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Iona’s first church opened for worship in 1852. Running east and west, it had the neat style of its day with ample space including galleries and side chapel. On New Year’s Day of 1926 this fine old building was reduced to ashes in a fire resulting from a furnace malfunction just hours after the holy-day Mass. That same year it was replaced by the second church, running north and south, an impressive structure whose imposing bulk was visible for miles around. Its large roof was completed with slate shingles, a novelty for our area which only added to its stature. The front had three entrance ways, reached by several cement steps running the full width of the building. High above at centre was a square tower, topped by a lengthy eight-sided spire which in turn was capped by a large cross. All of this reached a height of ninety some feet which in our younger days was considered an unbelievable height.

Immediately inside was a large porch running the full width of the building. In its centre was a double-door entry to the main church and on one end a stairway leading to a spacious full- width choir gallery. The latter had three items that caught the eye. One was a beautiful oak-cased Thomas organ whose sweet music filled the large interior on and off over the years. Then there were two ropes, one for ringing the main bell before Sunday Mass, the other for tolling the bell at the approach of a funeral procession. The gallery with its back stairs was frequently an inviting place for many more than the handful of choir members. Priests in general did not take kindly to this