Church Development

Religion in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries factored heavily in most settlers’ lives. Local churches were few and far between, but people still taught the tenets and practiced their faith.

At this time, the church not only created a place of worship for the congregation, it also fostered the growth of community – children instilled with religious tenants and values from an early age continued to be observant throughout a lifetime.

Involvement with religious groups showed more than faith - it was a social vehicle, and allowed for neighbourly interaction and friendships. An invitation from the Billings Bridge Methodist Church to a Parlour Social in 1896 points to this idea of social commitment within the church; invitations to church parades and to a lecture given by the Young Men’s Christian Association show the wide ranging types of activities that were found through a local church membership.

Members known socially as committed to the religious community often received invitations to important events - in 1903, Hugh Braddish Billings was invited by the Methodist Church in Manotick to lay the inaugural corner stone of Bicentenary Church.” It was the local church that was the catalyst for social interaction and for the practice of faith.

The connection between the family and religious groups ran deep, although the denominations between family members differed.

Braddish and Lamira Billings

Lamira Billings followed the Quaker tenets her parents had instilled in her since childhood, however she chose to accept her first teaching position from the Methodist Minister Reverend Brown. She was known for her charity work and deep religious convictions. Rather than forego religious activities because Bytown had not established a Quaker church, she joined the Presbyterians in 1831. Her husband Braddish Billings made a change as well, but in congregation rather than denomination. He started out as a member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, but switched to Knox Presbyterian in 1843.

As prominent members of society, the Billings Family had a hand in creating and supporting local churches.

Sabra Billings

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