Poplar Grove and a descendant of some of the Island’s most prominent master carpenters and 
     
    
   
   
    
     shipbuilders. Little Harry had studied architectural design in Massachusetts. Smith noted in 
     
    
   
   
    
     detail: 
     
    
   
   
    
     He fabricated most of the interior ornamental work and the door and window 
     
     frames and sashes in his home workshop. His desire for perfection and quality 
     
     can be seen both inside and outside this beautiful church. The complex shingle 
     
     patterns on the facades and steeple are ingeniously executed, and the decorated 
     
     frieze below the eaves and the ornate window hood moulds give the facades a 
     
     depth of character that is not often found in small rural churches. Wherever one 
     
     looks at this church, interesting detail is found; the flag motif below the front 
     
     nave window and the delicate finial at the roofs crest are two such examples. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The interior is no different. Harry Williams and Edward England have obviously 
     
     referred to their shipbuilding ancestry in the framing of the roof. The ceiling 
     
     panels are arranged in exquisite rectilinear patterns, and the richly stained framing 
     
     members and decorative trim give the interior warmth. The stained glass 
     
     windows in the sanctuary add colour to this exhilarating interior. 
     
    
   
   
    
     "Little" Harry Williams has captured the inspirational essence of church 
     
     architecture and has perfectly matched it to the scale of this building. The art of 
     
     the builder is itself an inspiration; no aspect of the building seems superfluous. 
     
     The aesthetic balance within and without this church is a rare and outstanding 
     
     achievement. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The new and beautiful St.John’s Church in Ellerslie was consecrated on July 2, 1899. 
     
    
   
   
    
     A very eloquent sermon was preached by the Bishop from the words, "I was glad when they said 
     
    
   
   
    
     unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord". This "little gem" of a church flourished as is 
     
    
   
   
    
     evident from Rev. Henry Harper’s report of 1900: 
     
    
   
   
    
     At St. John’s, Ellerslie, the services have been well attended, congregation 
     
     always large, responses good and hearty, and the singing under the leadership of 
     
     the Misses Ruby and Daisy Williams is all that can be desired, while the church 
     
     itself is kept clean and bright and comfortable. Indeed it is pleasing to note the 
     
     interest that is being manifested in church matters in this place. The thanks of 
     
     the congregation are due Mrs. C. Coulson Gardiner for a very nice set of 
     
     Communion linen received last summer, also to Hon. James W. Richards for the 
     
    
   
   
    
     bell presented by him. 
     
    
   
   
    
     41