(9) Originally, the building was thought to be immovable due to its stone construction and earmarked for demolition. Hydro officials suggested that the building be replaced with a modern building. Public opinion demanded its complete preservation. In fact, several questions were placed before the congregation. The first was “Are you in favour of transferring the present Trinity Memorial Church over to the Ontario Hydro Commission, to be used as an interdenominational Chapel, in the proposed Crysler Memorial Park, and receive a new Church in return? The congregation voted unanimously “No”. The second question was “Which do you prefer – a new Church built, or, the present Church taken down and restored on a selected site?” The congregation voted unanimously – “We prefer our present Church taken down, and restored on a selected site. ” The third question was “If a compromise could be agreed upon, would you be in favour of placing our present Church within the Crysler Memorial Park, providing it was permitted to retain its present status as a functioning Church of England, with an Anglican congregation? ”. The congregation voted unanimously “No. ”
At that time the plan was to situate the Crysler Memorial Park about five miles east of the Battle of Crysler’s Farm Monument which would place it on the doorstep of the proposed new No. 1 townsite (Ingleside) which was also slated to have an Anglican Church serving the combined congregations of Aultsville and Wales. The people felt that this would split congregations, would be too far distant from the present location, would leave too great a gap between Holy Trinity and St. James’ and would move the Church from its historic location in Dundas and place it in a “foreign” site in the County of Stormont!
The next question was “Where would you like Holy Trinity Memorial Church to be located when moved? The congregation voted unanimously – North and East, but positively remaining within the township, and parish of Williamsburg. The exact location was to be finally determined when it was actually known where the two roads would exist. The next question was “When the Church is in process of rebuilding, are you in favour of developing improvements, such as: (1) sanitation, with lavatories for both sexes, and one for the children, (2) a serviceable cloak room, (3) a larger, and better equipped kitchen, (4) a storage room, (5) an underground oil burner tank chamber?” The congregation unanimously voted “Yes. ” but expressed concern about whether or not Hydro would pay for these improvements.
The next question was “Where will the congregation of Trinity Memorial Church worship while the Church is being restored?” The congregation favoured attending St. James’, Morrisburg though certain provisions must be made in order that Trinity Memorial Church retains its own functioning program, with a share in costs agreed upon to apply to St. James’ during the interim. It was suggested that a joint meeting of both vestries take place to amicably decide these matters.
Mr. Jowett, with the support of the United Empire Loyalist Association, and other patriotic and public groups, mounted a campaign to have the church taken down, stone by stone and timber by timber, and re-constructed exactly as it had been on a new location in the new community of Riverside Heights.