Mr. Speaker, in 1826 Samuel Armour, an Anglican deacon, established a mission in Scott's Plains, now Peterborough, Ontario. He held services in a log school. Soon after the English Church, later St. John the Evangelist, was built on a hill near the head of navigation of the Otonabee River.
That church has been a community treasure ever since. Its grounds have been a public park. From its tower flew the fire flag and sounded the fire bell of the town that grew up around it. For 90 years its bells have been the people's chimes, ringing out on special occasions.
St. John's was the mother church of Anglicanism in its region. Today it is a heritage church with a congregation that, like its predecessors, ministers to the community.
I wish St. John's a happy 175th anniversary. May it keep up its fine tradition of worship and service.