Continuing on from last post, after our stop in Port Perry for lunch and looking around, we headed on our way home, but then decided to take a slight detour so that my husband could see the Temple of Sharon, in East Gwillimbury.

My friend, Lorraine, and I had a tour of the place in July, and though I didn’t post pictues then, I was curious to see the building surrounded by the trees in autumn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sign by the gate, telling us about the origins of the building

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sharon Temple, associated with the Children of Peace, and founded by David Willson, a US citizen. The temple was built in 1825 after acquiring  enough land. The group was a breakaway from the Society of Friends or Quakers, as they are also known.

Was Willson a bit of a rebel with ideas of his own?

The group flourished until after his death and then went into rapid decline.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See the golden ball suspended between the four directional spires at the very top?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacob’s Ladder, just inside door to temple and going up to higher storey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My friend, Lorraine, by the ark (from our summer visit) that has a very large  Bible inside

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posing for the camera and perhaps wishing to really play this very old organ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There shall be no falling asleep during sermon or concert in these chairs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
A familiar name engraved on the chair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other outbuildings where the members of this organization lived and worked. The temple was, surprisingly, not used for their worship though it is used for concerts and rented out for weddings now.

Read more about the organization here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The temple surrounded by the colours of autumn.