Frances Balodis is an Acadia alumna (M.Ed. ‘73) now living in Ullswater, Ontario, in Muskoka, between Huntsville and Bracebridge.

This summer, she played the Anglican Church hymnal cover-to-cover, beginning at 9 a.m. and finishing at 8 p.m. at St. Thomas Anglican Church. She writes to tell us that it was a wonderful community event with 45 people coming by to sing and enjoy the proceedings. Sue Ward, a friend of hers, came at 2:30 p.m. and played her violin with the hymns until the conclusion. 

Balodis undertook the play-a-thon on the church’s Hammond electronic organ and also on a Roland Digital C-30 Harpsichord/Tracker. A total of $4,000 was raised to help make the church wheelchair accessible.

Francis says the first structure of St. Thomas Anglican church was consecrated on Feb. 28, 1885 and it was originally a log church. The façade and interior has undergone some changes over the last 125 years and with the plan to make the building accessible, it will undergo more important changes.

Frances has attended St. Thomas church for 62 years as a summer resident. With her husband Gunars, Muskoka has been their permanent home since June 2011.