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The Ruins That Raised Me: St. Raphael’s, Sacred Spaces, and the Spark of Travel
- A Broad Perspective
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
This is me, in my 30s. Bobbed and blonde.
A combined 8 kiddos at home.
A woman thriving in daily life, yet yearning for something... older.
Farther. More mysterious.
I didn't frequent St. Raphael’s Ruins in Williamstown, Ontario, Canada, because it was a church.
I went because it was the closest thing to a historic place that I had access to at the time.
In this post, I share how St. Raphael’s Ruins in Ontario became more than a historic site; it was the spark that shaped my love of travel, healing, and sacred spaces.
A Curious Soul, Rooted in Stone
There was something about it. The age of it.
The way the walls stood without a roof, open to the sky. The way the walls held and stood tall. The bell was still proudly on display. The cemetery behind it, whispering stories in the wind.
I wasn't raised religious per se, although I did my dabbling, but history? That was always my church.
The ruins weren’t just a backdrop. They were a portal. The stone, the silence, the way time seemed to hold its breath there… it stirred something deep in me.
A hunger to go further. To touch the stones of Rome. To dream. To create. To trust. To ponder and to walk where the Greeks debated and the Egyptians built temples to eternity.
Back then, I had only been to other places in Canada and the USA. But in those ruins, I was already beginning to travel in spirit.
The Ruins That Held Me
I used to visit St. Raphael’s Ruins often. Not because it was a church, but because it was the closest thing to ancient I had ever known.
There was a cemetery in the back, and something about the place felt sacred, still, and holding.
I was drawn to it, not by faith, but by history, the mystery, the transformative energy, and a longing I couldn’t quite name back then.
Back when I was still in my 30s, bobbed and blonde, with eight kiddos at home, this is where my ex and I would come for picnics.
It’s where we laid out life plans, career moves, date night picnics, and dreamed of traveling to Italy one day.
It’s where my kids played, where they ran free. It’s where we held some birthday parties and took graduation photos.
It’s also where I went to 'pray', to cry, to seek solitude. It’s where I crumbled the day my dad died, suddenly, from a brain aneurysm, on Father’s Day.
It’s where I found myself again when my marriage was falling apart, and where I sat alone for the first time on my very first no-kiddos week post-separation, in my early 40s, aching and very unsure how this was now my life.
It was where I decided to end a casual relationship with a toxic person.
It's where I decided to solo travel through Europe on my own, to go to Italy, to make my dreams come true.
And I did.
I solo-travelled to Europe for a month, and that would profoundly change me and spark a deeper burning for cultural submersion.
And a year after that, it’s where I pulled over, parked, and curiously exchanged the very first voice clips with Leon; he was at an antiques auction in the UK for work at the time, sending poetic voice notes and charm across the ocean.
I remember that moment so clearly. Who could have known it would have led to where we are, where I am, now.
Of course it did, we have origin connections together there too. We had many a stroll through the ruins together and visits with the 'kids' also.
St. Raphael – The Unexpected Connection
It was only later that I realized this place was named after St. Raphael the Archangel.
Who exactly he was. What he represented. And oh, how the connections began to bloom.
Raphael is the angel of healing, yes - but also of travel, love, and family connection.
He guided Tobias in the Book of Tobit on a journey that brought him love, healing, and purpose.
I can't help but smile now, seeing how this same energy showed up in my life, long before I even knew his name.
To feel connected to a place of loss might seem strange to some.
But to me, as my life events unveiled themselves, as a writer, a poet, a healer, and a former funeral director, it makes perfect sense.
There is beauty in tragedy, and tragedy in beauty.
That place saw all of me. The grief, the love, the falling apart, and the reaching forward. It was a mirror and a sanctuary.
Not polished or perfect, but meaningful. Sacred. And profound.
💡 Tip: If St. Raphael’s has sparked your own travel dreams, explore our Travel Resources for tips, tools, and discounts to start your journey.
From Ruins to Rome (And Beyond)
Since that moment in the photo, my world cracked wide open.
Leon and I have now traveled to 42 countries together, were engaged at Aphrodite’s Rock in Cyprus, and have stood among ruins far older than St. Raphael’s.
But that place? That humble church, those Canadian stones? They were the beginning.
A place where my inner traveler first whispered,
“There is more. Go find it.”
Final Thoughts – Sacred Curiosity
I used to think travel had to begin with a passport stamp. Now I know; it begins with curiosity.
And sometimes, the sacred doesn’t come dressed in temples or rituals.
Sometimes it shows up in abandoned walls, in children laughing under Roman arches, in cemeteries that make you wonder who they were, and what they dreamed.
The sacred is anywhere your soul leans forward and whispers, "Tell me more."
And that’s what St. Raphael’s gave me.
💡 Tip: Staying connected while seeking out sacred spaces is easier now than ever. We use trusted eSIMs like GigSky, Saily, and Holafly to stay online wherever we go.
Travel Notes from the Heart
St. Raphael’s Ruins were built in the early 1800s by Scottish settlers in Ontario.
Considered to be one of the earliest Roman Catholic churches in English-speaking Canada.
Named for St. Raphael, the angel of travelers, healers, and matchmakers.
Burned in 1970, the stone remains are now a National Historic Site of Canada.
The cemetery behind the church is a peaceful place for quiet wandering and reflection.
Visiting St. Raphael’s Today
If you ever find yourself in Ontario, St. Raphael’s is worth a quiet detour. The ruins are located in Williamstown, Ontario, about 90 minutes from both Ottawa and Montreal.
Parking is free, and the site is open year-round to visitors who want to wander the grounds, read the plaques, and feel the presence of history.
There are no entry fees, and the grounds are maintained as a National Historic Site of Canada.
You’ll also find picnic tables nearby, making it an ideal place to pause during a road trip.
💡 Good to know: The ruins often host community events and concerts during summer evenings, where the acoustics of the stone walls add a magical layer to live music.
Where to Stay Nearby
Planning to see St. Raphael’s? Find nearby stays and hotels here.
Opening Times, Tickets, and Best Time to Visit
St. Raphael’s Ruins are open year-round and free to enter.
The site is maintained as a National Historic Site of Canada, which means you can simply walk in and explore the grounds at your own pace.
There’s no ticket office or entry fee, making it one of those rare places where history is truly accessible to everyone.
⪢ Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit is late spring through early autumn, when the grass is green and the sun casts beautiful shadows through the open stone walls.
Summer evenings are especially magical if you can catch a community concert or special event hosted inside the ruins.
Winter visits are possible too, though expect snow and icy paths. The starkness of the ruins against a snowy backdrop is hauntingly beautiful, but dress warmly and watch your step.
💡 Good to know: The ruins are especially photogenic at golden hour, when the setting sun pours through the arched windows and the sky opens above the roofless walls.
Why Ruins Matter
Ruins remind us that time is both fleeting and eternal.
They hold the echoes of past lives, faith, and creativity, while leaving space for us to project our own meaning.
Some visit them for history, others for silence, others for curiosity. But always, ruins invite reflection.
Standing in broken walls that refuse to fall, you realize the beauty in impermanence and the strength in what remains.
Whether in Canada, Cyprus, Rome, or anywhere else for that matter, ruins give us permission to slow down, to wonder, and to ask bigger questions.
Many travelers report feeling more inspired by ruins than by perfectly preserved monuments — the gaps, cracks, and missing pieces leave room for imagination and connection.
💡 Tip: Wherever your journey takes you, from ancient ruins to modern cities, travel insurance like SafetyWing Nomad Insurance ensures peace of mind along the way.
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A beautiful spot filled with so many memories. Will always be a special place for the family 😌