St. John's Anglican Church (Bidwell, Ont.) was a church in the former three-point Anglican Parish of Sheguiandah and Birch Island Reserve. St. John's was located in the Assiginack Township on the Manitoulin Island.
Before the erection of a proper church, in 1909 services were held in a log house that was leased and fitted as a chapel. However, the "shack" was too small to hold the congregation and was draughty. By June 1916 the contract for the building of the church was let, and they were hoping to have the church ready for the Archbishop's visitation in August. Their wish was fulfilled and St. John’s had its first service on August 13, 1916 when the Archbishop visited - though the church at this time was not quite complete (lacking some seating, a font, and a bell turret).
In 1927 the church was gifted a new organ and in 1928, a Litany desk. In 1941 the Mission of Sheguiandah (which included St. John's Church) was added to the mission of Little Current. Then, sometime between 1944 and 1946 (date unclear) the church became part of the Manitowaning Mission. By 1956 the church was lit by electricity for the first time. The church had just reopened one year prior (1955) after a closure of approximately a year and a half. Unfortunately the church did not have a long life and was closed for good and the property sold on October 22, 1973.
Incumbents include: Rev. W. J. Eccleston (1900-1902), Rev. G. Prewer (1902-1913), Rev. W. H. Trickett (1913-1915), Rev. H. F. Hutton (1915-1918), Rev. J. D. Granger (1918-1922), Rev. R. M. Fairbairn (1923), Rev. J. S. Rhodes (1925-1929), Rev. L. F. Hardyman (1930-1936), Rev. F. E. Jewell (1937-1940), Rev. W. R. Tindle (1940-1941), Rev. C. R. Haines (1942-?), Rev. E. Weeks (?-1946), Mr. G. C. Robertson (student) (1947), Rev. A. E. Carding (1947-1949), Rev. W. H. Trickett (1949), Rev. C. J. Passey (1949-1953), Rev. P. S. Park (1953-1956?), Rev. R. A. Locke (1958-1965). *There are other incumbents of Manitowaning, but Bidwell was not listed under that mission after Rev. R. A. Locke's incumbency.
Sources:
- "The Bishop on the Great Manitoulin Island", The Algoma Missionary News 6, no. 10 (1909): 112. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_001_008_1909Oct.
- "Algoma Association Annual Meeting", and "General Church News", The Algoma Missionary News 12, no. 6 (1916): 67 and 69. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_001_009_1916June.
- "The Archbishop's Visitation of the Manitoulin Island", The Algoma Missionary News 12, no. 9 (1916): 101. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_001_009_1916Sept.
- "Gifts for Bidwell Church", The Algoma Missionary News 25, no. 4 (1929): 79. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_002_002_1929JunJul.
- "Deanery of Manitoulin", 1941, Journal of Proceedings of the Thirteenth Session of the Synod, Algoma University Archives, 2009-078_002_011.
- "Here and There", The Algoma Missionary News 82, no. 1 (1956): 4. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_002_006_1956Spring.
- A. G. Browne, “The first draft of ‘Down the Century’ a History of Holy Trinity Church and Parish 1886-1896. Little Current, Ontario”, 1985, Diocesan Heritage Centre Parish History collection, Algoma University Archives, 2014-019_001_020.
