Christ Anglican Church (Ilfracombe, Ont.) is a church within the North Muskoka Anglican Pioneer Parish. 

In the early years of Ilfracombe prayer meetings were conducted by Captain Harston in a farmhouse until a log church was built in 1879. This early church was opened in July of this year by Rev. Patterson. Services were continued with Captain Harston and with the occasional visit from Rev. William Crompton. They soon received a grant from the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge and gained the services of Rev. A. S. O. Sweet.

The cornerstone of the new stone church was laid on July 28, 1886 and was opened for services in autumn of 1887.

In 1888, Ilfracombe was the centre of a mission that included Hoodstown, Stanleydale, Novar, and Axe Lake. The latter two were separated from the mission in 1890 when Ravenscliff was added.

Between 1930 and 1946 the church was administered to by “the Cowley Fathers” of the Society of St. John the Evangelist, Bracebridge. They were followed by rapid successions of clergy. A church cabin was built in 1951 for their use. The congregation also managed some renovations to the church in this year. In 1956 the church hall was dismantled.

The old stone church preserves much of its history within its walls: the east window of The Good Shepherd is in memory of pioneer Mrs. Charles Smith, the nave windows commemorate early Ilfracombe families, and one window is in memory of Rev. Joseph Pardoe who served the parish from 1894-1904.

The rectors and incumbents who have served Christ Church include: Rev. A.S.O. Sweet (1880-1884), Rev. John Manning (18845-1888), Rev. Laurence Sinclair (1888-1892, 1909-1930), Rev. Harry C. Aylwin (1892-1893), Rev. Joseph Pardoe (1894-1904), Rev. Christopher Simpson (1904-1908), Rev. C. Ryan (1908-1909), Rev. Richard K. Bamber (1932-1933), Rev. R.J. Morley (1936-1939), Rev. L.E.C. Frith (1939-1945), Br. Crispin (1946), Rev. C. M. Serson (1946), Rev. E.C. Bowyer (1947), Rev. D. Curzon (1947), Rev. G.F. Heathcote (1949), Rev. A. Haldenby (1949-1950), Rev. L.R. Willis (1950), Rev. J.F. Hinchliffe (1951, 1953), Rev. D.C. Wickenden (1952), Rev. D.N. Mithchell (1952), Rev. C.C. Robinson (1952), Rev. G. Loosemore (1954), Rev. J.H. Watson (1954, 1956), Rev. H. Vallis (1955, 1966), Rev. J.S. Cunningham (1955), Rev. C. Elliott (1957, 1959, 1961), Rev. W.H. Gibson (1957), Rev. G.A. Young (1958), Rev. K.A. Minchen (1958), Rev. S.J. Armstrong (1959, 1960), Rev. K. Sites (1960), Rev. D.H. Dixon (1961), Rev. Canon C. Elliott (1962), Rev. William Cook (1962).

Sources:

• "Ilfracombe", The Algoma Anglican 6, no. 8 (1962): 4.
• "90th anniversary of Ilfracombe parish", The Algoma Anglican 21, no. 9 (1977): 2. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_011_003.
• “History of Christ Church, Ilfracombe”, 1962, Diocesan Heritage Centre Parish History collection, Algoma University Archives, 2014-019_001_053.

St. Gregory's Anglican Church (Lancelot, Ont.) is part of the multi-point North Muskoka Anglican Parish. 

The first St. Gregory's was built with the help of Rev. William Crompton in the 1870's, and was a simple log building. On July 25, 1875, the current property was given to the Diocese of Algoma and a replica of Crompton's original church was built around 1880. In 1894, the new church installed an oak reredoes. The church went into disuse around 1987. In 1996, Clare Martin revived interest in the historic building. 

Sources: 

• "Aspdin Mission", The Algoma Missionary News 6, no. 4 (1894): 8. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_001_004_1894Apr.
• Gary Denniss, "A Brief History of the Churches in Muskoka", 1996, Synod of the Diocese of Algoma fonds, Algoma University Archives, 2009-156_002_009.

St. John the Baptist Anglican Church (Ravenscliffe, Ont.) is a church in the North Muskoka Anglican Parish.

St. John's beginnings were with the family's of George Tipper and William Malkin, two of the first settlers in this area north of Huntsville. In 1871, the Bishop of Toronto appointed Tipper as lay-reader and Anglican services soon began in his log home. A site for the church was found in 1872, but they conceded to Hoodstown's plans, as they had a larger population and were looking at the same site. A new site was found, and with Rev. A. S. Sweet's arrival and donations from England, the church was built in 1883; the first service was in June 1885. The church and cemetery were consecrated on November 4, 1887. At this point, the Ravenscliffe church was part of the Huntsville mission. By 1890 it had joined the Ilfracombe mission, then by 1900 it was part of the Novar mission. In the 1930's, St. John's was ministered to by the S.S.J.E. (Society of St. John the Evangelist). By 1970, St. John the Baptist had re-joined the Huntsville mission. 

Sources:

• "Mission of Huntsville", The Algoma Missionary News 9, no. 2 (1888): 5. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_001_002_1888Jan.
• “History of Christ Church, Ilfracombe”, 1962, Diocesan Heritage Centre Parish History collection, Algoma University Archives, 2014-019_001_053.
• "Diocesan Funds Well Supported by Parishes in 1970" The Algoma Anglican 15, no. 2 (1971): 4. Algoma University Archives. 2013_086_001_007_1971Feb.
• Gary Denniss, "A Brief History of the Churches in Muskoka", 1996, Synod of the Diocese of Algoma fonds, Algoma University Archives, 2009-156_002_009.

St. Mary's Anglican Church (Aspdin, Ont.) is part of the North Muskoka Anglican Pioneer Parish. Aspdin is located approximately seven miles from Huntsville. Rev. William Crompton (made deacon in 1875 and priest on April 27, 1879) was one of the first settlers in Aspdin and had been a Licensed Lay Reader in Birmingham and Manchester, England. He started reading prayers in a private log church built by his sons between 1874 and 1875. In October 1875 he began regular services in Mr. Charles Johnson’s house. On March 12, 1878 the community decided to build a log church on an acre of land donated by Mr. Johnson. The church was named St. Mary’s in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson’s daughter. The church was raised April 3, 1878 and completed in December. Miss Girdlestone of Galt donated a frame Chancel (14 by 16 feet), and a set of Communion vessels and a carpet. Dr. Sullivan, Bishop of Algoma, visited February 23, 1879 and held a Communion Service.

Near the end of 1884 an unknown woman in England donated £600 sterling so that a stone church could be built. Her conditions included coloured Stoles and Frontals in accordance with the seasons, a priest in the Eastward Position, vases, candlesticks and cross on the re-table, and vestments not to be used except on special request of the congregation and with written consent from the Bishop.

The cornerstone for St. Mary's was laid by the Rev. W. Crompton on September 30, 1885 and opening services were held on August 15, 1886. During the building, every child of the Sunday School brought a stone from their own homes and placed it into the wall themselves. They also placed a glass bottle with the names of Dr. Sullivan, William Crompton, Charles W. Johnson, Jeremiah Coulson, and every communicant connected with the church. The church building was made of stone and the interior included a hand carved oak rood screen (an elaborate archway separating the chancel from the church). The opening service was held on August 15^th, 1886. Later, Bishop Sullivan consecrated the church on February 24, 1890.

Rev. W. Crompton gave an address at St. Augustine’s Church, Killburn, London, England on June 21, 1885 and received £11 sterling to purchase a Stone Font for St. Mary’s, arranged by Rev. E. Wood of Church of St. John the Evangelist, Montreal. Major-General Steward, of Prince’s Gate, London, England donated brass candlesticks and an alabaster cross. The congregation of St. Mary’s Church, Hulme, Manchester donated the pulpit, prayer desks, lectern and faldstool. Mr. Crompton’s wife and children donated the bell. The Bible and Prayer Book were given to Brightstone Church in England in 1843 by Robert Loder, Esq and contains the Apocrypha, services for Gunpowder Treason, King Charles the Martyr, the Restoration, the Canons of 1603, and Tate and Brady’s Metrical Psalms. In 1887 the church received another donation from the unknown woman in England. The £100 went toward a Tower and Spire. In 1892, Mrs. Johnson (then widowed) donated another acre of land for a cemetery. In 1890 a drive shed for the horses of the congregation was built. In 1891, Mr. Ambrose Leefe sold the church an acre of land for a parsonage and a house. In 1911, the Tower was re-built.

In June 1975 volunteers from the parishes in the Muskoka-Parry Sound area gathered at St. Mary's for a clean-up project to reopen the pioneer church for worship during the summer of 1975.  The project to clean-up and reopen some of Muskoka's old pioneer church buildings was the vision of Fr. John Watson, Rural Dean of Muskoka-Parry Sound. Services were held at St. Mary's throughout the summer of 1975.

Incumbents include: Rev. William Crompton (1875-1889), Rev. Henry P. Lowe (1890-1895), Gilbert F. Davidson, lay-reader (1890-1895?), Rev. Robert L. Locke (1895-1895), Rev. Franz C. H. Ulbricht (1896?), James Hickland, Catechist 1896-1896), Rev. William Henry French (1896-1899), Mr. F. W. Major (1899-1900), Rev. Laurence Sinclair (1900-1925?), Rev. W. A. J. Burt (1910-1911?), Rev. H. G. Watts (1916-1916?), Mr. Charles Miles (1920-1920?), and The Society of St. John the Evangelist (from 1928).  

Sources:

• “An Account of St. Mary’s Church”, The Aspdin Church News, 1893, Algoma University Archives, 2009-220_001_028_001.
• "A parish is now rejuvenated", The Algoma Anglican 19, no. 10 (1975): 3. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_010_021.
• "A new beginning", The Algoma Anglican 19, no. 9 (1975): 1. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_010_020.
• "Centennial service held in August at St. Mary's Church, Aspdin", The Algoma Anglican 33, no. 7 (1986): 7. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_014_020.

St. Paul's Anglican Church (Grassmere, Ont.) is part of the multi-point North Muskoka Anglican Parish. In 1874, the parish St. Paul's was part of was known as the Franklyn Mission.

The congregation of what would become St. Paul's met in the home of Francis Morgan, Sr., in 1874. In 1881 William Henry Green cleared and set aside half an acre of his land as a church site. The church building was constructed ten years later in 1891. St. Paul's was consecrated that year on September 2.

In 1901, St. Paul's had installed seats of oiled ash with curly birch ends, crafted by Mr. E. Brooks. Renovations and improvements continued, an ten years later the church's exterior was bricked in 1919 through the generosity of the Ogle family. The interior lamps were purchased with the funds from a picnic, and lasted 59 years until electric heating and light was installed in 1963. The front doors were donated by the Women's Auxiliary of All Saints' in 1953. Next, on October 13, 1968 the window was dedicated. The church maintains its original interior wooden walls and pine log supports for the plank floor.

Source:

• "Franklin Mission", The Algoma Missionary News 13, no. 4 (1901): 7. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_001_006_1901Apr.
• "Bishop Frank Nock attended 90th anniversary service at St. Paul's Church, Grassmere, August 30th", The Algoma Anglican 26, no. 10 (1981): 8. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_012_1981Oct.
• "Historical Summary of St. Paul's Church, Grassmere", 1981, St. Paul's Church (Grassmere, Ont.) sous fonds, Algoma University Archives, part of 2010-194/001(005).
• Gary Denniss, "A Brief History of the Churches in Muskoka", 1996, Synod of the Diocese of Algoma fonds, Algoma University Archives, 2009-156_002_009.