitors through the cemetery, remarking on various monuments and graves of interest.  She had plenty of colourful stories about some of the cemetery resident. Edward Rutledge, for example, was a former Chief of Police for Streetsville.  According to his nephew, City Councillor George Carlson, Edward passed away after wandering in front of a passing train. Timothy Street, Jr. is also here. He perished in a barn fire behind the Telegraph Hotel after a cigarette was dropped in bales of hay.

She touched on two cemetery mysteries.  The first regards Israel Ransom, the first postmaster for Streetsville, 1829. Although church records indicate he is interred somewhere in the cemetery, there is no monument.  Either there weren’t family members to cover the expense, or like many monuments of that time, it may have been constructed from wood and deteriorated.

The second concerns the “Our Charlie” monument. Which Charlie is anyone’s guess. Charlie Caslor, 1873-1889, died at age 16. Charlie Bell died in 1889 at age 8.  Both died of diphtheria during the 1889 outbreak. The Caslor family was well known in Streetsville and one list in our church records mentions Caslor. Charlie Bell’s father was one of the first journalists in Streetsville. The Anglican diocese lists Charlie Bell.  Hopefully some digging in the Heritage Mississauga offices, which were closed during COVID, will reveal the truth.

All Saints Sunday, 2021
On the Sunday before All Saints Day, 2021, Trinity’s morning worship service included a time to remember dearly departed Trinity family members.  The introduction to the service included these words from Trinity rector, Rev. Robert Hurkmans:

“Death is a reality of life that very few people like to talk about. However, on All Saints' Day, Trinity Church comes together to celebrate the triumph of eternal life over death and to remember our dearly departed. While we are living, we know the reality of death; but when the Christian dies, they're surrounded by life.”