A committee formed in 2001 planned a variety of activities.

Work continues on creating a new and up to date version of our Church history. This work will probably be finished and available for purchase in 2004. We are grateful to have a wonderful example in Grace Bainard's previous work "The Story of St. Anne's 1853 - 1978".

We would like to encourage you to look in your basement or closets for old newspaper articles or other memorabilia that could be borrowed, and promptly returned, to help create an archive of our past activities or community service. Please contact the office if you have any offerings you could share. Your help is much appreciated.

The following list of events helped us celebrate our anniversary:

• Three Cantors Concert - February 21, 2003. This was held at St. George's Roman Catholic Church, 1164 Commissioners Road, in Byron in order to accommodate the expected crowd. It was a sold out event and raised over $3,000 for Huron Hunger Fund.
• The Senior Choir hosted two performances - matinee and evening - of their "Cabaret" on May 17, 2003. It was a great celebration of song!
• "Serendipity - Volume 1, A Potpourri of Memories, Stories & Poems of St. Anne's Church Seniors" has captured some of the oral history of our parish with help from our senior population. Volume 1 is currently on sale for $5 and may be obtained from the church office. Volume 2 should be issued in the near future.
• A reunion weekend was held on June 21-22, 2003 and included a reunion dinner at Wonderland Gardens, open house and special service with guest preacher Rev. Canon Morley Pinkney.
• An anniversary antependium (banner for the front of a lecturn) has been dedicated.
• Quilted "stained glass windows" have been dedicated thanks to the wonderful work of our Quilters' Group and with wonderful designs by Mary M.
• We had a series of guest speakers:
  
  • Rt. Rev. Bruce Howe, Bishop of Huron, February 9
    
  • Rev. Canon Bob Mills, former Rector, March 30 (Anniversary Service)
    
  • Rt. Rev. Bob Bennett, Suffragan Bishop, Diocese of Huron, May 11
    
  • Rev. Canon Morley Pinkney, former rector, June 22 (Commemorative Service)
    
  • Rev. Canon Bob Foster, September 28 (Heritage Sunday)
    
  • Primate Michael Peers, October 19
• We have replaced our current front doors to the church with a new set, not only as a commemoration of our 150th anniversary, but also due to the old doors' physical condition. We have a fine set of doors to welcome everyone to St. Anne's. Dedication of the doors was on June 22.
• Thanks to the skill and workmanship of Len, a former resident of Byron, St. Anne's was presented with a replica of an 18th century grandfather clock to mark our anniversary year. The clock is located in the Heritage Room.
• A wonderful Anniversary Calendar was produced and copies may still be available for sale as a memento of our celebration year. Contact the church office at 471-0800.
• A Heritage Square Dance was held on Saturday, September 27, from 7-9 p.m. in the Parish Hall. The fun was shared by a group of 65 beginners and others at this event.
• "Rocks of the Parish" presentations took place throughout the year. These presentations were done by members of the St.A.Y. group and provided brief pictures of a number of church families and individuals known for their dedication and long service to the church community.

Memories Captured

"Serendipity - Volume 1, A Potpourri of Memories, Stories & Poems of St. Anne's Church Seniors" has captured some of the oral history of our parish with help from our senior population. 

“Serendipity” Volume II
Copies of this booklet are still available from the Church Office or call Judith. 
If you have forgotten what we did in our Anniversary year of 2003, this book will jog your memory.  Included is Canon Morley Pinkney’s article on St. Anne’s which he wrote for “The Huron Church News” as well as copies of all the letters of congratulations we received from Church and Government officials. 
Price $5. per copy.

"Serendipity” Volume III
Due to the inspiration of our Rector, we will be working on a Volume III in our “Serendipity”  series this coming winter (2004/5).  Next year has been designated as “The Year of our Veterans” and to celebrate it, Judith would welcome your memories of the last three wars – World Wars I & II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.   But more than that, she would welcome stories of the sweethearts, wives, children and families left behind to cope — maybe on the farms or in other work.
Plus any stories of our peacekeepers those fine people who serve their country so well in other lands.

The deadline will be June 1st, 2005, so we can compile and print during the summer and have the booklet ready for next fall’s Remembrance Day.

If you are interested, but do not have access to computers, etc. give Judith a call and she will arrange to tape your story and type it up.  Veterans might find this a great way to get their children or grandchildren involved by typing it on the computer for them.

A lot of Veterans, we know, might find it hard to share the experiences of war, or even think of it, but unless we preserve those memories, war will only be a word to the coming generations who will have no concept of what it means.

We pray to God that they will never experience the actuality of war.