Oct 2

Oct 2 Estate of Donna Bushell Contributes $50,000 to the Old St. Thomas Church

Photo: Andrew Gunn and Emily Stage of Andrew Gunn Consulting and young & free press joined Gail Ballard and Steve Peters of the Old St. Thomas Church Restoration & Maintenance Trust to highlight the contribution of $50,000 from the Estate of Donna Bushell in support of the ongoing preservation of the Old St. Thomas Church.

Our team at young & free press is very pleased to announce a donation of $50,000 from the Estate of Donna Vera Evans Bushell to support the ongoing restoration and maintenance of the Old St. Thomas Church at 55 Walnut Street in St. Thomas. The contribution was made to the Old St. Thomas Church Restoration & Maintenance Trust to assist with the preservation of the building and grounds at the site, including planting trees now and in the future to ensure the stability of the slope behind the Church along the Kettle Creek valley.

“The Board of Directors of the Old St. Thomas Church Restoration and Maintenance Trust is extremely grateful to the Estate of Donna Vera Evans Bushell for the generous contribution to the ongoing efforts to preserve and maintain the Old St. Thomas Church,” remarks Gail Ballard, President of the Trust. “The bequest will be a significant catalyst for working with a heritage architectural consultant and specialized tradespeople to develop and undertake a number of maintenance projects involving stone, brick, and plaster restorations. Also, the funds will assist in initiating a long-term capital plan laying the groundwork for broader fundraising to mark the Church’s 200th Anniversary in 2024.”

Beyond our social media work and partnerships with private companies and government organizations, our team at young & free press function as consultants alongside owner Andrew Gunn through his consulting firm, Andrew Gunn Consulting Inc. This gives our team of teenage staff members the opportunity to provide ideas and develop special community projects! Currently, we are the consultants on the Estate of Donna Bushell, who passed away in November 2019 in her hundredth year. Andrew and our teenage staff members have taken the lead on announcing the donations from the Estate – ultimately, more than $2.5M will be allocated to support a series of remarkable initiatives in St. Thomas and Elgin County!

Regarding the donation in support of the Old St. Thomas Church, Andrew offered the following comment: “The Old St. Thomas Church is a significant part of the history and culture of the community. We know that the preservation of heritage buildings can be a challenge. The Church attracts a steady stream of visitors and photographers who recognize the significance of the site. We are pleased to make this contribution from the Bushell Estate, and encourage others to consider supporting the preservation of the Church as we draw closer to the bicentennial of the site.”

The Old St. Thomas Church Restoration & Maintenance Trust

The Old St. Thomas Church Restoration and Maintenance Trust was established as a not-for-profit charitable corporation in January of 1984 whose sole purpose is the care and maintenance of the Old St. Thomas Church and Churchyard (Circa.1824). The site is owned by the Incorporated Synod of the Diocese of Huron and remains an active Anglican Church. The Restoration Trust has overseen over a million dollars of restorative work including the total restoration of the building from 1988 to 1992, the restoration of the Chisholm Monument and the establishment of an endowment to continue to maintain the site. Numerous community volunteers, expert restoration architects, skilled restoration tradespeople, government grants and endowments along with private financial support have ensured that the Old St. Thomas Church remains a steadfast landmark in the City of St. Thomas and Elgin County.

The Estate of Donna Bushell

Donna Vera Evans Bushell passed away November 9, 2019, in her hundredth year, the last of her family. Donna’s passion was to plant trees and reminisce about her ancestors and friends while her sister Doris Evans taught music as a church organist. The oldest sister, Thelma Joiner, taught elementary school around Aylmer for forty-five years and researched local North Yarmouth history. All three sisters shared a love of their heritage as descendants of the pioneer Westlake, Penhale and Gilbert families who settled along the North Edgeware Road in Yarmouth. Their collected historical papers will eventually be deposited in the Elgin County Archives. More than $2M has been allocated from the Estate this year in support of a series of significant projects in Elgin County and St. Thomas.