St. George’s on the Hill offers many Christmas traditions at this holiday season. Along with our special services such as the Carols and Lessons and the Christmas Pageant, others are less . . . well known.
Two members of our church have helped Santa Claus spread the spirit of Christmas to children and adults over the years. Read their stories below!
STAN PURDY
Stan Purdy married Isobol Mercer in October 1956 at St. George’s. The Mercers were longtime members of the Parish, going back generations to the 1870’s. Stan was known to be fun and very outgoing, often playing his guitar and leading sing-alongs at parish events. He and Isobol sang in the Senior Choir. Stan also played Santa through the 60’s and 70’s at the yearly church bazaars and latterly the Snowflake Festivals, as well as dressing up in his clown costume for Parish picnics. Stan married three times, first to Isabol until she passed away in 1966, then Evelyn Smart for 28 years, followed by Brenda Sarah for 10 years, widow of Bill Sarah who was St. George’s organist and choir master for over 30 years. Stan died in 2010 at the age of 93. Stan and Isobel had a son Robert and daughter Anne who were also members of the Junior Choir. In 1973, Anne married Peter Rach at St. George’s, thus carrying on the intergenerational Parish connections to this day with regular attendance at weekly church services and other activities.
PETER HELSTON
Peter and Carol Helston joined St. George’s on the Hill shortly after moving into the neighbourhood in 1979, with daughters Kerry, Christine, and Lindsay born later. In the mid-eighties, along with parishioners Doug and Shirray Langley, Peter and Carol founded Kingsway College School in the Christian Education Centre. While serving as chair of KCS in the early nineties, Peter was asked to replace a board member moving to the US as the KCS Santa, a role he continues to this day. And yes, that impressive beard is real!