Anglican Church of the Redeemer (Thessalon, Ont.) sous fonds

Custodial History: 

Accrual 2009-154 was transferred from Laurentian University to Algoma University in May 2009 by Ken Hernden and Robin Isard. Further accruals are expected.

Start Date: 
1888
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: 
1986
Date Range: 
1888-1986
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: 

.30 m of textual records

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

The Anglican Church of the Redeemer (Thessalon, Ont.) is part of the Anglican Parish of Bruce Mines, Thessalon, and Desbarats and is located between Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. and Iron Bridge, Ont. along the north shore of Lake Huron.

The land for the first Anglican Church in Thessalon was purchased on October 16, 1890 on the north side of Algoma Street and a small church was constructed shortly afterward.  The lumber for the church was provided by Nathaniel Dyment, the 'founder' of Thessalon.  Members of the first church included the following names: Keetch, Shaw, Fleron, Beadle, Case, Kennedy, Simpson, Piper, McCourt, McBain, Wigg, Hagan, Tesky, Pulford, Richardson, Bridge, Nichol, and Cullis.  In 1912 a new property for the Anglican Church of the Redeemer was purchased on the corner of Main Street and Park Street in Thessalon. 

Chuch of the Redeemer, Thessalon in 1912Following this purchase Rev. John Tate, who was also an architect and stone mason, supervised the development of the new church site.  The old church was incorporated into the new building.  The Chancel was separated from the main body of the church and the new transepts and clere-story were placed between the two parts of the old church and then placed on a new basement. The smaller windows and one three section window in the north transept are all windows incorporated from the old building.  The one new church was consecrated on September 3, 1929.

By January of 1945, the parishes of Bruce Mines (Bruce, Desbarats, and Mount Zion) and Thessalon were joined into one.

During the period of September 1953 to January 1960, under the leadership of Rev. Ben Cooper the church which was in badly need of repairs was completely renovated. Members of the congregation built and renovated the altar, canopy, credence table, altar rail, pulpit, and other interior features.

The Women's Auxiliary, Junior Auxiliary, and Girls Auxiliary flourished at the Church of the Redeemer (Thessalon, Ont.) for many years.  The Girl's Guild formed in the 1930s and was known locally as the 'Gossiping Girl's Guild'.  The Guild guild later became the Altar Guild and amalgamated with the Women's Auxiliary.

In 1986 the church received a grant under the Ontario Heritage Foundation to undertake building repairs including replacing asphalt roofing with historically accurate cedar shingles, brickwork repair, restoration of the steeple, and installation of new insulation.

The incumbents of the Church of the Redeemer (Thessalon, Ont.) include: Percy G.H. Robinson (1889 June - 1890 November), William B. Magnan (1892-1893), William M.R. Seaborn (1893-1900), Arthur H. Wurtele (1900-1904), Charles E. Bishop (1903-1905), Leopold D. Griffith (1906-1908), Percy W.P. Calhoun (1908-1911), John Tate (1911-1929), James A. Osborne (1929-1930), Alfred P. Banks (1930-1934), Edward H. Rudge (1934-1935), John C. Popey (1935-1943), Roy F. Webb (1943-1948), John V. Temple (1948-1949), Robert B. Wright (1949-1951), George S. Honour (1951-1953), Benjamin J. Cooper (1953-1960), Norman Hornby (1960-1972), Charles A.V. Hornett (1973-1984), Rev. Larry Winslow (1984-?), Glenn Miller, (1992-2001) Margaret Rogers (2001-2007), Cannon Robert Elkin (2007-2009), Rev. Roberta Wilson-Garrett (2009-2020).

Layreaders of the Church of the Redeemer (Thessalon, Ont.) include: Edward Hawke (1903), W.E. Philips (1906), J.L.S. Wright (1907).

Sources:

  • J.E. MacDonald, This Point Of Land, centennial edition, (Iron Bridge: Town of Thessalon, 1992), 151-163. 
  • The Church of the Redeemer, http://images.ourontario.ca/NorthofHuron/79379/data [accessed 2015 July 8]
  • "St. George's Church", The Algoma Missionary News 76, no. 3 (1950): 8-9. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_002_005_1950Summer.
  • "A Short History of the Church of the Redeemer Thessalon, Ontario", 1973, Synod of the Diocese of Algoma fonds, Algoma University Archives, 2013-067_001_003.
  • "Distinctive landmark for 61 years", The Algoma Anglican 17, no. 9 (1973): 3. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_009_009.
  • Margi Turner, "100-year-old Church is feeling its age", The Algoma Anglican 33, no. 1 (1986): 1,4. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_014_010.
  • Margi Turner, "Church reconstruction has begun at Thessalon," The Algoma Anglican 33, no. 9 (1986): 1. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_014_002.
Scope Content: 

Sous fonds comprises records documenting the activities at and functions of the Anglican Church of the Redeemer (Thessalon, Ont.).  Includes parish registers, minutes, reports and other materials.

Repository: 
aua

Early History, Copies, Correspondence and Other Material

Start Date: 
1888
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1973
Date Range: 
[1888-1973]
Physical Description: 

.3 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Parish Register

Start Date: 
1888
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1951
Date Range: 
1888-1951
Physical Description: 

2.3 cm of textual records

Notes: 

Baptisms, 1888-1951; Marriages, 1889-1935; Burials, 1889-1951;

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Marriage Register

Start Date: 
1943
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1950
Date Range: 
1943-1950
Physical Description: 

2 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Parish Register

Start Date: 
1951
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1978
Date Range: 
1951-1978
Physical Description: 

3.8 cm of textual records

Notes: 

Baptisms, 1951-1978; Confirmations, 1951-1976; Marriages, 1951-1978; Burials, 1951-1978;

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Church Records and Service Register

Start Date: 
1912
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1919
Date Range: 
1912-1919
Physical Description: 

.7 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Vestry Book

Start Date: 
1944
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1955
Date Range: 
1944-1955
Physical Description: 

1 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Vestry Book

Start Date: 
1956
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1963
Date Range: 
1956-1963
Physical Description: 

1 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Vestry Book

Start Date: 
1963
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1975
Date Range: 
1963-1975
Physical Description: 

1 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Vestry Book

Start Date: 
1975
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1984
Date Range: 
1975-1984
Physical Description: 

1.3 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Accounts Book and Financial Records

Start Date: 
1956
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1964
Date Range: 
1956-1964
Physical Description: 

3.5 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Cash Book

Start Date: 
1908
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1955
Date Range: 
1908-1955
Physical Description: 

3.5 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

W.A. Minutes

Start Date: 
1897
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1898
Date Range: 
1897-1898
Physical Description: 

.5 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

W.A. Minutes

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

.7 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Advisory Board Minutes

Start Date: 
1944
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1947
Date Range: 
1944-1947
Physical Description: 

.8 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Advisory Board Minutes

Start Date: 
1958
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1963
Date Range: 
1958-1963
Physical Description: 

.4 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Advisory Board Minutes

Start Date: 
1965
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1980
Date Range: 
1965-1980
Physical Description: 

.5 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Vestry Minutes

Start Date: 
1950
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1957
Date Range: 
1950-1957
Physical Description: 

.5 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Vestry Minutes

Start Date: 
1958
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1972
Date Range: 
1958-1972
Physical Description: 

.5 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Vestry Minutes

Start Date: 
1968
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1969
Date Range: 
1968-1969
Physical Description: 

.2 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Annual Vestry Minutes

Start Date: 
1929
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1949
Date Range: 
1929-1949
Physical Description: 

.5 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Annual Vestry Minutes

Start Date: 
1956
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1984
Date Range: 
1956-1984
Physical Description: 

2.5 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Wedding photos of Georgina Mary Ann McDowell and Thomas Henry Kirby (first wedding in Anglican Church, Thessalon, Ont.)

Start Date: 
1889
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1889
Date Range: 
[Copied 1986 (originally created 1889 August 21)]
Physical Description: 

2 photographs : b&w

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Photo of Margie Turner and Rev. Winslow

Start Date: 
1986
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1986
Date Range: 
1986
Physical Description: 

1 photograph : b&w

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Photo of Church float in Thessalon's Centennial (1886-1986) Parade

Start Date: 
1986
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1986
Date Range: 
1986
Physical Description: 

1 photograph : col.

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001

Newspaper clippings -- Church of the Redeemer

Start Date: 
1950
Description Level: 
End Date: 
1959
Date Range: 
1950-1959
Physical Description: 

.1 cm of textual records

rec_shelfloc: 
2009-154-001
Repository: 
Algoma University
Container Number: 
001