St. Matthew's, Goulds, NF
The "Ruby" Church was declared a Provincial Heritage Site in July 1987 and is unique in Newfoundland in that it was privately built and maintained. When a dispute arose in
the early years of this century over the location of the new church in the Goulds,
George Ruby, 1841-1930, built his own church. Later a deal was struck with
Queen's College to have theological students provide church services in return for
vegetables from the Rubys' farms.
The story of St.Matthew's Church in the Goulds, or the "Ruby" Church as it is popularly known, is largely the story of a
family and their church and in the end, when St. Matthew's was replaced by
St.Paul's, and was abandoned and marked for destruction, it becomes the story of
the Rubys' battle to save their heritage.
How this was achieved is an interesting
story and reads like a handbook on how to fight the invisible "they" who seek to
destroy our "useless" historical buildings.
..."For those expecting a book with dry statistics and boring stories about women's aid groups and the like, this book is a refreshing alternative; it is anything but dull. In fact, it makes for the most fascinating reading imaginable."
Harold Dawe, Newfoundland Herald, January, 1992.
..."This is a book that will endure. It chronicles the culture of a close knit community and its valiant efforts to save a church building from destruction--a piece of material culture, perhaps, but nonetheless an expression of the wills and spirit of the people of that community--the Goulds."
Clarence Dewling, Newfoundland Churchman, December 1992.
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All Prices are in Canadian Dollars
