[1] Mooretown gained in prosperity during the 19th century as a port of call for sail born vessels requiring assistance to pass "The Rapids" where steamboats driven by cord wood stacked on Mooretown's piers could be towed up river into Lake Huron.

The 1860s structure was struck by lightning in 1918 having been built of local timber with a copper clad steeple known to mariners as a navigation point.

The 1919 replacement structure is now on the Moore Museum's grounds having been preserved by artist Christine Anne Wingfield-Brandon.

The structure retains the steeple bell from the original Sutherland's Landing Church.

[1] Mooretown served as a regional center for salt mining and oil refining before these industries move to neighboring communities.