The Story 1804-1979

Can be purchased through the church office.

Written by: Jessie Baxter

The Story Continues 1979 - 2004

Can be purchased through
the church office.

Written by: Robert Murray

The Lion and the Lamb   

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them- Isaiah 11:6 . 

 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD. - Isaiah 65:25

                                                                

The elm tree in front of St. James church has been a fixture on Main Street, virtually since the laying out of the town of Antigonish. For the majestic spread of its branches, it acted as the focal point for all vistas on Main St.. Unfortunately it succumbed to Dutch Elm Disease and became a hazard to passersby. Therefore it was taken down and the magnificent stump was carved into the old Lion and the Lamb. Thus even in death, the tree still functioned in the public space. As it was the stump, the roots continued to absorb water, and eventually the statue rotted.

Several members of the congregation regretted the necessity of removing the old statue and took steps to see what could be done to restore it or reproduce it. The new Lion and the Lamb is once again made of elm wood this time from Pictou County. The wood has been treated with a preservative, and instead of the grain being vertical and opened to the elements, it is horizontal and should shed water better. As well the statue has been elevated on a concrete plinth and should therefore remain relatively dry. This should enable it to withstand the elements for a greater length of time than the old one did, but not nearly the length of time of the old tree, which was almost 200 years old when it was taken down.