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Although the death of Reverend Holland was a great blow to the community, African Canadians in Hamilton soldiered on. The 1950s and early 60s saw a movement of increasing protest against the blatant racism of Canada's immigration policy with regard to people of Colour around the world. In Toronto's Black community, Donald Moore and the Negro Citizenship Council as well as others began to agitate for the liberalization of these laws to allow people of African decent the right to immigrate to Canada. The eventual repeal of the Immigration Act in 1962, and the new regulations devised in 1967 allowed people to immigrate on a points system based on skills and education. The doors opened wider than they had since the days of the Underground Railroad. Caribbean Blacks, in particular, began to come by the thousands, and although Toronto and Montreal were the primary destinations of many new immigrants, Hamilton and other smaller cities received their share of these new Canadians. Not only were people voluntarily bringing their skills to the table in immigrating here but the separate school board in Hamilton also scouted for teachers in the Caribbean, especially Trinidad, and enticed several dozen teachers to the area. Stewart Memorial, in turn, gradually experienced a shift in population which reflected this new wave of immigration.2
Prince Hall Masons on Canada Day1 July 1967
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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1967 Centennial in Hamilton1 July 1967
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Lincoln Alexander's wedding certificate10 September 1948
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Marjorie Lake at the time of her graduation as a registered nurse, 1969.1969
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Courtesy of Marjorie Lake.
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Marjorie Lake was a prime example of this new wave. She immigrated to Canada in 1966 at the age of thirty seeking greater job opportunities. Ms. Lake attempted to get a job in merchandising. Lacking the ubiquitous "Canadian experience" that was demanded of every Black immigrant looking for work, she finally obtained a job in the dietary department of Hamilton General Hospital for one month. This led to a job at Chedoke Hospital and acceptance into a training program as a nursing aide. After a year working as a nursing aide, Ms. Lake was accepted into the nursing program and continued to work at Chedoke until she retired in 1997.7
Head shot of Marjorie Lake. Courtesy of Marjorie Lake.1960
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Lake first attended Stewart Memorial in 1975 on the occasion of the wedding of her daughter's friend. She remarked that going to Stewart Memorial gave her a totally different perspective:"At the church I was attending, I went to church because I wanted to go and it was the right thing to do, but not because I really felt the warmth and acceptance. So going to Stewart Memorial was like 'I'm home now.' You know, that kind of feeling. So then I started attending and eventually became a member. "
Lake became more and more involved in the church over time. She is now on the Board of Trustees and chairs the fundraising committee. Unlike during the depression, when the little church threatened to close its doors forever, it now is on a more stable financial footing. When repairs and renovations are needed, the fundraising committee is able to rise to the challenge. The church also administers the Laura Allen Johnston Scholarship fund which gives $250 scholarships annually to three worthy students desiring to study in post-secondary institutions.
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Award from the Mount Olive Lodge #1 to Marjorie Lake for her service as a worthy matron.1988
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Stewart memorial volunteer plaque2003
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Stewart memorial historic plaque2003
Stewart Memorial Church, John St. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Clive Barnes and his wife were originally from Jamaica but came to Canada via England in 1966 looking for a new life. While still in England, Mr. Barnes was interviewed by the Hamilton company Brown Boggs Machine Ltd. as a machinist . He came one month prior to the rest of the family. Barbara Barnes, a registered nurse, came with the children a month after her husband. She was hired by Hamilton General Hospital in January 1967, although she had to work for a year as a graduate nurse until she got her RN license here. It was by chance that they moved next door to Stewart Memorial Church where the landlord happened to be Mrs. Allen Holland, second wife of Reverend John Holland. The family began to attend the historic church.13
Mount Olive Lodge #1 meeting1983
Stewart Memorial Church, John St. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Over time they became involved in various church and lodge activities. Clive joined the choir and was Superintendant of the Sunday School for a period. He also joined the Mount Olive Lodge #1 and his wife Barbara later became a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Esther Chapter #2. These fraternal orders are subsidiaries of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F.& A.M., Province of Ontario and Jurisdiction. It is an all-Black fraternity founded across the United States and Canada by Prince Hall, who was born in Barbados in 1748 The very first lodge in Ontario was the Mount Olive Lodge, established in Hamilton in 1852.According to Clive,
"We never had cause to go to any other church. We came to feel like family. It was natural… We can miss several weeks and just pick up where we left off. It has always been very welcoming. Even with guests, it has been welcoming."
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