A riot of scarecrows and a saintly war memorial in Meaford
Glass from more than 125 churches in England, France, Belgium and Holland used in church
On a sunny, fresh fall day we decided to take a trip to Meaford to see the stained glass memorial windows.
The route leads over hills with views over the countryside and many small towns including Flesherton, population about 1,000, to crossroads that have a name and only a building or two.
As we got closer to Georgian Bay, there were hills — sometimes with limestone cliffs showing where the lakeshore was in ancient times.
Our route led us through the Beaver Valley, where a river cuts into the softer debris from glaciation, creating quite a beautiful ski area. There is a lay-by with a viewpoint over this valley on Grey Road 13.
Along the way to Meaford, intriguing signs point to Hogg’s Falls and Eugenia Falls. Small signs offer access points to the Saugeen River, or mark Frog Hollow and Old Mail Roads. Since the trip takes between two and three hours — depending on distractions — a picnic basket might be a good idea.
Reaching the village of Meaford, we had a surprise. A riot of scarecrows, everywhere. This year’s Scarecrow Invasion has the theme of celebrating Canada’s 150th, and the scarecrows are definitely celebrating — on front lawns, on benches and even dancing on top of street lights.
In the past 21 years, the Invasion has grown to include a parade with a scarecrow kazoo band, books, songs and much media interest. We felt welcomed by it all.
Christ Church Anglican is one of the original five churches of Meaford, established in 1862. Through several metamorphoses, it has become a stone church (with
solar panels on the roof), a square bell tower and pointed arch windows, modern but resembling an English village church. To view the memorial windows, visitors must enter the church.
The Rev. Harold Appleyard was the rector of the parish just before the Second World War. In 1941, he signed up as a chaplain to the local regiment and was sent overseas with Meaford and area men, where he was shocked by the destruction of war. There were many churches destroyed and damaged by bombing. With local permission, he began collecting some of the many shards of stained glass windows.
When he returned to Meaford, he had rescued bits of glass from more than 125 churches in England, France, Belgium and Holland.
Two of his acquaintances in England, G.S. Sherrin (who had been appointed by the Crown to look after the churches of London), and Mr. Cox, of Cox and Bernard Stained Glass Works, were also instrumental in helping Rev. Appleyard have windows made for Christ Church in memory of Canadians killed in the war.
One window contains a large fragment from Canterbury Cathedral; another is made up of shards from churches designed by Christopher Wren. Two others come from many bombed churches.
The windows are a memorial to the destructiveness of war, but even more clearly to beauty and the piety portrayed even in glimpses of the originals. The look on the faces of the figures portrayed has lasted through the centuries and the distance.
One window presents two, or maybe three, figures blessing a fourth whose feet are all that remain. The looks on their faces are reverent. Visitors can see the beehive (an early symbol of the church) or decipher the winged lion of St. Mark, or just enjoy the rich colours and artistry of the windows all together. Cox’s company did an amazing job uniting bits and pieces into windows that inspire.
The church provides a small brochure describing the origins of the windows. A church committee looks after the windows and maintains a box for donations for their upkeep. Church volunteer Francis Robertson led us on a tour of the memorial.
Reluctantly, we left the windows and drove around the streets to admire the scarecrows, taking a few moments in Beautiful Joe Park, which commemorates the children’s book of the same name. This is a small wooded area close to the house where the family who rescued Joe lived.
The park contains the resting place of the dog that inspired the story by Margaret Saunders, the first book written by a Canadian writer to sell more than one million copies.
Then we retraced our steps on the way home, stopping at one of the fruit stands selling local apples. We returned home through fields and hills refreshed and inspired.
If you go:
Take Highway 10 from Orangeville to Flesherton. Take Grey County Rd. 7, detouring around the Saugeen River Bridge. Detour signs take you to Grey County Rd. 13 and back to Grey County Rd. 7. Christ Church Anglican is at 34 Boucher St. E., a block east of the main street (South Sykes Street). To arrange a tour, email fricharson@outlook.com.
Scarecrow Invasion is on display everywhere in Meaford until mid-October or longer.
Food along the way:
Jolley’s Dairy Bar and Video, 23 Collingwood St. in Flesherton (Hwy. 4, one block east of Hwy. 10), 519-924-0230. Old-fashioned scooped cones — generous portions, lots of flavours.
Andrew’s Roots Restaurant, 82-84 Sykes St., Meaford, 519-538-9000, www.andrewsroots.com. Open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. It’s the brainchild of Chef Andrew Barber and reservations are recommended; lunch ($13 to $15): salads, portobello crêpes, mussels, burgers.