Photo by Barry Wallace
A church 162 years ago - now a barn
Situated on Dufferin Street, just south of the of the King's 16th Sideroad, sits the one-time Temperanceville Presbyterian Church, which now serves as a converted barn. The original church was built on Bathurst Street in 1958. The first service was held on September 25, 1859, and the last service was held 52 years later in July of 1912. The church building was soon converted into a private residence. Almost 60 years later, in 1971, the former church building was designated to be demolished for road construction. The historic building was saved however by Dr. Michael Willinsky, who owned property on the west side of Dufferin Street, north of Eversley. Dr. Willinsky purchased the structure, and took it down, plank by plank. Then an old-fashioned barn-raising was held on his property to restore it. The restored building was very attractive and strongly resembled the original church. Today it is home to ponies, goats and burros, among other creatures. Long may it continue to provide creature comforts. Many of the details provided above are from Elizabeth McClure Gilliam's Early Settlements of KING TOWNSHIP Ontario, published in 1975.
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Barry Wallace
