Mary & Ted Lee

by Lucy (Lee) Newsome

There are some things I remember, as I was growing up, about the Anglican Church.

The church was closed for some time in the mid-1950s, so I went to Sunday school at St. Andrew's United Church.

Mom (Mary Lee) was instrumental in starting a Sunday school when All Saints re-opened in the late ‘50s. She had the help of Ava Lewis, and they both taught for many years. I also taught, along with Mrs. Hardy.

We had some wonderful Sunday school picnics in June at Mrs. Lewis' farm, complete with lunch and many races. Mom was responsible for obtaining all the Sunday school lessons and looked after the collection (offering), paying for the lessons and awards at the end of the year out of it. I still have pins and a prayer book I received over the years.

As we shared our minister with Canmore, church was held in the morning one day a month, and either in the afternoon or evening the other Sundays. Sunday school was always in the morning. When church service was in the morning, Sunday school was after church.

Mom, Mary Lee, belonged to the Ladies' Guild for many years, looking after the altar-changing curtains, etc. for the Church Seasons (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent). She also crocheted the altar cloth that was used for years. She often took flowers from her garden to the church.

My dad, Ted Lee, belonged to the Vestry. He acted as Church Warden for many, many years, and also was People's Warden.

He started the heater Saturday night so the Church would be warm on Sunday. This was before a furnace was installed. He also cleared the snow off the steps and sidewalks before services. He was usually at the Church half an hour early as he was a warden. He and Mom looked after getting the wine and wafers ready for Communion.

The Vestry put on a Pancake Supper for Shrove Tuesday each year. It was held in the basement of the Community Hall. The Ladies' Guild and the older Sunday school students would help. Dad mixed all the pancake batter from scratch. It was a real community event with the town people coming in great support.

The Ladies' Guild held a Tea and Bake Sale each spring to raise money. For a few years they also had a doughnut sale. Dad again made all the batter from scratch, and cooked them all. I still remember coating the dozens of donuts with sugar - messy, but fun.

For a few years the Vestry, Guild, and Sunday school did the concession for the Beaupré Gymkhana. It was a lot of work, but we had fun doing it.

Mom and Dad were especially faithful and hard working in their commitment to the church, which we benefited from as a family.

I hope this brings back a few memories for others, too.

All Saints Sunday school in the 60s
All Saints Sunday school in the 60s

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