Altar table and reredos
George Ward – the founder of Wardsville and for whom the town is named – had an impressively interesting life that took him from his native Ireland and, as part of his military service, to many parts of the burgeoning British Empire. He ended up in Southwest Ontario, retired from the army and established an inn at Paint Creek (now Wardsville). He survived – just- the American invasion of 1813, and suffered, in addition to the loss of his property, the accusation of treachery due to his confused involvement in the Battle of Longwoods. Nevertheless he lived to the ripe old age of 87, and established a family that cherishes their ancestor to this day.
The connection to St John’s Anglican is through the oak altar table and reredos, seen here in the chancel under the stained glass window, and which memorialises George Ward and his immediate family:
Zooming in the altar table reveals the memorial plaque:
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