I Have a Goodly Heritage (Psalm 16:6): A Personal Awakening and the Gospel Hall
March 25, 2010
Royal George Leonard and Maria French
The oldest photograph I have in my family album is of “Royal” George Leonard (1810-1887) and his wife Maria French (1816-1878) who both emigrated to Canada from England and settled in the Georgian Bay area of Ontario. “Royal George” appears to be some kind of family nickname. There is some speculation that George or his father served on a British Naval Vessel named the Royal George. George’s grandson also used the nickname “Royal George” (1863-1932). George and Maria were members of the Church and England. They had 11 children.
Sarah Jane Leonard Parker
Their first child Sarah Jane Leonard (1837-1908) married William Parker in Trinity Anglican Church, Barrie Ontario in 1857. Sarah and William had 7 children.
William Thomas Parker
Their son William Thomas Parker was born in 1869 and as far as I can determine it was William who broke away from the family’s long time association with the Church of England to worship with Christians who felt that the traditional church had moved too far away from scriptural practices and gathered together in fellowships reviving the New Testament simplicity of the Gospel Hall. William Thomas Parker was married to Lucy Emma Brock in the Waverly Gospel Hall outside of Midland Ontario in 1894. I have just discovered from an old newspaper clipping that he actually became a preacher in this denomination.
Lucy Emma Brock as a child with her parents William Brock and Elizabeth Swan
The Brock’s were a long established and well known military family distinguished in the War of 1812, and before that as Loyalists to King George fighting against the “revolutionaries” in the American War of Independence. Originally from Fishkill New York, they received land grants that settled them along the north shore of Lake Ontario and eventually in and around Simcoe County on the shores of Georgian Bay. The Brock family were also adherents of the Church of England.
Lucy Emma Brock Parker (1874-1901)
For some folks even the radical views of the Wesleyan Methodists were not sufficient to ensure them them that they were following the example and practices of the New Testament church. The Gospel Hall movement without an ordained clergy or ministerial hierarchy provided an even more scrupulous personal commitment to a simpler practice, a more Bible based doctrine, and an emphasis on the equality of all believers (albeit a qualified equality as women would have always held a secondary role in this group and never as a teacher except for children). It was into this fellowship that my grandmother Elizabeth Edna Parker, the daughter of William Thomas and Lucy Emma, was born.
Parker Family "Lizzie", my grandmother, is 2nd from left front row
Of all my ancestors it is my Grandma Bush who I felt the closest to as a child. She was the typical loving matriarch of a very large family of aunts, uncles and cousins. She was a prayerful disciple of Jesus and it was in her home that I felt the expression of Christianity in its most loving and prayerful form. Her bright eyes, beaming smile and warm hugs enriched my childhood like no other.
Wedding Day Lizzie and Archie
Her simple faith in Jesus and her trust in God’s forbearance and mercy towards “His” children were a very strong influence in my life as a child.
My Grandfather on the other hand was the stern and very strict Christian patriarch who embraced his adherence to the principles of a very conservative evangelical Christian movement, the Plymouth Brethren like a shield against all “sinners.” In the most conservative of these fellowships even instrumental music was frowned upon as was participating in local or federal politics or any other “worldly” concerns. Luckily my Grandfather did not extend his allegiance to this particular tenet and since he also worshiped at the Baptist Church their house was full of the singing the of hymns and rousing choruses with the accompaniment of a much beloved piano. My grandfather also played the violin. Sunday however meant attending three church services that day and no work, which meant a cold ham supper which I remember well, and no games or frivolity unless they incorporated reading bible stories or reciting scripture. No movies, no make up, no fancy clothes and definitely no running about with rowdy unchurched children.
Billy Graham
Evangelical Radio Preacher Billy Sunday
Bible verse plaques and even photos of great radio preachers like Billy Sunday and Billy Graham adorned the walls. In the dining room one plaque announced “Christ is the unseen guest at every meal and the silent listener to every conversation” and above and behind my Grandfather’s chair in the living room another pronounced “As for me and my House, we will serve the Lord Joshua 24:15.” Suffice it to say that the house that my father grew up in was definitely ruled over by a strict somewhat overbearing father but tempered by a sensible and very loving mother.
My father Graham and his sister Betty Bush during their Baptism Burlington Ontario 1942
My father Graham Bush, Hurd Ave. Burlington Ont 1940's
When my father was 16 years of age he rebelled as seemed appropriate under the circumstances and refused to go to church on a Sunday causing my grandfather to chase him around the house grab him by the scruff of the neck and give him a proper beating. My father told me that he was not against going to church per se but that he wanted to chose the time and place where he felt comfortable and could study the Bible in a more open and relaxed atmosphere. The church that my grandparents attended for many years was the Freeman Gospel Tabernacle on Brant Street in Burlington Ontario.
My father’s parents certainly provided quite a stark contrast in their expression of Christianity and how it might look to a child. As a consequence of their differences I loved my grandmother dearly and feared my grandfather just as much. Memories of sitting with my grandmother playing checkers listening to Tennessee Ernie Ford singing hymns and gospel songs on the record player or reading the Psalms with her at the table still warm my heart. She gave me several of these Gospel phonograph albums that I cherish to this day.
Lizzie Bush on Brant St, Burlington Ont. 1959
My Grandma Bush
That was a loving tribute to your grandmother. She must have been wonderful.
This is a great work, wonderful preservation of such an old record and presenting it nicely; certainly honoring the ancestors. You have inherited something from your father that made you study many regions. Thanks for sharing.
Dear Pat,
Here are “Aunt Fran’s” IDs of the people, L-R, in the “Parker Family “Lizzie”…” picture, for your records:
Front row: Parker siblings: Will Parker (never married), Lizzie (Grandma Bush), Mervin, and Rae Parker (sister who never married); and Mary and George’s children Dorothy and Gladys Parker (Gladys holding Leonard).
Children: Grandma’s (Aunt Lizzie’s) hands on shoulders of Frances Dorene (Graham’s sister), Dorothy’s hands on Barbara’s shoulders, Gladys holding Leonard (Frances, Barbara and Leonard are Graham’s siblings; Leonard died in childhood, hit by truck).
Back row: George Parker (white top), Mary Parker (Geo’s wife, hair off face, no hat), Geordie (Geo and Mary’s brother, Dorothy and Gladys’s brother). Uncle George later had a stroke, and Frances remembers him as being bedridden. Despite his condition she recalls that he was a cheerful individual.
Frances loved going to Aunt Mary’s, she spent a week or two there one summer as a teenager. Her house was always in order and very organized…Monday washday, etc.
Thank you so much for sharing your recollections online.
Love,
Judy
Hi Judy, what a surprise to get your email about my family blog. I sometimes forget it is even up since I haven’t worked on it for awhile. I really wanted to understand where I came from and church and religious affiliation was always such an influence in our family. I should get back to it and write some more as I have a better idea of things after talking to more people about family stories and traditions. I know I struggle with these questions every day.
Thank Aunt Fran so much for the identifications on the photo. The photo came from Grandma Bush’s album that Dad gave me to scan. It was too small for Dad to see everyone so we were guessing and I didn’t want to write it down unless I was sure. Now that you have given me the names they do look like the people we have in bigger photos.