St. Paul's Anglican Church (Sundridge, Ont.) is a church in the Almaguin Anglican Parish, which covers approximately the eastern portion of the Parry Sound District of Ontario.
The original frame St. Paul's building was built in 1888. The first clergyman was Rev. George Gander, also of the Grace Anglican Church (South River, Ont.). On December 30, 1888 the Bishop of Algoma opened the church and gave it its name and was later consecrated by Edward, Bishop of Algoma on June 17, 1894. From 1890 - 1898 St. Paul’s was separated from Grace Church and joined the parish of Burk’s Falls, but after Rev. C. Piercey’s resignation, returned to the South River church.
In 1911 electric lights were installed; in 1914 a new organ was purchased; in 1917 foundation was made beneath the church and vestry; in 1922 Joseph Edgar left $1000 to the church in his will; in 1924 a furnace was put beneath the church; in 1930 a rectory was purchased; in 1940 the rector was torn down and replaced; in 1958 a kitchen and oil furnace were installed and the basement and entrance were redone.
St. Paul’s was destroyed by fire on March 5, 1960. Following the fire, services and Sunday school were held in Knox Presbyterian Church. At a special vestry meeting on March 13, 1960 the congregation decided to rebuild. On Ascension Day, May 26, 1960 the cornerstone was laid by Cannon E.J. Pinnington, a former incumbent of St. Paul's (1913-1916). The completed church was dedicated by Most Rev. W.L. Wright, Archbishop of Algoma on November 13, 1960. The new church was consecrated on July 23, 1967 by the Archbishop.
Incumbents have included: Rev. George Gander (1888-1890 & 1898-1899), Rev. P. Robinson (1890-1892), Rev. C. Piercey (1898), Rev. Charles John Batstone (1900-1901), Rev. Edward James McKittrick (1902-1906), Rev. L.A. Trotter (1907-1912), Rev. Loftus Augustus Trotter (1912-1913), Canon Edward. F. Pinnington (1913-1916), Rev. Frederick William Clayton (1916), Rev. Jethro Norman (1917-1921), Rev. James Templeton (1921-1923), Rev. William Daniels (1923-1925), Rev. Christopher Lord (1926-1927), Rev. William Marshall Whitely (1927-1940), Canon R. H. Fleming (1941-1948), Rev. L. B. Willis (1948-1954). Canon S. F. Yeomans (1954-1956), A. F. Thompson (1956), E. D. Eldridge (1957 & later in 1958), Rev. C. F. Passey (1957-1958), Mr. McKenzie Smith (1961), Rev. Roswell Carman Crighton (1960-1962), Rev. Arthur Robert Cuyler (1962-1966), Rev. Lloyd Hoover (1968-1974), Rev. Gregory Lynn (1974-1976), Rev. Duncan Lyon (1976-1981), Rev. Elliott Alton Sheppard (1981-1991), Rev. Alan Eric Knight (1992-?).
Sources:
- "Sundrige Church Plans to Rebuild", The Algoma Anglican 4, no.4 (1960): 2.
- "Dedication Is Celebrated at Sundrige", The Algoma Anglican 4, no.11 (1960): 8.
- "Consecration of Sundridge Church", The Algoma Anglican 11, no.7 (1967): 1. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_004_007.
- T.B. Higginson, “Historical Notes”, [1992-2007], Alan Knights fonds, Algoma University Archives, 2009-220_001_018.
- “Clergy”, [1992-2007], Alan Knights fonds, Algoma University Archives, 2009-220_001_027.
- “Notes on Past Clergy”, [198-?], Almaguin Anglican Parish (Sundridge, Ont.) fonds, Algoma University Archives, 2012-010_001_006.
