The first meeting of the Committee of Stewards was held January 13, 1954. It was announced that the Toronto Home Missions Council would approve a $10,000 mortgage and a $2,500 grant for the purchase of a manse and a campaign committee had to be established immediately to raise additional funds. The funds were raised very quickly, thanks to the enthusiasm and generosity of the members and sizable donations from the Women’s Association and Mr. G.S. Shipp. The original manse at 931 N. Service Rd. was purchased and Reverend Purdy and his wife, Lenore, took residence. Rev. Lawrence A. Purdy began his duties as the first minister of Applewood United Church on July 1st, 1954. However, the name of the church was not formalized until the annual meeting of the congregation on February 13, 1956. It was decided that three names for the church be placed on a ballot to be mailed to members of the congregation to determine the name of the church. The results of the vote were 143 for the name Applewood United Church, 81 votes for St. Paul’s United Church, Applewood and 10 votes for Grace United Church, Applewood.
The first anniversary service was held December 5, 1954 and it was on that day that the Sunday School began at 9:30 a.m. and two church services were inaugurated, one at 10:30 a.m. and one at 11:45 a.m. The youngest children attended Sunday School in the portable, while the older children attended in the classrooms of nearby Applewood Public School, which was rented to accommodate the larger number which could not find room in the church.
In the days of the portable, which was used from 1953 to 1957, the church office was the dining room in the home of Mrs. W. Blacklock who continued as secretary at the new building until Mrs. Death took over in 1959.
The first step toward the building of a church edifice occurred on December 6, 1954 when the Board passed a resolution establishing three committees, one for Finance, one for Architecture and one for Development. This resolution was approved at the annual meeting of the congregation on January 17, 1955.
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