All Saints Anglican Church (Gore Bay, Ont.) is a church within the multi-point Western Manitoulin Anglican Parish.

The town of Gore Bay had its beginning in 1870, and in 1880 was established as a mission. Before a priest was stationed in the Western Manitoulin Anglican Parish, Rev. Frederick Frost would service a few outstation settlements while living in Sheguiandah from 1877 to 1895, when he was made Rural Dean. The first stationed priest was Rev. William Macauley Tooke, arriving in November 1880. The services and Sunday School were held at the Ocean House Hotel, owned by Henry Branscombe Hunt and his wife Margaret Ann Jones (sometimes referred to as Jessie). Mr. and Mrs. Hunt deeded the present lot of All Saints’ to the Bishop of Algoma. On December 25, 1880 Mrs. Hunt a concert was held by the children to raise money for the church’s construction. The church was begun in 1882, and finished July 29, 1883. A basement was built in 1923.  

The Women’s Auxiliary was formed in July 1904 under Mrs. Annie M. Francis, Mrs. Neil McIntosh, and Mrs. Johnston, with Mrs. Peters as Treasurer and Miss Spencer as Secretary.

During Rev. Johnston Peever’s time at All Saints’, the Bishop suggested the parish become self-supporting in order to have a resident priest. The parishioners agreed, and in 1965 All Saints’ became independent. 

Incumbents and rectors who have served All Saints’ include: Rev. Canon Frederick Frost (1877-1895), Rev. William Macauley Tooke (1880-1887), Rev. James McLeod (1889-1896), Rev. William Henry Hunter (1896-1897), Rev. Lawrence Sinclair (1898-1900), Rev. William John Eccleston (1899-1904), Rev. George Prewar (1901-1902), Rev. Ernest Percival Selby Spencer (1903-1907), Rev. William Arthur John Burt (1908-1911), Rev. Harold Flitcroft Hutton (1911-1915), Rev. Archdeacon Gillmore (1915), Rev. Arthur John Oakley (1915-1916), Rev. Sidney Francis Yeomans (1916-1919), Rev. William Thomas Swainson (1919-1929), Rev. Frederick Elmer Jewell (1930-1932), Rev. Joseph Syvier Ralph Sturgeon (1932-1934), Rev. Marshall William Talbot (1934-1936), Rev. Alfred Joseph Bull (1936-1941), Rev. Alfred Percy Banks (1941), Rev. Arthur James Bruce (1941-1945),  Rev. Archdeacon Gilbert Thompson (1945-1950), Rev. Samuel Eric Richard (1950-1953), Rev. Lorne Reginald Arthur Sutherland (1953-1965), Rev. Canon Cyril Goodier (1960), Rev. Johnston Bain Peever (1965), Rev. Roy Locke (1965), Rev. Michael Holmes Dunnill (1966-1969), Rev. Donald Henry Dixon (1969), Rev. Murray Bradford (1969-1973), Rev. Captain David Page (1973-1975), Rev. John McCausland (SSJE) (1975-1982), Rev. Leonard Allan Shaw (1983-1987), Rev. Thomas William Cunningham (1987-1994), Rev. Linda Mary White (1994-?).

Sources:

• Willis John McQuarrie, “All Saints’ Anglican Church: Parish – 1880 to 2000”, 2000, All Saints’ Anglican Church (Gore Bay, Ont.) sous fonds, Algoma University Archives, 2009-170_001_001.

St. Francis of Assisi Anglican Church (Mindemoya, Ont.) is a church in the Western Manitoulin Anglican Parish. 

Rev. R. Taylor arrived in Mindemoya in 1932 and soon afterwards a committee was formed for the construction of the church. That winter, timber was scavenged and a “Stone Group” started a quarry in the limestone. The early work was mostly done by voluntary labour, and the later masonry work hired.

At its completion, there was a stone angel taken from the House of Parliament in London England that hung above the altar in a niche in the stone. There are also pieces of the Canterbury Cathedral, York Minster, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Fountains Abbey, and the Tower of Big Ben incorporated into the church; each is marked with a bronze tablet. The Admiralty in London donated a bronze bell. The roof was donated by John Crawford of Parkersburg, West Virginia, a summer resident. Bishop Paige of Detroit, Sir Albert Gooderham, Sir John Aird, Canon Gould, Lady Eaton, Mr. Van Dusen of Detroit, and others helped contribute to the building.

The church was officially opened July 25, 1935 and consecrated June 21, 1945 by Rev. W. L. Wright.

On July 27, 1975 the congregation of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Mindemoya marked the 40th anniversary of the official opening of the church.

Sources:

• "Celebrating 40th anniversary", The Algoma Anglican 17, no. 9 (1973): 3. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_009_009.
• "Fortieth anniversary", The Algoma Anglican 19, no. 8 (1975): 7. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_010_019.
• “The History of the Church of England St. Francis of Assisi”, (1995?), Marie Egglesfield fonds, Algoma University Archives, 2010-200_001_012.

St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church (Kagawong, Ont.) is a church in the Western Manitoulin Anglican Parish. 

The building that would become St. John the Evangelist was originally a warehouse built around 1898. The property was sold to the Diocese by Harriet Snow in December 1936. The church was dedicated on October 9, 1938. The church had been an outstation of Gore Bay and was served by Rev. Walter Jarvis.

The building required alterations to become more fit as a church. These renovations were done with thanks to the voluntary labour of the men of Kagawong and the Montague family, who frequently vacationed in the area during the summer. Families also helped raise funds. The building was given new hardwood flooring, wallboard lining, stove, and seating. Tom Montague made the altar and donated a screen purchased from St. Edmond’s Church in Toronto, given in memory of his mother Elizabeth Montague. He also designed the belfry which was then donated to the church by Mr. Austin Hunt Sr., and Bill Fraser (also a regular visitor) donated the bell from a train. The church originally had a wooden cross, but it was struck by lightning and replaced with a red neon light cross around 1968.

The church had a variety of nautical themed items and decorations. The ship’s wheel on the outside of the church came from a pulp barge which sank in the bay. Life belts came from Christy’s boat and the net floats that decorate the end of the pews were from Graham Brothers. There is a second steering wheel and a light that came from Austin Hunt Jr.’s boat. The pulpit was made from the bow of a boat that was wrecked during a storm on August 23, 1965. There were four casualties in the accident.

Incumbents and rectors have included: Rev. Walter W. Jarvis (?-1939), Rev. Alfred J. Bull (1939-1941), Rev Alfred P. Bank (1941), Rev. Arthur J. Bruce (1941-1945), Rev. Gilbert Thompson (1945-1950), Rev. Samuel Eric Richards (1950-1952), Rev. Michael P. Thomas (1953-1962), Rev. Bain Peever (1963-1966), Rev. M. H. Dunnill (1966-1969), Rev. M. Bradford (1969-1973), Captain David Page (1973-1975), Rev. J. G. McCausland (1975-?).

Sources:

• "Deanery of Nipissing", The Algoma Missionary News 34 (1938), no.3: 58. Part of 2009-081/002(004).
• “History of St. John the Evangelist, Kagawong”, 1979, Diocesan Heritage Centre Parish History collection, Algoma University Archives, 2014-019_001_018.

St. John's Anglican Church (Sheshegwaning Reserve, Ont.) is a church in the Western Manitoulin Anglican Parish. Previously, St. John's was part of the parish of All Saints' Gore Bay, which became self-supporting in 1966. The parish included the congregations of St. Peter's Anglican Church (Silverwater, Ont.) and St. John's Anglican Church (Sheshegwaning, Ont.).

Construction on the church began on September 27, 1914. Although mostly completed by November, the furniture did not arrive until February. The opening service was held on February 7, 1915. 

Sources:

• "Parish Register", 1912-1928, St. John's Church (Sheshegwaning Reserve, Ont) sous fonds, Algoma University Archives, 2009-242/001(001).
• "Indians using their new church", The Algoma Missionary News 11, no. 3 (1915): 5. Algoma University Archives, 2009-086_001_009_1915Mar.
• "Gore Bay Moves Forward", The Algoma Anglican 10, no. 8 (1966): 4. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_003_018.

St. John's Anglican Church (South Baymouth, One.) is part of the Western Manitoulin Anglican Parish.

Before the church was built between 1950 and 1952, services were held in the school-room. The lumber for the construction was taken from the old St. John's church at Hilly Grove. 

The cornerstone was laid on July 5th, 1950 and dedicated on July 22nd, 1952. Both ceremonies were performed by Bishop W.L. Wright. 

St. John's was consecrated by the Archbishop of Algoma, the Most Rev. William L. Wright on July 29, 1957.

Source:

• "South Bay Mouth Church Consecrated by Bishop" The Algoma Anglican 1 (1957): 3.
• "History of St. John's Anglican Church, South Bay Mouth" [1955-1978], Diocesan Heritage Centre History files collection, part of 2013-078_004_014.

St. Paul's Anglican Church (Manitouwaning, Ont.), the oldest church in the Diocese of Algoma, was originally built in 1845.  Anglican services in the area had begun in 1835 began when Capt. Thomas G. Anderson, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, was sent to organize a missionary and educational establishment on Manitoulin Island accompanied by the Rev. Adam Elliot. This “establishment” faced difficult times in its early years, peaking with a fire in 1838 which destroyed most of its buildings.   The Irish-born Rev. Frederick A. O'Meara, a graduate of Trinity College in Dublin, was the incumbent during St. Paul's construction and he remained the priest-in-charge until 1863.   O'Meara translated Scriptures and Liturgy into Ojibway. He also helped an aboriginal man, Peter Jacobs, prepare for the Holy Orders.

O'Meara, quite successful in his proselytizing, applied unsuccessfully for funding to build a church.  The congregation at Manitouwaning went forward anyway, felling and squaring trees, and by 1845 the aboriginal congregation had raised a porch and steeple. With the frame completed, a petition was created and sent to the Rt. Rev. John Strachan, the first Bishop of Toronto, and the man who had confirmed the members of the congregation. The petition convinced the bishop to appeal to the English Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, and its grants in combination with subscriptions from individuals in England, allowed for the completion of St. Paul's.   When Bishop Strachan visited Manitouwaning in 1849, he commented that: “The new church, a very neat wooden building stands high, and is the most inspiring object in the village. Though not quite finished it was made fit for Divine service.”

Mr. Jacobs succeeded O'Meara and was in charge of Manitouwaning until his death at the age of thirty-one in 1864.  There remains a marble tablet to commemorate Jacobs on a wall within the church.

The 1862 Manitoulin Treaty opened Manitoulin Island to white settlement and displaced many of the aboriginal people who had been living at Manitouwaning, most of whom would re-settle at Sheguiandah.

When the Rev. Roy Locke arrived in Manitowaning in 1958, the church had fallen into disrepair.  Locke began a restoration fund to remedy the situation. The renovations began within a few years and were completed in time to celebrate the church's 120th anniversary. The renovations included raising the church onto a new concrete foundation, the addition of a full size crypt to allow space for a parish hall, and the purchase and installation of a new furnace. On June 30, 1964 the cornerstone of the new foundation, marking the beginning of the restoration, was laid by the Most Rev. William L. Wright. Archbishop of Algoma.

Sources:

Algoma University, http://archives.algomau.ca/main/sites/default/files/2013-086_001_003_005_1.pdf [accessed 2013 July, 15]

http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100028959/1100100028961

St. Peter's Anglican Church (Silverwater, Ont.) is a church in the Western Manitoulin Anglican Parish.

The St. Peter's church was built before 1909, which at this time the congregation was deciding on a parsonage; they were torn between building a new home on a plot of land they had secured, or accepting an offer on an already built house. The early years seemed to be good ones, and in 1916 the congregation had plans for expanding the church building. They wanted to add a chancel, porch, and provisions for classrooms. 

Sources:

• "Silverwater", The Algoma Missionary News 6, no. 9 (1909): 5. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_001_008_1909Oct.
• "Archbishop visitation of Manitoulin Island", The Algoma Missionary News 12, no. 9 (1916): 4. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_001_009_1916Sept.