St. John's Anglican Church (Webbwood, Ont.) started as part of the mission in Cooke's Mills, which was a small settlement in what is now Welland Ontario. The church is now part of the St. James' Anglican Parish (Massey, Ont.).
The Webbwood mission separated from Cooke's Mills in 1896, and the first clergyman was Rev. S.H. Morgan, a student. He conducted the first service January 3, 1896. The mission used a schoolhouse for its services until December 1896, when they began using a local Methodist church. They built a church of their own between November and December of that same year, and their first service in the new building was held on December 25, 1896. The building was dedicated by the Bishop of Algoma on April 2, 1897. A parsonage was built almost ten years later in 1906.
In 1913, the parsonage received a workshed and the kitchen was finished. The church had two of its south windows installed with Cathedral glass.
In 1984, the parishioners of St. John's petitioned for their church to be closed and the property disposed. The church was re-opened in the fall of 1985.
Sources:
- "Short History of Webbwood", in Service Register, 1896-1903, Webbwood Mission fonds, Algoma University Archives, 2009-145/001(001).
- "From the Parish Register of St. John's Parish, Webbwood", (1907), Diocesan Heritage Centre History files collection, Algoma University Archives, 2013-078/010(002).
- "Parochial History" in Parish Register, 1896-1983, St. George's Church (Espanola, Ont.) sous fonds, Algoma University Archives, 2009-152/001(001).
- Letter to Bishop Peterson, 1984 May 22, Synod of the Diocese of Algoma fonds, Algoma University Archives, part of 2011-050/005(040).
- "Progress being made in new Parish of Massey", The Algoma Anglican 33, no. 5 (1986): 1. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_014_1986May.
