Back At It

Back to Riverbank. I've been ignoring it for a few days; one of those writer's block things. But, it needs to be done. So guess who I worked on today. All of you Steeves folks out there -  your ancestor  - Charles Alfred Steeves, who married Caroline Maria Holmes - and up there at the top is his signature. He visited Riverbank on July 21, 1909, along with Rev. Canon Smithers and one C F (or G F) Fowler that I'm trying to figure out. Somehow, I don't think they came together, I think they are three distinct individuals who came on the same day. It depends on what I find out about Mr. Fowler. If he were heavily involved in the Anglican Church, it might lead me to some connection with Canon Smithers.

Anyway, I found a little story about Canon Smithers that I thought I'd share with you. Being both a Baptist and a banker, I found it amusing.

"The first Medley Memorial Canon Missionary, the Reverend Allan W. Smithers, was appointed in 1908. A man of rare ability and legendary wit, Canon Smithers worked closely with the Bishop, until his death in 1932, caring for vacant parishes, and providing ministry in remote areas. Archdeacon A.F. Bate describes him as '. . . the confidante of our Bishop and the Episcopal troubleshooter,' as well as 'the friend and advisor of all the clergy.' Smithers had served in Albert County, and the lovely stone Church, dedicated to St. Alban, which he built at Riverside Albert, was designated as his memorial. During its construction, so the story goes, the local Member of Parliament, a prominent Baptist layman, visited the site, and was informed by Canon Smithers that he was expected to give a donation of  $50.00 towards the project. The M.P. replied that he could see no reason why he, as a Baptist, should contribute to the building of an Anglican Church but would, if Canon Smithers could prove from Scripture that he should do so. Taking out his New Testament the Canon pointed to St. Luke 16:6: 'Take thy bill, sit down quickly and write fifty.' The cheque was duly written!"

This little wee church is just the cutest church around. I wonder if it can seat 50 people. I went searching for some photos I took of it, but I must not have kept them. But a peek at the website gives you a nice photo of it. It just makes me smile every time I go by, and now that I've heard that story I'll smile even more, knowing that there's $50 of Baptist money built into it.

On to Mr. Whats-his-name Fowler next.

Here is the link to St. Alban's Anglican Church in Riverside Albert: http://trychurch.homestead.com/StAlbans.html

I took the quote from "Citizens with the Saints," by Lyman N Harding.
http://anglican.nb.ca/bishop/citizens_with_the_saints/4_the_golden_voice_of_the_house_of_bishops.html