The Churches of OroMedonte Author:Joanna McEwen, Ben Portis, Andrea Curtis Oro-Medonte, a township in central Ontario (Canada ) on the shores of Lake Simcoe, was created by the British colonial government in the mid-18th century. Numerous churches were built in every hamlet and village by settlers mainly from England, Ireland and Scotland. In 1819 the only government-sponsored settlement for Black veterans of the War o... more »f 1812 was established as well. Specifically, The Churches of Oro records in detail the interiors of these historic rural churches through 52 egg tempera paintings by artist Joanna McEwen. These paintings are enduring portraits of a vanishing regional history. Yielding to the inevitable passages of time, many of the churches have closed since these portraits were made. At the centre, this publication honours the people that supported these churches, and in particular the women, who worked so diligently to strengthen their communities. Documented over a period of eight years, the images capture Oro-Medonte's rural fabric and strong spiritual foundation, while the essays highlight the communities and the people who built and maintained these churches and their congregations.« less