Peace garden unveiled at Trinity United Church

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at Trinity United Church in Wallaceburg on Sunday, September, 17, 2017 for the new peace garden at the church (Dana Haggith)

Trinity United Church held a special ceremony on Sunday, September 17 to unveil a brand new peace garden at their Wellington Street location.

(Dana Haggith)

“It started to be a memorial for people remembering loved ones in the past, but then we decided to celebrate today as well and our history of the church,” Minister Cheryl Kirk told the Sydenham Current.

“175 years in this area as a church of some sort.”

The garden has a variety of features, including: a historic memorial stone, peace garden stone, memorial plaque honouring choir directors, organists and choirs, a memorial plaque honouring past and present ministers, two black granite benches and engraved paving stones in the walkway.

The brand new pond-less waterfall is now running in the garden as well.

“It is great to hear the water and the life that that brings,” Kirk said.

“We also wanted to provide a place for people to rest and sit in our community and think. Particularly, understand the commitment to peace. Peace in our hearts, peace in our communities, peace with others and peace with the world. We want to be peace makers. I think peace makers are very much needed in our world today.”

Jean Bolt, the designer and project coordinator, told the Sydenham Current she believes this new garden will make people think.

“We can live a peaceful life and this is a symbol of it here,” she said.

(Dana Haggith)

“We took this back to 1813 and there is 90 ministers that have been in this church at one time from 1813 to the present time. I think their memories should be preserved and what they did in this community and how they built it up. There is generations and generations here.”

Bolt added: “I also feel that the people today need a kick start and get our thinking straightened around a little bit. It is a wonderful world and we have to preserve it. This is one way that we can thank the maker for what we have got.”

Bolt said the project, which started in January, was a lot of work to complete

“It took time, but it was worth it,” she said.

Jack Wilford, of Wilford Landscaping, helped with the design, construction and landscaping, Doug MacLennan handled the electrical work, Ryan and Tom McFadden from St. Croix Memorial created the stones and engraving, while Heather Dawson handled the office coordination.


– Photo credit: Dana Haggith

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