The Sound Within
Tom Thomson
This simple
granite stone
marks the
grave of Tom
Thomson
(1877-1917) in
the Leith
Cemetery.
Thomson
drowned under
mysterious
circumstances in Canoe Lake in Algonquin
Park in the summer
of 1917 and was
thought by many to
have been buried
there. In fact the
Thomson
family
insisted that his
remains
be
returned here and
buried beside the
church he attended
as a child and
young man.
Historic Leith Church
Scott St. John, violinist with the St. Lawrence
String Quartet has called it "the best sound in
Canada." Mark Fewer, Artistic Director of the
Sweetwater Festival, and past concertmaster
of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra says
it’s “.. an amazing spot."
1849 - Annan Trinity Church was a centre of
Presbyterian and United Church ministry on
the southern shore of Owen Sound Bay.
1865 - Leith Church was built when
Presbyterians in Canada divided into
several factions.
1877 - Leith and Annan were reunited into a
single pastoral charge.
The Holy Family
The circular stained glass window, designed
by Ellen Simon
and executed by
Yvonne Williams,
which
figures
prominently in the
Chancel,
was
given to the Leith
United Church in
1952.
The
Madonna and Child section of the window
was featured on the 52-cent Christmas
stamp issued by Canada Post in 1997.
419134 Tom Thomson Lane
150th Anniversary
Leith United Church, an "Auld Kirk" (Church
of Scotland) Presbyterian Church is one of
the finest examples of pre-Confederation
architecture in the municipality of Meaford.
15
1925 - Leith and Annan Churches joined the
United Church of Canada.
1969 - Membership at Leith no longer
justified maintaining it as a preaching point.
1972 - Designated as a historic building. As
time went by, the condition of the building
deteriorated until restoration became critical
to its future.
2015 Events
1992 - The church building and old
cemetery were designated together as an
Ontario provincial historic heritage site.
1992 – A group of supporters including
members of the Leith community and the
Annan Woodford congregation and minister,
representatives of the Sydenham Township
Council and LACAC formed the Friends of
Leith Church (FOLC). The FOLC, a
committee of The Annan/Woodford Pastoral
Charge, raised funds to restore the building.
2002 - The restoration was completed.
Today, the FOLC raise a yearly average of
$5,000 by various activities for building
maintenance,
including
capital
improvements and equipment replacement.
2009 - A green room for the performers and
humanure toilets for the patrons were added
in the drive shed. 2010 - A new furnace.
2011 - A coat of paint. 2012 - A new portable
stage. 2014 - A new roof. 2015 – A coat of
paint.
FOLC organize and run an annual program
of cultural, community and spiritual programs
that now includes regular summer concerts,
four church services, a summer country fair,
a Ceilidh, and a year-round monthly fiddle
jam. You are invited to support the
restoration of Leith Church by attending any
of these events.
Leith Church will be open July and August
Sunday afternoons as noted or by
appointment. For further information please
call 519-371-5308.
www.leithchurch.ca
(check website for latest info)
www.leithfestival.ca
2015 Events
Tues. May 12 [7 pm] - Fiddle Jam
Sun. May 17 [2:30 pm] - 17th Annual
Memorial Service & Cemetery Decoration
Sat May 30 [7:30 pm] – Steinacher Bursary
Concert – general seating. Tickets - $25
Sun. Aug 2 [11:00 am] – 150th Anniversary
Service and 'Lunch under the Oak'
Sat. Aug 8 [7:30 pm] - LSF - Concert Four
– Voyages à Paris - Nesrallah (mezzosoprano) & Léonardelli (harp)
Sun. Aug 9- Church open (2-4)
Tue. Aug 11 [7 pm] - Fiddle Jam
Tue. Jun 9 [7 pm] - Fiddle Jam
Sun. Aug 16- Church open (2-4)
Sat. July 4 [7:30 pm] - LEITH SUMMER
FESTIVAL (LSF) – assigned seating - Concert
One –The Gryphon Trio
Sat. Aug 22 [7:30 pm] - LSF - Concert Five
- Viva Espana - Bayrakdarian (soprano), &
Kradjian (piano)
Sun. July 5 - Church open (2-4)
Sun. Aug 23 - Church open (2-4)
Sun. July 12 - Church open (2-4)
Sun. Aug 30 - Church open (2-4)
Tues. July 14 [7 pm] - Fiddle Jam
Tue. Sep 8 [7 pm] - Fiddle Jam
Sat. July 18 [7:30 pm] - LSF - Concert Two
- A Soprano in Hollywood - Caine (soprano)
& Kortgaard (piano)
Fri. Sep 18 [8 pm] - SweetWater Music
Sun. July 19 - Church open (2-4)
Tue. Nov 10 [1 pm] - Fiddle Jam
Sun. July 26 [2:00 pm] - LSF - Concert
Three - The Danger Tree Suite – Macfarlane
& Cameron
Tue. Dec 8 [1 pm] - Fiddle Jam
Sat. Aug 1 [10 am to 3 pm] - Outdoor
Country Market - Seasonal produce; local
Crafts, Writers and Visual Artists; "Secondtime Round" booth; refreshments
Sat. Aug 1 [7 pm] - CEILIDH – featuring
My Sweet Patootie, OS Celtic Dance Co with
Daniel Carr and the pipes.
Tue. Oct. 13 [7 pm] - Fiddle Jam
Sun. Dec 20 [7:30 pm] - "18th Annual
Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols"
Readings, Carols & Advent Music.
Concerts are $30 (unless noted). Tickets at
the Roxy Theatre Box Office, Owen Sound.
519-371-2833 or 1-888-446-7699 www.roxytheatre.ca