Community Hero

Robert Chapman

— by Hillary Handy

Our community is filled with so many incredibly interesting people. Every story is so different, but each contribution, big or small, helps shape our community in positive ways. I think that’s one of the reasons I enjoy writing this column so much. For this issue’s Community Hero, I want you to journey with me to where the past meets the present and see how small, faithful steps can make a big, lasting impact.

Meet Robert Chapman. He doesn’t have much of a digital footprint, but his fingerprints are all over history and the historical archives at St. Paul’s United Church in Orillia. He is the church’s official historian and archivist.

I met Robert Chapman by happenstance. I was attending an event at St. Paul’s and noticed the ever-so-mysterious vault door was open. You’ve probably looked at the door yourself, wondering where does it lead to? I had only ever seen the locked exterior, which prompted so much curiosity for me. Robert was inside, and struck up a conversation with me, and then my curiosity took over. I was able to see that Robert was hard at work, doing some cataloging. Being a bit curious (okay, nosy), I had to see what the deal was, in there.

When I entered, I realized there was everything in the vault! Birth and death records, baptismal records, membership files, canceled cheques, and meeting minutes. Some people might find this a bit dull. Others may be totally intrigued. I know I was! There were ornate stamps from 1881 with Queen Victoria on them. There were countless samples of impeccable calligraphy. For the truest of fans of our beloved Gordon Lightfoot, you can see snippets of his history woven into the archives. Many of the artifacts were actually sent to the Orillia Museum of Art and History for various exhibits. But St. Paul’s actually houses one where you can see Robert’s work on display.

Robert calls Orillia home. He was baptized as an infant and attended Sunday School at St. Paul’s as a child. He was later confirmed there as a teenager. His mother was also heavily involved in the church community, for over 30 years. He writes in his book, People in Place, “With a family association with this church, I have felt a further connection to its past before my time.” He went away to school as a young adult, but returned to his roots.

For the past 17 years, he has been serving in the role of archivist after being asked by the staff to help organize the vault. It was filled with banker boxes from floor to ceiling with just about every type of paperwork you can imagine. Robert commented, “I really feel like I was the right person just because I was willing to compile the items into various book genres. I organized it, read it and turned it into various books!” Robert has read every document in there!

He has been asked to find some specific historical details for families and because it is so organized, he knows where to find it! He has written and published eleven books that specifically pertain to St. Paul’s history. He has been heavily involved in the St. Paul’s community, serving on the property committee and writing historical updates for the St. Paul’s newsletter, to name a few of his areas of involvement.

His love for local history has turned into a love for publishing. Having done the tedious and meticulous work of cataloguing, he had access to all the information to write a series of books chronicling the history of the church. He writes in People in Place, “At this time when turmoil seems to be a more frequent daily news article, I find it comforting to reminisce and recall earlier times when life seemed to have more simple and straightforward quality.”

His latest book is called Choirs and Musicals. This showcases the extensive and many productions that have occurred at St. Paul’s, going as far back as 1863! You can swing by the church office and purchase your own copy. You can imagine this piece will have great details on Gordon Lightfoot and more!

What is Robert up to next? He is working on his next book about the youth groups that have been a part of the St. Paul’s story. He has given presentations about the various groups that called St. Paul’s home to Girl Guides and Path Finders who meet at St. Paul’s. This prompted him to collect those stories in a more formal way. Stay tuned for this new book coming out soon!

Robert may not be someone you see in the limelight. He is a quiet leader, sharing his love and passion for Orillia’s local history. We love to highlight the stories across our region. Robert highlights the stories of our past that shape our future. For this reason and more, we are pleased to recognize Robert Chapman as this issue’s community hero.

Do you know someone with an interesting story to tell? Nominate them for our next issue’s Community Hero, at info@northsimcoe.life.