St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Church (Sturgeon Falls, Ont.) sous fonds

Custodial History: 

Accrual 2009-160 were transferred from Laurentian University Archives to Algoma University in May 2009 by Ken Hernden and Robin Isard.

Start Date: 
1893
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: 
2001
Date Range: 
1893-2001
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: 

0.25 m of textual records

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

St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Church (Sturgeon Falls, Ont.) makes up the single-point parish of St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Parish (Sturgeon Falls, Ont.)

The first recorded Anglican Service held in Sturgeon Falls was on May 3, 1883 by Rev. Forest Bliss, Missionary at Mattawa who was traveling along the construction line of the Canadian Pacific Railway. In April 1897 Rev. Thorneloe, Bishop of Algoma, paid his first visit to St. Mary's. In November 1898, Rev. C. Piercy became the first incumbent of the church, living in a cottage parsonage built adjoining the church.

In 1904, the original church was torn down and a new, larger, one rebuilt with a brick veneer and basement. The belfry was added 3 years later in 1907, the bell being given by St. Luke's Church in Toronto. The church received some renovation in 1910: fresh paint,wainscoting, chancel's hardwood floors, new altar and credence table, curtains and tapestries. These renovations were largely done with thanks to the parish' Women's Auxiliary. A year later, the church installed a wood furnace. In 1912 the main body of the church had hardwood flooring installed, the chancel received carpet, and a cement walkway was laid outside. 

A severe wind storm in 1913 damaged the roof, which required repair with steel beams across the nave. In the same year, the front steps and railing were replaced. The windows were also replaced with tinted cathedral glass. In January 1914 they installed a circular stained glass window over the altar, four feet in diameter. Electric lights were installed the same year. 

The parsonage was given a second story, a verandah, and renovated in 1915. 

In 1917, the church received a brass plate in commemoration of Rev. Canon Piercy's son, Harold E. Piercy, who was injured in the war and died soon afterwards. 

The parsonage was free of debt in 1921, and with thanks to the Women's Auxiliary, a bathroom was installed and a porch. 

During 1924 and 1925, the basement of the church was overhauled and turned into a multi-purpose space as a vestry, furnace room, and space for parochial meetings. The parish did so without incurring debt. 

In April 1934 a purple upholstered and oak chair was gifted to the church by Charles Murison Piercy, Rev. Canon Piercy's oldest son, to be used as an episcopal chair. The chair originally belonged to Sir Allan MacNab (Premier of Upper Canada 1854-1856), moving to George Murison (Mayor of Hamilton in 1870), then to his daughter, Annie Murison, who married Charles Piercy.

In the summer of 1959 the Church of St. Mary Magdalene was enlarged with a new entrance which connected the parish hall to the sanctuary and a new Sunday school room.

Incumbents and clergy have included: Mr. A. R. Bryant (1893-1894), Rev. Edward Lawlor (1894), Rev. F.R. Godolphin (1895-1897), Mr. T.G. Hay (1897-1898), Rev. Charles Piercy (1898-1902, and 1909-1936), Rev. James Robinson (1902), Rev. D. A. Johnston (1902-1909), Mr. E. Montizanbert (1909).

Sources:

  • "Sturgeon Falls Mission" The Algoma Missionary News 11, no.9 (1899): 70.
  • "Church Enlarged at Sturgeon Falls", The Algoma Anglican 3, no.8 (1959): 6.
  • "Eighty Years Church Life Marked At Sturgeon Falls", The Algoma Anglican 7, no.6 (1963): 1.
  • "Sturgeon Falls" in Parish Register, 1893-1935, St. George's Church (Warren, Ont.) sous fonds, Algoma University Archives, 2009-162/001(001).
Scope Content: 

Sous fonds is comprised of records documenting the activities at St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Church (Sturgeon Falls, Ont.). Includes cash books, minute books, service registers, Sunday school records, vestry books, and other materials. 

Repository: 
aua

Parochial History (Copies), Correspondence and Reports

Start Date: 
1885
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1995
Date Range: 
[1885-1995]
Physical Description: 

.7 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-160-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Service Register

Start Date: 
1893
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1903
Date Range: 
1893-1903
Physical Description: 

1 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-160-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Service Register

Start Date: 
1904
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1919
Date Range: 
1904-1919
Physical Description: 

1.3 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-160-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Sunday School Records Book

Start Date: 
1909
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1912
Date Range: 
1909-1912
Physical Description: 

.7 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-160-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Sunday School Records Book

Start Date: 
1913
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1931
Date Range: 
1913-1931
Physical Description: 

1 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-160-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Parish Families, St. Mary Magdalene and St. Barnabus (Cache Bay)

Start Date: 
1912
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1913
Date Range: 
[1912-1913]
Physical Description: 

1 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-160-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Cash Book

Start Date: 
1901
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1927
Date Range: 
1901-1927
Physical Description: 

1.2 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-160-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Marriage Register

Start Date: 
1911
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1934
Date Range: 
1911-1934
Physical Description: 

1.3 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-160-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Marriage Register, Mission of Sturgeon Falls and Cache Bay

Start Date: 
1934
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1948
Date Range: 
1934-1948
Physical Description: 

1 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-160-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Parish Register, Mission of Sturgeon Falls and Cache Bay

Start Date: 
1935
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1949
Date Range: 
1935-1949
Physical Description: 

1.5 cm of textual records

Notes: 

Baptisms, 1935-1946; Confirmations, 1949; Burials, 1935-1946;

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-160-001
Container Number: 
001

Parish Register

Start Date: 
1946
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1962
Date Range: 
1946-1962
Physical Description: 

3.8 cm of textual records

Notes: 

Baptisms, 1946-1962; Confirmations, 1946-1961; Marriages, 1948-1961; Burials, 1946-1961;

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-160-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Vestry Minutes

Start Date: 
1895
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1913
Date Range: 
1895-1913
Physical Description: 

.8 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-160-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Service Register

Start Date: 
1919
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1946
Date Range: 
1919-1946
Physical Description: 

1.3 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-160-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Vestry Minutes

Start Date: 
1959
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1977
Date Range: 
1959-1977
Physical Description: 

1.2 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-160-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Vestry Book

Start Date: 
1946
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1957
Date Range: 
1946-1957
Physical Description: 

1.2 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-160-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Vestry Book

Start Date: 
1958
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1967
Date Range: 
1958-1967
Physical Description: 

1 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-160-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Vestry Book

Start Date: 
1967
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1996
Date Range: 
1967-1996
Physical Description: 

1.2 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-160-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Vestry Minutes and Financial Records

Start Date: 
1977
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1993
Date Range: 
1977-1993
Physical Description: 

2 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-160-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Guest Book

Start Date: 
1983
Description Level: 
End Date: 
2001
Date Range: 
1983-2001
Physical Description: 

1.5 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-160-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001