A Place of Rest for those who served
In 1914, a generous and unexpected gift became a place of restoration for generations of missionaries.
After recovering from serious illness, Edith McFarlane married W. J. Stephens, a widower from Bracebridge. Not long after, she persuaded him to donate a piece of land on Lake Muskoka to Baptist women—land that would become a missionary rest home.
Women across Ontario came together to make the vision a reality. A simple cottage was built on the wooded shoreline. It was furnished through gifts—quilts, supplies, even a rowboat—each one offered with care. What emerged was more than a building. It was a shared expression of love and gratitude for those serving far from home.
For the next 96 years, the cottage provided something many missionaries living on modest salaries could not otherwise afford: rest.
There, on furlough, they found quiet mornings, fresh air, and space to breathe. Families gathered. Friendships deepened. Strength was restored for the work to which they had been called.
In 2010, after nearly a century of service, the decision was made to sell the cottage. As the needs of missionaries had changed—with greater financial support, pension provisions, and a growing emphasis on global partnerships rather than long-term overseas placement—the cottage was no longer needed in the same way.
But its story did not end there.
The proceeds were reinvested into ministry—supporting new initiatives, strengthening partnerships, and extending the reach of Baptist women’s work. What had once offered rest in one place now became a source of renewal in many.
The cottage was a gift. Its legacy continues.