On Christmas night, 1868 fire claimed the old wooden church. Immediately the faithful of the parish joined to raise a new stone church.

One parishioner, William Madden, even mortgaged his farm and home for $2000 to get the work started. The new stone church was almost twice as large as the old one. On Christmas Day, 1869 parishioners gathered for Mass at dawn. As was the custom, the letters A.M.D.G. were carved into the arch of the entrance. Those letters signal the banner of faith: Ad Majorem Dei Glorian, To the Glory of God! Three years later St. Mary’s became a parish in the Diocese of Bytown.

Other historic Catholic references: The Union Almonte and Ramsay Contagious Hospital was also known as the Pest [Pestilence] House, or sometimes the Isolation Hospital. The two acres of land was bought in 1902 from a Roman Catholic farmer, Thomas McDonell for $100. [Located]on the hill behind the Catholic cemetery…” (Source: “lindaseccaspina” Blog)