St. John the Divine Anglican Church (North Bay, Ont.) sous fonds

Custodial History: 

Accrual 2009-077 was transferred from Laurentian University to Algoma University in May 2009 by Ken Hernden and Robin Isard.  Further accruals are expected.

Start Date: 
1883
Geographic Access: 
Access Restriction: 

May be restrictions on access based on the terms of the Deposit Agreement, the Diocese's Policy on Privacy and Archives. Subject to all applicable privacy legislation.

Description Level: 
End Date: 
1996
Date Range: 
1883-1996
Repro Restriction: 

May be restrictions on use based on the terms of the Deposit Agreement, the Diocese's Policy on Privacy and Archives. Subject to all applicable privacy legislation.

Conservation: 

Minor conservation performed on sous fonds.

Physical Description: 

0.42 m of textual records

Arrangement: 
Sous fonds is arranged in files.
History Biographical: 

St. John the Divine Anglican Church (North Bay, Ont.) is part of the single-point St. John the Divine Anglican Parish (North Bay, Ont.). 

Rev. Forster Bliss, of St. Alban's Anglican Church (Mattawa, Ont.) organized and led the first service for the congregation that would become St. John the Divine Anglican Church on August 15, 1883.  This service was held in the former C.P.R engine house, which was then being used as a dwelling. In the formative years, Rev. Bliss was also serving St. Michael and All Angels (North Bay, Ont.) and St. Mary Magdalene (Sturgeon Falls, Ont.).

The construction of the church began August 1895 and was completed August 10, 1896. Only 8 years afterwards the church became self-supporting. The church was consecrated on February 12, 1908. In 1910 the apse was replaced with a large chancel, an organ was purchased, and the church received the following gifts: oaken reredos, stained glass window above the altar, a brass altar cross, brass lectern, and a stone font.

During 1918, the church was renovated and the chancel’s debt was paid. On December 22 that year, the chancel was consecrated by Archbishop Thorneloe. A year later a small fire destroyed the organ. The organ was later rebuilt and rededicated in 1955.

In 1923 the parish hall basement was build and named after Rev. Balfour. The ground floor was completed in 1932 and named after Rev. Oliver. The parish hall mortgage was finally paid in 1948, complete with a mortgage burning ceremony on April 6 with Archbishop W. L. Wright in attendance.

Around 1956, Christ Anglican Church (North Bay, Ont.) was established as a new mission path to accommodate the growth of the congregation. This was financed with Wells Campaign Organization, the Algoma Mission Fund, the Diocesan Expense Fund, and with contributions from St. John the Divine.

Throughout the summer of 1957 significant repairs were undertaken at St. John. The steeple and exterior cross were renewed and covered with copper, exterior brick was painted, new tile was placed in the nave of the church, and the kneelers were covered. A new altar was installed and dedicated by Cannon C.F. Large in 1959.

From 1987-1989 substantial repairs and upgrades were done at St. John’s.  The upper hall was conserved into "The Bliss-Gillmor Apartments" which featured 13 apartment units.  The parish offices were converted into two meeting rooms and a second level was added above them for new office space. On the ground floor the parish hall was renovated and an elevator was added. On December 10, 1989 Bishop Peterson dedicated the renewed complex.

Incumbents and rectors have included: Rev. Forster Bliss (1883-1885), Rev. Gowan Gillmor (1885-1891), Rev. A.J. Young (1892-1897), Rev. W.A.J. Burt (1898-1899), Rev. A.J.F. Cobb (1899-1905), Rev. C.E. Bishop (1906-1911), Rev. C.W. Balfour (1911-1921), Rev. Gilbert Oliver (1921-1927), Rev. H.A. Sims (1927-1937), Rev. L.I. Greene (1937-1938), Rev. W.W. Jarvis (1939-1951), Rev. Canon C.F. Large (1951-1973), Rev. N.L. Goater (1974-1980), Rev. G.K. Gibbs (1980-1981), Rev. Donald M. Landon (1981-?).

Sources:

  • "Church Progress in North Bay," The Algoma Missionary News 15, no.2 (1919): 18.
  • "St. John's Gets New Tile Floor, Copper Steeple", The Algoma Anglican 1 (1957): 10.
  • "New Altar Dedicated at St. John the Divine", The Algoma Anglican 3, no. 3 (1959): 2.
  • "90th anniversary celebrated", The Algoma Anglican 18, no. 1 (1974): 3. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_010_001.
  • "St. John's, North Bay, looks forward to Centennial", The Algoma Anglican 27, no. 8 (1982): 1. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_013_006.
  • "St John's, North Bay, reviews its splendid centennial year events", The Algoma Anglican 29, no. 3 (1984): 1.
  • Rev. Canon Donald M. Landon, "St. John's North Bay, celebrates completion of comprehensive two-year renovation project", The Algoma Anglican 37, no. 2 (1990): 1, 3.
  • Frank Boland, “Church of St. John the Divine”, 1982, Diocesan Heritage Centre Parish History collection, Algoma University Archives, 2014-019_001_022.
Scope Content: 

Sous fonds is comprised of records documenting activities at St. John the Divine Anglican Church (North Bay, Ont.).  Includes registers, minutes, and other materials.

Repository: 
aua

Parish Register

Start Date: 
1883
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1888
Date Range: 
1883-1888
Physical Description: 

1.2 cm of textual records

Notes: 

Baptisms, 1883-1888|Marriages, 1884-1888|Burials, 1884-1888

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Parish Register

Start Date: 
1888
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1898
Date Range: 
1888-1898
Physical Description: 

2 cm of textual records

Notes: 

Baptisms, 1888-1897|Marriages, 1888-1898|Burials, 1888-1898

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Parish Register of Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages and Burials

Start Date: 
1897
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1911
Date Range: 
1897-1911
Physical Description: 

2.5 cm of textual records

Notes: 

Baptisms, 1897-1911|Marriages, 1898-1905|Burials, 1898-1911|Confirmations, 1900-1911

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Parish Register

Start Date: 
1911
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1919
Date Range: 
1911-1919
Physical Description: 

2 cm of textual records

Notes: 

Baptisms, 1911-1919|Marriages, 1911-1916|Burials, 1911-1919|Confirmations, 1912-1919

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Parish Register

Start Date: 
1919
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1949
Date Range: 
1919-1949
Physical Description: 

2.5 cm of textual records

Notes: 

Baptisms, 1919-1929|Burials, 1919-1949|Confirmations, 1920-1934

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Baptismal Register

Start Date: 
1929
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1954
Date Range: 
1929-1954
Physical Description: 

2.5 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Baptism Register

Start Date: 
1954
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1959
Date Range: 
1954-1959
Physical Description: 

2.5 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Baptism Register

Start Date: 
1958
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1964
Date Range: 
1958-1964
Physical Description: 

2.5 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-002
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
002

Marriage Register

Start Date: 
1926
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1931
Date Range: 
1926-1931
Physical Description: 

1.2 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-002
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
002

Register of Marriages

Start Date: 
1906
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1921
Date Range: 
1906-1921
Physical Description: 

1.2 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-002
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
002

Marriage Register

Start Date: 
1931
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1936
Date Range: 
1931-1936
Physical Description: 

1 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-002
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
002

Marriage Register

Start Date: 
1936
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1941
Date Range: 
1936-1941
Physical Description: 

1.2 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-002
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
002

Marriage Register

Start Date: 
1941
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1964
Date Range: 
1941-1964
Physical Description: 

3.5 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-002
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
002

Marriage Register

Start Date: 
1964
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1984
Date Range: 
1964-1984
Physical Description: 

2.5 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-002
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
002

Marriage Register

Start Date: 
1984
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1996
Date Range: 
1984-1996
Physical Description: 

2 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-002
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
002

Service Register

Start Date: 
1886
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1903
Date Range: 
1886-1903
Physical Description: 

1 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-002
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
002

Service Register

Start Date: 
1903
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1914
Date Range: 
1903-1914
Physical Description: 

1 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-002
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
002

Service Register

Start Date: 
1914
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1922
Date Range: 
1914-1922
Physical Description: 

1.5 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-002
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
002

Service Register

Start Date: 
1922
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1929
Date Range: 
1922-1929
Physical Description: 

1.2 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-002
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
002

Record of Services

Start Date: 
1929
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1940
Date Range: 
1929-1940
Physical Description: 

1.5 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-002
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
002

Vestry Book

Start Date: 
1940
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1948
Date Range: 
1940-1948
Physical Description: 

1.2 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-002
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
002

Vestry Book

Start Date: 
1948
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1953
Date Range: 
1948-1953
Physical Description: 

1.2 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-002
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
002

Vestry Book

Start Date: 
1953
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1984
Date Range: 
1953-1984
Physical Description: 

3.5 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-077-002
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
002