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200th Anniversary Celebrations

2012 is a special year for Sheffield United Church. It marks 200 years since John A. Cornell started his own church in Sheffield, which gradually evolved into Sheffield United Church.

Schedule of Events

October 2011                           Sheffield Cemetery Restoration
Sheffield United Church paid to have a section of gravestones straightened and repaired in October 2011, including the founder of Sheffield (and our church) John A. Cornell.
Click here for more information on this project.
During the summer of 2012, the City of Hamilton will be paying to have the more dangerously leaning gravestones repaired. We hope to be able to add to what the city is paying for.
We are encouraging the community and those with ancestors in the Sheffield Cemetery to donate money toward this project so that we can fix up as many gravestones as possible, and get the cemetery looking respectable again.
All proceeds from our 200th anniversary events and sales of our history book will be put toward this project.

22 October, 2011                     Heritage Fashion Show (8:00pm @ Sheffield United Church)
This is our kick-off event, even though it's still 2011, we thought we'd start early with this fashion show to give people ideas and inspiration for lining up there own costumes to wear at some of our events in 2012.
The fashion show is an interesting display of how people dressed in Canada from the late 18th century to the early 20th century. Admission is free, and there are refreshments after.

Sunday 15 January, 2012   
    Guest Speaker - Former Sheffield Minister Rev. John A.Cornell
                                                  (10:30am @ Sheffield United Church)
Rev. John A. Cornell will be making his first address to his new church in 1812.



Sunday 29 January, 2012        Guest Speaker - Former Sheffield Minister Rev. John A.Cornell                                                                               (10:30am @ Sheffield United Church)
Rev. John A. Cornell will be addressing his congregation about pacifism and the War of 1812.



Sunday 26 February, 2012      Guest Speaker - Former Sheffield Minister Rev. John A.Cornell   
                                                  (10:30am @ Sheffield United Church)
Rev. John A. Cornell will be addressing his congregation about the rules and doctrines of his church.



March 1, 2, and 3, 2012          A Musical Comedy entitled “A CHURCH HISTORY...SORT OF”
                                                 (will be performed on these 3 evenings at 7:30pm, at Sheffield United Church)

200th Anniversary Musical - A Church History: Sort Of
Click on the photo above for more images of this event.
Sunday 23 March, 2012          Guest Speaker - Former Sheffield Methodist Minister - Rev. Thomas Fawcett
                                                  (
10:30am @ Sheffield United Church)
                                                   A Wesleyan Methodist Circuit Rider will speak to a group in Sheffield about forming a                                                        congregation in 1832.


                                                   


Sunday 1 April, 2012              Guest Speaker - Former Sheffield Minister - Rev. John A.Cornell  
                                               
 (10:30am @ Sheffield United Church)
                                                 
Rev. John A. Cornell will be welcoming his congregation to their newly constructed                                                          church building in 1834.

                                                            


Sunday 15 April, 2012             Guest Speaker - Former Sheffield Minister - Rev. John A.Cornell  
                                                  
(10:30am @ Sheffield United Church)
                                                  Rev. John A. Cornell will be speaking to his congregation in 1854  about what will                                                           become of the church after he has passed on.
   
                                                           

Sunday 29 April, 2012              Guest Speaker - Former Sheffield Minister - Rev. Israel Sloane
(10:30am @ Sheffield United Church)
Rev. Sloane will be inviting the congregation to officially join the United Brethren in Christ, in 1854.



Sunday 6 May, 2012               Guest Speaker - Former Sheffield Minister - Rev. Gary Shuttleworth (in the flesh -                                                   not a re-enactment) 
(10:30am @ Sheffield United Church)
Rev. Shuttleworth was Sheffield United's minister from 1987-1990.
Part 1


                                                   Part 2

Sunday 20 May, 2012             Guest Speaker - Former Sheffield Minister - Rev. Charles Freshman

(10:30am @ Sheffield United Church)
Rev. Freshman will be introducing himself to the Sheffield community ca. 1860, and talking a bit about his interesting life. Rev. Freshman was formerly a Hungarian Rabbi.



Sunday 27 May, 2012             Guest Speaker - Former Sheffield Minister - Rev. George Plowman

(10:30am @ Sheffield United Church)
Rev. Plowman will be addressing the congregation regarding the highly divisive issue of allowing members of secret societies to join the United Brethren in 1889.



Sunday 3 June, 2012              "Ode To Sheffield" - A poem in honour of Sheffield United's 200th Anniversary year,                                                     written by Rev. Tom Watson.

It's just a sleepy little town,
To the world outside of scant renown,
But in this sleepy little place
There beats a heart
Exuding warm...and charm...and grace.

It's just off the beaten track--
They changed the highway some years back--
So you can pass right by and never know
The friendly nature that oerflows
From vein and pore of all who live
Within the core and all around
This sleepy little country town.

Two hundred years ago they came--
John Cornell and Huldah Ames--
To tame a wilderness and build
A settlement where good and kind
And decent law-abiding folks would find
A wholesome spot to raise their young,
To praise their God on Sunday morn,
And carve out a future yet unborn.

It was a brave and noble venture,
Fraught with all the early danger
That settlers always faced
When'er they placed their stake and sought
Some newfound ground to break.
They worked from dawn 'til after dusk--
Trees to fell, logs to hue, corn to husk, and plant the food
To fill the brood that they had birthed
Since first they stepped on Sheffield's earth.

Their days are now long come and gone
But still the village marches on.
What keeps it going strong these days
Amid the world's fast whirling maze?
The same resolute, intrepid spirit
Imbued by forebears to inherit,
And thus to fashion for our time
A place where all folks good and kind
May come and dwell and daily find
Peace...contentment...friendship...grace.
Today, within this sleepy little place.
In folks you meet you'll clearly find
The same enduring heart still beats
Deep...embedded...rich...enshrined.


Sunday 3 June, 2012               Guest Speaker - Former Sheffield Minister - Rev. Joseph Showers
(10:30am @ Sheffield United Church)
Due to recent upheavals in the choir loft, Rev. Showers will be reading the new "Rules for the Choir" to the congregation of the Sheffield United Brethren Church in 1897.



Sunday 10 June, 2012             Guest Speaker - Former Sheffield Organist - Sister Olivia Hammill
(10:30am @ Sheffield United Church)
In light of the trial of the Choir Leader for insulting the former Organist's sister, Miss Hammill will be reading the new "Rules for the Choir" to the congregation of the Sheffield Methodist Church in 1893.



Sunday 10 June, 2012             Guest Speaker - Former Sheffield Minister - Rev. J. W. Schofield

(10:30am @ Sheffield United Church)
Rev. Schofield will be speaking to the Sheffield United Brethren about joining the Congregationalists.




Thursday June 28, 2012          Strawberry Social
(5:30 pm @ Sheffield United Church)
Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, strawberries, ice cream, and some entertainment will be provided. All you need to bring is a lawn chair...and it is suggested you wear a funny hat (or funny hair).
Tickets $10 Adult, $5 children, family max $25. Dave Hall and Gerry Pullin have tickets.

200th Anniversary Strawberry Social @ Sheffield United Church.

Click on the photo to see more pictures from this event.

Sunday 26 August, 2012          A bus/wine tour of Prince Edward County
Leave Sheffield at 7:45 AM. Service at Grace United, Trenton at 11 AM, followed by lunch. Go to Hay Bay Church for service at 3 PM with Roy Bonisteel as guest speaker. Go to winery/cidery for tasting, and then sight-seeing of Lake On The Mountain. Arrive back in Sheffield at 10 PM.
For info and booking call Gerry Pullin at 519-740-1969 or email at gpullin@silomail.com
Bus is not yet full so being opened up to Rockton congregation

Sheffield United Church 200th Anniversary Pilgrimage Bus Trip

Click on the photo to see more pictures from this event

Sunday 16 September, 2012   Guest Speaker - Former Sheffield Minister - Rev. Tim Hayward (in the flesh - not a                                                   re-enactment)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

       
                                                   
Sunday 30 September, 2012    Guest Speaker - Former Minister Rev. James Knight
                                                   
(10:30 am @ Sheffield United Church)
                                                   Rev. Knight will be speaking to the Sheffield Methodists in 1924 about their future in the                                                    United Church of Canada


Sunday 30 September, 2012    Cemetery Day
(12:30 pm @ Sheffield Cemetery, Seaton Road, Sheffield)
                                                  A visit to the Sheffield Cemetery for a brief tour of the restoration work that has been                                                       done, a visit with our forebears, and a short dedication service.

                                                                                                                                                                       

October 21, 2012                      New History Book - "The First Churches of Sheffield" - Now Available for $20!
 This is really three books in one. It includes:
-John A. Cornell's "First Church of Beverly", which has been out of print for nearly a century.
-Rev. John A. Cornell's book from 1825, which is a very rare book with only one original copy known to exist.
-A new history of the Sheffield United Church (including the Methodists), which is all based on current research.
Available at Settlers Supplies, 1139 Settlers Road, Sheffield, On. (M-Fr 8-5:30, Sat 8-4), or by mail order (email to place order).

Saturday 20 October, 2012      1812 Banquet and Dance
(6:00 pm at Farm and Home Building, Rockton Fairgrounds, Rockton, Ontario)
There will be an 1812 dinner and dance, which will include a chance to do dancing from ca. 1812. Catered roast beef meal. Tickets $30 adults, $15 children 5 to 12, under 5 free. Music by Settlers Band. Period dress encouraged, but optional.
For tickets call Grace Pullin at 519-740-1969.

Sheffield United Church 200th Anniversary Dinner and Dance

Click on the photo above to see more images from this event.

Sunday 21 October, 2012                 Anniversary Sunday            (Listen to the service)
(10:30am @ Sheffield United Church)
The service included a sermon by the new United Church moderator Gary Paterson, some historical vignettes, greetings from dignitaries, and the Royal City Ambassadors (Barbershop Chorus). Some 170 people packed the sanctuary and choir loft, and an additional 80 in the lower hall joined in worship via closed circuit TV
200th Anniversary Sunday @ Sheffield United Church
Click on the photo above to see more images from this event.




30 December, 2012        Guest Speaker - Rev. John A. Cornell
                                         (10:30 am - Sheffield United Church, Sheffield, Ontario)
                                         Our founder wishes us farewell for the 200th anniversary year

                     
   



 


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