Anne Langton’s Enduring Faith

[Long oak altar cross carried back and forth to altar during Mass] Anne’s faith was strong and she was always on the lookout for an ideal pastor. [Picture in black and white of James Wallis, standing with one leg up on chair.  Taken circa 1840] In 1837, Anne convinced James Wallis, the timber baron of Fenelon Falls, [Picture scan of front of deed from James Wallis and Robert Jameison to St. James Church circa 1836] to donate land for a church. In fact, he gave the first [Charcoal sketch by Anne Langton of the first log church on the hill with cleared land and some trees] sermon in the new church once it was completed on May 6th, 1838.

[Drone footage of the original church property on the hill which then shows the surrounding village of Fenelon Falls and Cameron Lake] The property was located high on a hill in Fenelon. The site was chosen so that the new church would be a beacon for the community. The history of St. James Anglican Church is synonymous with the village history. [Video of the path up to the hill where church was in 1836, which is still in existence and used today to visit pioneer cemetery] Today you can still follow the path up to the site of the first church of St. James the Apostle, which was a modest log building. The logs were rough-hewn from local trees and build by community “bee” that was common in those [Video footage showing the original pioneer headstones dating back to 1836 that have been preserved on large cement holders] early days. The land included a graveyard, which is still in existence, and bears the names of early settlers.  This was the only graveyard in Fenelon Falls until 1869.