Shefford QC Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church of Frost Village 2019

Shefford, Québec, Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church of Frost Village, 2019

Prehistory

The history in the municipality

Frost Village, Québec, Canada, is located on the edge of the municipality of Shefford, and it bears the distinct honour of being the oldest settlement in the Upper Yamaska region. Moreover, it played an important economic, social, and administrative role during the first half of the 19th century. Its history is both remarkable and brief.

When it was formed in 1845, Frost was a vast municipality covering the entire township of Shefford, but it shrank steadily over time with the incorporations of Waterloo (1867 and 1890), Sainte-Pudentienne (1875), Saint-Joachim (1884), West Shefford (1888), Warden (1916), and Bromont (1964, 1971, 1973). With each incorporation, there was a loss to Frost of both territory and population. However, there is a place of undeniable historical significance that has withstood the vicissitudes of municipal expansion and remained within the Shefford area, and that is Frost Village.

As its place name suggests, it was the brothers Jonathan, Richard, and Joseph Frost (originally from New Hampshire, USA) who, in 1806, began clearing the land which later became the site of Frost Village, on the 26th lot of the 3rd Range of Shefford Township. In the early 1810s, following the construction of a few houses, the opening of a public hall and the establishment of a school, the first in Upper Yamaska, already made the hamlet a gathering place. However, it was the construction of Outlet Road in 1817-1819 that truly brought the area out of obscurity.

County Seat of Shefford

Frost Village was the only settlement worthy of the name on the Magog-Mount Yamaska section of Outlet Road (Granby and Waterloo were certainly nonexistent at the time), and it soon became the main commercial and administrative centre for the entire region. In 1822, physician Stephen Foster opened a practice there ; in 1823, with the establishment of the first postal service between Chambly and Stanstead, a post office and a coaching inn were established. The construction of an Anglican church the following year added to the attractiveness of the area.

In 1822, at a short distance from the hamlet, Alvin Williams built a majestic brick residence, which can still be seen today, as can the nearby family cemetery.

As a result of this development, Frost Village became the county town of Shefford and it was chosen as the location of the Land Registry Office. This made it the most important village in this part of the country.

Patriot Rebellion, 1837

The most turbulent moment in Frost Village's history occurred during the Patriot Rebellion, which raged throughout the Richelieu Valley in November, 1837. When the movement spread to Saint-Césaire, loyal merchants William Chaffers and Mr. Casavant hurriedly left the area with their account books and valuables, and they sought protection from the militia and British volunteers from Shefford, whose headquarters were located in Frost Village, at Mr. Osgood's hotel. It was there, on the evening of 11 December, 1837, that the Patriot leader Wolfred Nelson, who had just been arrested by the militia in Stukely while fleeing to the USA, was brought in, frozen and ill.

This prestigious prisoner was held for 3 days before being transferred to the Montreal gaol. In a letter he wrote shortly later, Dr. Nelson thanked his gaolers for the kind treatment he received during his incarceration at Frost Village. The £500 ($2,000) reward offered for his capture, a considerable sum at the time, was shared amongst the 19 militiamen and volunteers involved in the Patriot leader's arrest.

Reduction in activity and presence

Even then, however, the history of Frost Village was already drawing to a close. The proximity of Waterloo, whose development was accelerating, combined with the lack of “water powers” to power mills and factories, precipitated the hamlet's decline. In 1843, the Land Registry Office moved to Waterloo, and in the process, Frost Village lost the title of county seat of Shefford County to its influential neighbour. The few notables who still lived in the hamlet deserted it. Then came a fatal blow in 1860, when a fire destroyed many residences.

At the turn of the 20th century, only the oldest residents of Shefford still remembered the “glory days” of Frost Village. The stone church, built in 1852, and a few residences set back remain in the 21st century, the rare witnesses of a time when this prosperous hamlet was an obligatory stop on the stagecoach route.

Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church, Frost Village, Québec

History of the church building

After 1824, there were 2 successive places of worship in Frost Village, both of which burned down. In 1852, the present historic structure had its beginnings amongst United Empire Loyalists (UEL) who had earlier settled in the Shefford region of Québec.

It belonged to the Anglican Diocese of Montréal until depopulation brought about its closure before 1979, and its sale to the non-profit organisation Canadian Heritage of Québec. The Anglican Diocese of Montreal sold the church on 1 October, 1979 (for custodial purposes) for $1, to the Canadian Heritage of Quebec. Nothing in particular developed during the ensuing years.

However, during the earlier years after AD 2000, there developed a relationship between the Parish of Saint-Beinoît-de-Nursie in Montréal and the remaining Anglican families who had historical connexions with the building.

Eventually, informal services began to be held there, in the very scarcely furnished interior, and temporary adjustments were made so that the services could happen.

Improvised facilities, 1990s

Archpastoral visit, 2015

On 15 August, 2015, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Dormition of the Holy Theotokos at the Mission Station in Frost Village, Québec.

This was effectively the beginning of the attempts to care for this missionary outreach on a regular basis.

Further improvements

Archpastoral visit, 2018

On 15 August, 2018, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Dormition of the Holy Theotokos at the Mission Station in Frost Village, Québec.

Concelebrating with Vladyka were Priests Jacques-Jude ; Octavian ; Dragos ; Dimitri ; Constantine (of the Romanian Diocese) ; and Archimandrite Marc (Pierre).

Formal and official establishment of the church, 2019

Then, on 11 November, 2019, the Archdiocese of Canada ultimately came to its rescue, when it received the building by a purchase agreement through one of its parishes. The Canadian Heritage of Québec offered the church for one dollar ($1) to La Paroisse Orthodoxe de Saint Seraphim in Rawdon, Québec, of the Archdiocese of Canada (Orthodox Church in America).

During the initial 3 years of ownership, there were several occurrences of arson and vandalism. Then the Archdiocese of Canada took measures to ensure the church building was secure. Electricity, and an alarm system were installed. During the summer of 2022, extensive renovations were carried out by contractor, Igor Nistor from Vancouver, British Columbia. He installed new windows, repaired the interior, and he set up an iconostas and an altar table. Subdeacon Igor said that he and God worked on this project.

The church began to offer services during the summer time, twice a month, and on special Orthodox feast-days.

Transfer to the Virgin of Diveyevo parish in Rawdon for support

Later, with administrative adjustments, the responsibility for the Frost Village church was transferred to the Virgin of Diveyevo Orthodox Church in Rawdon.

More improvements

Archpastoral visit, blessing of icons, 2025

On 30 August, 2025, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) served the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Frost Village Christ the Saviour Church. He was assisted by Fr Anatoliy Melnyk, Fr Constantin Gheorgheci, Hieromonk Serafim (Tregubov), Fr Alexandru Gheras, and Hieromonk Jean-Baptiste from the Hermitage of the Annunciation in Nova Scotia.

New icons

On this occasion, Vladyka Irénée blessed the new icons and iconostas for the church.

Parish particular information

This Temple is part of the Québec Deanery of the Archdiocese of Canada in The Orthodox Church in America. The dean is Mitred Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk. The bishop is Archbishop Irénée (Rochon.

The languages of services in this Temple are French, and Slavonic.

This Temple follows the Old (Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of the parish is the Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ (6/19 August).

In 2025, the Priest-in-charge of this Temple is Hieromonk Serafim (Tregubov).

Address :

Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church

668, Chemin Frost Village

Shefford, Québec

J2M 2C1

Web-site : orthodoxchurchrawdon.ca

E-mail : rawdon@orthodoxchurchrawdon.ca

Mailing address :

Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church

c/o Virgin of Diveyevo Orthodox Church, Rawdon, QC (St Seraphim Orthodox Parish)

3494 - 15e avenue

Rawdon, QC

J0K 1S0

Directions :

From Montréal, Québec

Drive on Boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest to the intersection with Boulevard Robert-Bourassa (Autoroute/Highway #10). Turn south on Boulevard Robert-Bourassa (Highway #10. Follow Highway #10 to the junction with Autoroute/Highway #15, and cross the Pont Champlain Bridge. Continue on Highway #10 until Exit #90. Then follow Highway #243 north (Chemin Frost) until the T-junction with Highway #112. Turn right onto Highway #112, and drive on until the junction with Chemin Frost Village. Do not turn left. Turn right onto Chemin Frost Village. The Temple is on the right side of the road.

Hieromonk Serafim (Tregubov)

4022, Woodland Avenue

Rawdon, Québec

J0K 1S0

E-mail : serafim.tregubov@yandex.ru

Archdeacon Amvrosi (Mlodzyk)

3978, rue Woodland

Rawdon, Québec

J0K 1S0

Telephone : 819-346-4270

E-mail : ramlod@primus.ca

Deacon Denis Letunovsky