- Visitors given opportunity to admire the church’s 1866 architecture -
by Sylene Argent
Over the weekend, area residents had the opportunity to be inspired by holiday decorating ideas, as they participated in the 16th annual Kingsville Christmas House Tour.
The event, which has become a Christmas tradition since its inaugural event in 2003, showcases a list of homes, businesses, and churches, all as a fundraiser for Migration Hall - presently celebrating its 25th Anniversary Year.
Eventgoers had their choice to join in the event on either Saturday or Sunday. Their excursion through Kingsville began at Migration Hall and ended at Pelee Island Winery.
Stop number seven on this year’s Kingsville Christmas House Tour list of participants was Trinity Anglican Church, the little white church in the cemetery in Cottam.
Church volunteer Pat Jackson said the church approached the Kingsville Christmas House Tour organizers as a willing participant. This was the first year Trinity has been a participant in this event.
Reverend Christine Brouillard-Coyle said the congregate members always decorate the little church for the holiday season and they thought it would be a great fit for the event. Members of the congregation brought in the decorations, which were strategically placed around the church.
In decorating the church for the event, Jackson said volunteers went with a “little country church” theme. Volunteers began decorating on the Tuesday before the event, and were still putting up last-minute touches before the event kicked-off on Saturday morning. Some of the congregate members even found branches, which were used to decorate the interior of the church.
Brouillard-Coyle said the church was built in 1866, which made it a neat piece of architecture for event participants to see with decorate for the upcoming Christmas season.
Volunteers with the church also took the time to make and sell homemade baked goods during the event as a church fundraiser.
Jackson noted nearly 400 visitors came through the church’s front doors over the two-day event. Due to the high foot-traffic volume, the church volunteers ran out of baked goods on Saturday. Late Saturday afternoon, parishioners made more bake goods for Sunday, which also sold out.
They also sold out of meat and cherry pie. Volunteers are making more for orders that need to be in by November 30 as part of its annual sale.
Trinity said a special “thank-you” to Diane Newman, Debby Newman, Ann Dresser, and Jackson for helping to organize the event at the church.