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Boston Presbyterian Church

9185, Third, Town of Halton Hills, Ontario, Canada

Formally Recognized: 1995/05/08

Of note is the bell cote tower.; Town of Halton Hills, n.d.
Facade north elevation, Boston Presbyterian Church
Of note is the wrought iron weather vane at the apex of the tower.; Kirsten Pries, 2008.
Facade, Boston Presbyterian Church, 2008
Of note are the pointed arch window openings.; Kirsten Pries, 2008.
South elevation, Boston Presbyterian Church, 2008

Other Name(s)

Boston Presbyterian Church
9185 Third Line

Links and documents

Construction Date(s)

1868/01/01

Listed on the Canadian Register: 2009/12/31

Statement of Significance

Description of Historic Place

The Boston Presbyterian Church and cemetery, located at 9185 Third Line, are on the east side of Third Line, north of 5th Side Road, in the Scotch Block, Town of Halton Hills. The limestone church was constructed in 1868.

The property was designated by the Town Halton Hills in 1995 for its heritage value under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act (By-law 1995-0084).

Heritage Value

The Boston Presbyterian Church reflects the early history of the settlement of Esquesing's Scotch Block. The Scotch Block, located in the south western quarter of the township, had a greater ethnic and agricultural homogeneity than anywhere else in the county. Its settlers, many of them Presbyterian, arrived by various routes including the United States as well as directly from Scotland. In 1866, the Presbyterian congregation in Boston decided to build a new stone house of worship and committees were established to develop plans for the building and collect funds. The cornerstone was laid on June 2, 1868.

The Boston Presbyterian Church was designed by prominent Toronto architect, James Avon Smith, RCA. He had apprenticed with William Thomas, a Toronto architect who designed many churches including St. Michael's Cathedral. Smith designed the church in the Gothic Revival style of architecture. The style is demonstrated by the tall window and door openings, which are topped with pointed arches. The building is constructed with limestone from local sources. The exterior of the Church is unique because the limestone is laid in blocks with a consistent interruption in the horizontal coursing. The interruption between each block consists of three stacked smaller blocks equalling the height of the major blocks.

Source: Town of Halton Hills, By-law 1995-0084.

Character-Defining Elements

Character defining elements that contribute to the heritage value of the Boston Presbyterian Church include its:
- grave markers dating from the early and mid 1800s
- coursed limestone exterior
- gable roof
- bell cote tower
- front vestibule
- pointed arch openings
- carved stone mouldings
- stained glass windows
- corbelled eave projections
- angle buttresses
- two wrought iron weather vanes
- cemetery

Recognition

Jurisdiction

Ontario

Recognition Authority

Local Governments (ON)

Recognition Statute

Ontario Heritage Act

Recognition Type

Municipal Heritage Designation (Part IV)

Recognition Date

1995/05/08

Historical Information

Significant Date(s)

n/a

Theme - Category and Type

Building Social and Community Life
Religious Institutions

Function - Category and Type

Current

Religion, Ritual and Funeral
Religious Facility or Place of Worship

Historic

Architect / Designer

James Avon Smith

Builder

n/a

Additional Information

Location of Supporting Documentation

The Corporation of the Town of Halton Hills Corporate Services Department - Clerks 1 Halton Hills Drive Halton Hills, ON L7G 5G2

Cross-Reference to Collection

Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier

HPON09-0115

Status

Published

Related Places

n/a

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