Geographic location: Lot 8, Conc. 6, Stanhope

Current address: 2072 Buckslide Rd

Date range: 1901 to present

Interesting facts:

Country Church Boskung / St. Stephen's Boskung / By Jane Fairfield, 1968 Haliburton Echo

In pioneer days, as soon as the settlers were established in the little log home, the Sabbath weighed heavily and was a long lonely day until a meeting place and service to attend could be provided.
The women fold especially pushed this -- the first community project -- after the day school, and so the fathers in these far off woods made plans to build a church within walking or rowing distance. Such was the case on Boskung Island, once a thriving farming community.
Now we see trees growing in the once cultivated fields, and cottages replace the old farm homes, but still one of the loveliest churches stands amid God’s Acre, donated from the farm of Thomas Godwin, whose 18 year old son was drowned from the Drive in Horseshoe Lake and was the first grave beside the new church.
In the winter of 1899, the farmers drew the stone from the lake’s shore, all labour being donated, and by 1901 Valentine Brothers of Norland had built this church. Jerry Taylor, a Yorkshire man from Mountain Lake, fashioned and finished the interior in ash V-joint, boarding with William Henry Stevens and earning $1.50 per day. He also donated one-tenth of his earnings.
There are two wrought iron lamps on each side of the entrance, donated by the Oliver family in memory of their parents Mr. and Mrs. Robert Oliver; also, a brass plate above the wall inside with the above inscription. As you enter the porch there stands a desk with a Visitor’s Book, given by Miss Charlotte Cooper.
All the church furniture, pews, font, desk, bishops chair and communion table came from St. John's Church, Cambray, which had been destroyed by fire. St. Stephen’s passed the original communion table, lectern and font on to St. Andrews church in West Guilford.
The communion cruets and silver wafer box were inscribed and presented by the Ladies Guild, and also the electric light on the reading desk. The lights on the organ and lectern were given by Mr. And Mrs. Arthur Oliver. The hanging lights were bought by the congregation from Bracebridge. The dossal hanging behind the communion table was given by Mrs. Emma Ackerman in memory of her husband and a framed inscription was placed on the wall.
The sun shining through the gothic windows falls on the red carpet bought by the Ladies Guild, and all this presents to the eye of the visitor a church worthy of its worshippers. They now have installed a new organ to add to its music. Old settlers living near nearby give constant care and the iron fence has been just recently painted. The arched stone gateway holds memorial tablets to the memory of the Welch Brothers and Arthur Harrison, who gave their lives in World War I. jf/ae/8/2025

Built in 1901 on land donated by Thomas Godwin, it is his last resting place as well as the burial ground of many pioneer folk and their families, including Caleb Davis and William Welch, both of whom claimed land at Boshkung in 1860 at the same time as Thomas Mason. Services are no longer held here, and the building is owned by the Friends of St. Stephen's, a local not-for-profit organization. This photo is from just after the building was completed. Information source: Stanhope Heritage Driving Tour brochure / Stanhope Museum collection

St. Stephen's church was not built by stone mason John Billing despite its resemblance to Billing's style. In fact, the work was begun by a keen building committee (consisting mainly of Hewitts) while Billing was working on another project. When he arrived at the site the footings were already in place and Billing refused to continue with someone else's work. He told the committee to tear it down or get another mason and when the committee refused, Billing went home. Source: Stanhope 125th Anniversary 1866-1991, supplement to The Times, Minden, 1991 (written by Carol Moffatt).

St. Stephen's Church, on Boshkung Lake Road, just south of Halls Lake, was built in 1905. It was home to the Methodist congregation when it opened. Despite its similarity to St. Peter's Church at Maple Lake, this building was not the work of John Billing, but is believed to have been constructed by a stonemason by the name of King, who is also responsible for the Hewitt house across the road from the church. Land for the church was donated by Thomas and Ann Godwin, (Davis), who are buried in the adjacent cemetery. Now part of the Anglican parish, dwindling membership and costly maintenance has meant that services are no longer held there. Source: TV Times for the week of September 25 to October 2, 1998. 

John Hewitt recounts: "Mr. Godwin had a very sad experience when his son fell off the crib at Horsehoe Lake one night and drowned; he was the first person to be buried in the present Cemetery." Source: Lakes of Haliburton Which Form "The Island", Haliburton County Echo, 1971

Lindsay Post - Jan 7, 1953, page 9 - Boshkung news column:  "The new bell brought from the Dutch Line school was erected recently on St. Stephen's Church by Mr. Ernest Davies and Robert Davies."

Public access: No access to inside, but can be viewed outside.

Current use: Unused

Photo: Though it is now closed, St. Stephen's at Boshkung served the community for almost 100 years. On the Thanksgiving weekend, residents gathered to celebrate this beautiful stone church near Halls Lake.