Saving the Huron Church

This is the draft of my column that was published this past August in the Windsor Star.

Saving the Huron Church

Windsor and Essex County have hundreds of years of heritage. Yet those of us who live here seem to not know about it and allow it to get torn down, wiped away. Driving around parts of our downtown or city, you’d think we were any old lunch bucket town that sprung up around some factories, with little planning and no identity. But we still have some treasures which we can cherish and we have layers of history unlike others.

It is here that a French community has existed for almost 300 years and from here that traders went further for trade contacts with Natives. And it is here that some Natives found refuge and a new Huron Church was established for them. This Parish soon served both the Native and the French communities, bringing them together.

And our story, just like Canada’s, continues with the Loyalists. It is here that new beginnings were started for those loyal and willing to sacrifice over 200 years ago. And the Huron Church now also became the Parish Church for the “new” town of Sandwich. Our county now had many more immigrants of many different backgrounds.

Over the years a lot more has happened, and the Huron Church has witnessed it all, its parishioners changing and being part of it all. It is here that Canada was defended in the War of 1812. It was here that the Underground railroad ended and Queen Victoria officially welcomed refugees from the United States. One can only imagine the feeling that a fugitive slave would have coming across the river to see that steeple, escaping the Land of the Free to find true freedom.

Even in the 20th century, the Huron Church has been part of our city, a landmark at the foot of the busiest international crossing across the longest undefended border. The Huron Church and its sister parish on the US side keeping watch at each end of the bridge, a fitting symbol of our now close relationship. And the Parish has continued to change, its parishioners coming from many different countries and backgrounds today.

Of course, the Huron Church is Assumption. We so often call the street by the same name “Huron Church”, that we forget the landmark that gave it that name. And we so often pass Assumption that we forgot how long a Church has stood on that location, how much history it has witnessed and even been a part of.

And Assumption has been much more than just a landmark. It gave birth to a high school and a university, shaping the school system in this whole area. Most of the land that the University of Windsor stands on was originally purchased directly from Natives for the Church, hundreds of years ago. And the Church has been central to many more community, charitable and social endeavors over the years, [I would love for all the stories to be collected in a book.] For a time it was even the Cathedral Church for southwestern Ontario.

And the current church is an artistic and cultural landmark, one that has breathtaking beauty that reflects a French Canadian style in a unique way. When I take out of town visitors there, sometimes they are speechless to find such beauty and history in Windsor, sometimes they can’t stop talking about the many things to see inside and outside. Especially while attending a service with traditional music, your spirit is transported within those historic walls. [You can just soak in the centuries of prayer and the deep beauty in peace.]

Unfortunately, the Huron Church now stands threatened. After years of wear, damage has begun to show and has been proclaimed severe. If the parish community does not find millions of dollars in a short time, the Huron Church may close after over 250 years. Imagine Windsor with no Assumption.

But I believe that we can all help them save it. All of us can choose to contribute to their building fund, whether or not we’re parishioners. We can spread the word and bring people to see and support this gem. We can write letters and urge our City to assist, the Bridge and other companies to contribute. [Hopefully Windsor Alumni will assist this effort and the University assist in getting the word out.]

We can ask the Province of Ontario to declare the Huron Church the first Provincially designated Heritage Site, after all it is the centre of the oldest continuous European community in the Province. Catholics and others can urge the Bishop to have the Pope recognize this historic church as a Basilica finally, [for few in Canada meet the requirements like the Huron Church does.]

And here W.E. are now. Windsor & Essex County have hundreds of years of history which we can choose to cherish, that give us an identity and shape our culture. And the one location in this whole county that symbolizes these hundreds of years and has witnessed the most is Assumption Church. W.E. can save this Huron Church, as landmark to our pioneers and to our ongoing heritage.

Cyril Bagin is a member of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars and will celebrate the Feast of the Assumption August 15th at the Huron Church, bringing a special gift for the Parish. He hopes to see many of you there and that many more will send in their gifts this week.