Kingsbridge, Ontario
History
Religion
The first priest to visit the area was missionary Father Giveney, who baptized children and held the first mass in what is now Port Albert. Mass was said in Morgan King's cabin until the first church was erected. Father Wassereau built the first church, a white frame structure without a floor, around 1860, and it stood until the church was rebuilt in 1887. As the population in the area greatly increased, more capacity was needed, and the new church was larger and included a belfry. The current red brick church was completed in 1905, and held its first mass on October 22, a tradition that ended on October 21, 2012, when the church was closed by the London diocese due to the building being "unsafe" . A group of local citizens formed a charity, the St. Joseph's Kingsbridge Community, which has effectively purchased the church and rectory, and will be using them for cultural events, in order to preserve the rich history and strong community.
School
A small Catholic school was built next to the Church, and was running for many years, but closed in June 2006 due to the low number of students. The building still stands, but is privately owned.
Kingsbridge Wind Power Project
The Kingsbridge Wind Power Project is a 39.6 MW wind farm that is located in and around the area of Kingsbridge. It consists of 22 turbines and provides power for approximately 12,500 homes.
References
- ^ "Official Road Map of Ontario, map 4, sector Q21" (PDF). Retrieved April 29, 2019.
- ^ Our Historical Heritage: Parish of St. Joseph's Kingsbridge 1905-1980, p. 8
- ^ "St. Joseph, Kingsbridge" (PDF). Diocese of London. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "Kingsbridge 1 Wind Facility Information". Capital Power. Retrieved April 29, 2019.