The Sharon Temple is an
open-air museum
An open-air museum (or open air museum) is a museum that exhibits collections of buildings and artifacts out-of-doors. It is also frequently known as a museum of buildings or a folk museum.
Definition
Open air is โthe unconfined atmosphereโ ...
site, located in the village of
Sharon
Sharon ( he, ืฉึธืืจืึนื ''ล ฤrรดn'' "plain") is a given name as well as an Israeli surname.
In English-speaking areas, Sharon is now predominantly a feminine given name. However, historically it was also used as a masculine given name. In I ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
, that was in 1990 designated as a
National Historic Site of Canada
National Historic Sites of Canada (french: Lieux historiques nationaux du Canada) are places that have been designated by the federal Minister of the Environment
An environment minister (sometimes minister of the environment or secretary of t ...
. It is composed of eight distinctive heritage buildings and dwellings, and houses 6,000 artifacts on a 1.8 ha. site. The building is made available for public use such as tours, concerts, weddings, and special occasions by its current owner, the Sharon Temple Museum Society.
It was constructed between 1825 and 1832 by the "
Children of Peace
Children of Peace is a United Kingdom, British-based, non-partisan Charitable organization, charity that focuses upon building friendship, trust and reconciliation between Israeli and Palestinian people, Palestinian children, aged 4โ17, reg ...
", a sect led by former
Quaker
Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of Christian denomination, denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Members of these movements ("theFriends") are generally united by a belie ...
David Willson on whose property it was built. Other restored buildings include David Willson's Study, which is a smaller architectural gem. The
Ebenezer Doan
Ebenezer Doan, Jr. (1772โ1866) was the Master Builder or architect-contractor in charge of designing and building the Sharon Temple, a National Historic Site of Canada. Doan was a highly accomplished builder, as evidenced by the creative techniq ...
house of 1819, constructed by the temple's master-builder and relocated from the former Doan family farm nearby, has been restored in an early garden setting. Also on site are the "cook house" where communal meals were created and served, the "drive shed' complete with period carriages, and another of David Willson's architectural curiosities โ the round outhouse. The
Ontario Heritage Trust
The Ontario Heritage Trust (french: link=no, Fiducie du patrimoine ontarien) is a non-profit agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture. It is responsible for protecting, preserving and promoting the built, natural and cultural herita ...
has a public easement to ensure its preservation meets conservation standards.
The historic structure and its traditional uses
The Children of Peace
The leader of the sect was
David Willson, who was born in
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
State in 1778 and migrated to
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada (french: link=no, province du Haut-Canada) was a part of British Canada established in 1791 by the Kingdom of Great Britain, to govern the central third of the lands in British North America, formerly part of the ...
in 1801. He joined the Quakers of which his wife was a member, but his ministry was rejected when he began to preach at the beginning of the
War of 1812
The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 โ 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...
. His sect placed great emphasis on ceremony, music and practical education. Followers of the sect were strong political reformers and Willson played a critical role in the creation of the Canadian Alliance Society, the first political party in the province. Several members joined
William Lyon Mackenzie
William Lyon Mackenzie (March12, 1795 August28, 1861) was a Scottish Canadian-American journalist and politician. He founded newspapers critical of the Family Compact, a term used to identify elite members of Upper Canada. He represented Yor ...
in the 1837
Upper Canada Rebellion
The Upper Canada Rebellion was an insurrection against the oligarchic government of the British colony of Upper Canada (present-day Ontario) in December 1837. While public grievances had existed for years, it was the rebellion in Lower Canada (p ...
. They continued to play a key role in the development of democracy in Canada by ensuring the elections of both "fathers of
responsible government
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability, the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy. Governments (the equivalent of the executive bran ...
,"
Robert Baldwin
Robert Baldwin (May 12, 1804 โ December 9, 1858) was an Upper Canada, Upper Canadian lawyer and politician who with his political partner Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine of Lower Canada, led the first responsible government ministry in the Province ...
and
Louis LaFontaine, in their riding despite threats of political violence by the
Orange Order
The Loyal Orange Institution, commonly known as the Orange Order, is an international Protestant fraternal order based in Northern Ireland and primarily associated with Ulster Protestants, particularly those of Ulster Scots heritage. It also ...
. After Willson's death in 1866 the sect slowly diminished. The last service was held in the temple in 1889.
Symbolism
![David Willsons study](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/David_Willsons_study.jpg)
Called by a vision to "ornament the Christian Church with all the glory of Israel,โ the Children of Peace rebuilt
Solomon's Temple
Solomon's Temple, also known as the First Temple (, , ), was the Temple in Jerusalem between the 10th century BC and . According to the Hebrew Bible, it was commissioned by Solomon in the United Kingdom of Israel before being inherited by th ...
as the seat of their "
New Jerusalem
In the Book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible, New Jerusalem (, ''YHWH ลกฤmmฤ'', YHWH sthere") is Ezekiel's prophetic vision of a city centered on the rebuilt Holy Temple, the Third Temple, to be established in Jerusalem, which would be the c ...
.โ This three-tiered building was "calculated to inspire the beholder with astonishment; its dimensions โ its architecture โ its situation โ are all so extraordinary.โ The Children of Peace, having fled a cruel and uncaring English pharaoh, viewed themselves as new Israelites lost in the wilderness of Upper Canada.
The symbolism of the temple is a careful blending of Quaker tradition and Old Testament imagery. The temple was built square (unlike Quaker meeting houses) signifying "dealing on the square with all people. The door in the centre of the four sides is to let the people come in from the east and west, the north and south on equal and the same footing." At the centre of the building is the "
ark
Ark or ARK may refer to:
Biblical narratives and religion Hebrew word ''teva''
* Noah's Ark, a massive vessel said to have been built to save the world's animals from a flood
* Ark of bulrushes, the boat of the infant Moses
Hebrew ''aron''
* ...
" containing a bible open to the ten commandments. The ark is surrounded by four pillars: "Faith, Hope, Love and Charity" โ the pillars of the church. Surrounding these inner pillars are twelve more, named after the disciples. The temple rises more than seventy feet (21 m) in three diminishing storeys, representing the Trinity. At each corner of the roof on every storey is an ornate lantern, capped with four golden spires; these twelve lanterns, "when illuminated," are "symbolical of the twelve apostles going out into the world to preach salvation." At the apex of the temple, suspended between the top four lanterns, is a golden globe; on this, the highest point in the village of Hope, they inscribed their highest hope โ peace to the world.
Uses
The temple is an architectural representation of the Children of Peace's vision of a society based on the values of peace, equality, and social justice. The building was used once a month to collect
alms
Alms (, ) are money, food, or other material goods donated to people living in poverty. Providing alms is often considered an act of virtue or Charity (practice), charity. The act of providing alms is called almsgiving, and it is a widespread p ...
for the poor, for two special feasts, and on Christmas; two other meeting houses in the village of "Hope" (now Sharon) were used for regular Sunday worship.
The "Illumination" was an evening service held by candle-light in association with the group's two annual feasts: the Feast of the Passover on David Willson's birthday in June, and the Feast of the First Fruits on the first Friday evening in September. The feast held the next day attracted over a thousand.
These Illumination ceremonies were also used for political purposes. For example, Willson timed election rallies for Members of Parliament Robert Baldwin and Louis LaFontaine to coincide with the Illumination and Feasts in 1843.
Ebenezer Doan, master builder
The "Master Builder" or architect-contractor in charge of designing and building the Sharon Temple is
Ebenezer Doan
Ebenezer Doan, Jr. (1772โ1866) was the Master Builder or architect-contractor in charge of designing and building the Sharon Temple, a National Historic Site of Canada. Doan was a highly accomplished builder, as evidenced by the creative techniq ...
(1772โ1866). Doan was a highly accomplished builder, as evidenced by the creative techniques used in the temple structure. The simple rock foundation does not even go below the frost line; yet the building remains structurally sound after more than 175 years. Doan was an early Quaker immigrant from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, who joined the Children of Peace in 1812. His first house (1819), drive shed and granary have now been relocated on the temple grounds and restored.
The temple as museum
The York Pioneer & Historical Society Period
Under the impetus of the Rev. James L. Hughes, the Toronto-based
York Pioneer and Historical Society raised funds to purchase the temple and its grounds in 1917 and opened the temple as a museum in 1918. Shortly afterwards, the York Pioneers moved David Willson's study to the site. This is significant as one of the earliest examples of historic preservation in Canada, one of the reasons for which the temple received its National Historic Designation in 1993. The York Pioneers collected artifacts from throughout York County and created a county museum and park, which they displayed in the temple. A baseball diamond, recreation area and refreshment stand were added on the surrounding grounds. In the 1950s, the site's focus began to change, emphasizing the story of the Children of Peace. The York Pioneers restored and moved the 1819 home of Ebenezer Doan, master builder of the temple, and a log house associated with Jesse Doan, bandmaster of the Children of Peace, to the site. These acquisitions were followed in 1967, Canada's centennial year, by the construction of an exhibit building. The baseball diamond and other remnants of the park's early days were removed. Lastly, they moved the Cookhouse, and the Gatehouse, to the temple grounds.
Music at Sharon
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the completion of the temple in 1981, the York Pioneer and Historical Society founded "Music at Sharon," an annual summer concert series with Lawrence Cherney as artistic director. The series was presented from 1981-90. The concerts grew in number from five in the inaugural season to fourteen in 1989; in 1990 the entire festival was given over to the production of Serinette, a commissioned opera by
Harry Somers
Harry Stewart Somers, CC (September 11, 1925 โ March 9, 1999) was a contemporary Canadian composer. Possessing a charismatic attitude and rather dashing good looks, as well as a genuine talent for his art, Somers earned the unofficial title ...
. Music at Sharon commissioned new works by
John Beckwith (Three Motets on Swan's 'China'), Phil Nimmons, Linda C. Smith,
Carol Ann Weaver
Carol Ann Weaver (born May 6, 1948) is an American-Canadian composer, pianist, and teacher.
Biography
Weaver was born in Harrisonburg, Virginia, to a Mennonite family. At the time of her birth, her parents belonged to a Mennonite church that ba ...
, Glen Buhr, Derek Holman, and many others. A commemorative album of the first series featuring the Elmer Iseler Singers and an instrumental ensemble directed by John Beckwith was issued (1982, Melbourne SMLP-4041/RCI 554). The majority of the concerts were broadcast on CBC radio.
Samuel Lount, the film
The
1985 film ''Samuel Lount'' was largely filmed on the temple site, and released in December 1985. It was produced by Elivira Lount, a descendant of the martyr of the
Rebellion of 1837
Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority.
A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and ...
, and written and directed by Laurence Keane. R.H. Thomson appeared as
Samuel Lount
Samuel Lount (September 24, 1791 โ April 12, 1838) was a blacksmith, farmer, magistrate and member of the Legislative Assembly in the province of Upper Canada for Simcoe County from 1834 to 1836. He was an organizer of the failed Upper Can ...
and David Fox as
David Willson.
Serinette, the opera
''
Serinette
A serinette is a type of mechanical musical instrument consisting of a small barrel organ. It appeared in the first half of the 18th century in eastern France, and was used to teach tunes to canaries. Its name is derived from the French ''serin' ...
'', a 'Festival opera' in two acts with music by
Harry Somers
Harry Stewart Somers, CC (September 11, 1925 โ March 9, 1999) was a contemporary Canadian composer. Possessing a charismatic attitude and rather dashing good looks, as well as a genuine talent for his art, Somers earned the unofficial title ...
and libretto by
James Reaney
James Crerar Reaney, (September 1, 1926 – June 11, 2008) was a Canadian poet, playwright, librettist, and professor, "whose works transform small-town Ontario life into the realm of dream and symbol." Reaney won Canada's highest literary a ...
, was commissioned with the support of the Canada Council and the Ontario Arts Council for the tenth season (1990) of Music at Sharon; it was designed specifically for production in the temple. It premiered on 7 July 1990, and was broadcast on CBC radio's 'Saturday Afternoon at the Opera'. The production was conducted by Victor Feldbrill, directed by Keith Turnbull, and designed by Sue LePage. Reaney's libretto is based on an historical feud between the Ridout and Jarvis families in the 1830s, and the attraction of the fictitious central figure, Colin Jarvis ('younger brother' of the historical Samuel Jarvis) to the utopian community at Sharon. A central symbol is the "serinette," a mechanical singing bird imported from Europe. Each act began with the performers and audience processing into the building; the finale was performed inside the candle-lit Temple with the spectators observing from outside, in imitation of the original annual "illumination" of the temple. The success of the opera led to the rebirth of the now annual tradition of a fall "illumination." The work calls for 14 singer-actors, and a 12-piece chamber orchestra.
The Sharon Temple Museum Society
In 1991 the charitable, not-for-profit Sharon Temple Museum Society was created, and it assumed the obligations of the York Pioneer and Historical Society, and now owns and maintains the site and its legacy of buildings, artifacts and documents.
The temple is now a National Historic Site and museum as well as a National Peace Site. The 2010 album
''The Wind That Shakes the Barley'' by
Loreena McKennitt
Loreena Isobel Irene McKennitt, (born February 17, 1957) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer who writes, records, and performs world music with Celtic and Middle Eastern influences. McKennitt is known for her ...
was recorded there in the summer of 2010. McKennitt remarked, "There is a fascinating interplay between architecture and sound, visually and sonically. The temple inspired us all."
The site and grounds are kept busy and host numerous public and private events.
Restoration
Since the temple was rescued from demolition by the York Pioneer and Historical Society in 1917, the building has undergone periodic restoration work but without significant structural intervention. The Ontario Heritage Foundation funded extensive restoration of the exterior in 1995 and currently holds a conservation easement on this and other buildings on the site. Further extensive work was accomplished with an Infrastructure Stimulus Fund grant. The most recent work includes: restoration of a wood shingle roof, exterior painting, full reglazing of Temple windows (1993); partial restoration of the Arc, replacement of the gold globe (1996); remedial repair to the floors (1998); restoration and painting of the temple doors (2001); repainting ground floor windows (2003); ceiling plaster repairs on interior of Temple (2005); foundation repairs, installation of fire detection system (2011).
SharonTemple.jpg, The Sharon Temple, Sharon, Ontario circa 1860.
Sharon keyboard organ.jpg, Richard Coates' keyboard organ, Sharon Temple Museum
Rebellion box.jpg, Rebellion box, Sharon Temple Museum
Sharon Temple Jacobs ladder.jpg, Jacob's Ladder, Sharon Temple
References
Further reading
*
External links
Sharon Temple Museum Society''Rebuilding Hope: Celebrating our social-democratic heritage"175 Years of Hope - A Celebration of the Sharon Temple and the Children of Peace
{{History of Canada navbox, state=autocollapse
Museums in the Regional Municipality of York
National Historic Sites in Ontario
Religious museums in Canada
Open-air museums in Canada
Rural history museums in Canada
Religious buildings and structures completed in 1831
East Gwillimbury