Holy Trinity Anglican Church (Jocelyn, Ont.) is part of the multi-point Anglican Parish of St. Joseph and St. George (St. Joseph’s Island, Ont.).
The first services of what would become Holy Trinity Anglican Church were held on January 18, 1879 in the home of Mr. Joseph Kent. The church was built a short time later in 1882 on a corner of the Young family homestead; leaders in the construction project were Christopher Young, Joseph Kent, and John Campbell. The Rev. Henry Beer was ordained at Holy Trinity in the same year and was the first parish priest of St. Joseph's Island.
In 1907 the Women’s Auxiliary had a stained glass window in the east end of the church installed, designed by the student minister, George Brewin. One of the more notable of the early missionaries was Rev. P. T. Rowe and a stained glass window, gifted by Mrs. Florence Orrell of Detroit, depicts him visiting St. Joseph's Island via snowshoe.
Holy Trinity was consecrated on July 23, 1883 by Bishop Sullivan. On July 22, 1983 Holy Trinity celebrated the 100th anniversary of the consecration of the church building.
The following have been gifted to the church over the years: stained glass west window by Mrs. Florence Orrell in memory of Rev. P. T. Rowe; altar candlesticks by Jocelyn Y.P.C. in memory of Rev. J. D. Wall; baptismal font by Mrs. Emily Kent in memory of Frederick Betley Kent; carved oak altar in memory of Emily Kent, Barbara Young, and Jennie Young; oak doors, steps, sidewalk and gateposts by Mrs. Florence Orrell; altar missal stand by the Cowley Fathers; church bell by Francis Crowder in memory of Everett Crowder; chancel screen made by Alvin Morton given by the Women’s Auxiliary; wrought iron ornamental railings given by two congregation members; basement, furnace and aisle carpet given by the congregation; and three sets of burses and veils given by Mrs. William Young.
This church is still in operation and the present lay incumbent is Susan Montague Koyle.
The rectors and incumbents who have served Holy Trinity include: Thomas Henry Montague Villiers Appleby (1876-1881), Peter Trimble Rowe (1880-1882), Henry Beer (1881-1888), Charles Piercy (1888-1890), William John Eccleston (1892-1896), Robert Atkinson (1896-1899), Archibald Cameron Mackintosh (1900-1901), Percy Walter Piggot Calhoun (1901-1904), Christopher Simpson (1903-1904), Benjamin Bean (1905-1906), J. Heber Young (1906), F. B. Kent (1906), George M. Brewin (1907), H. J. Bailey (1907), Herbert Godfrey Watts (1907-1908), Henry Frankland (1908-1909), Harold Curling Dunn (1910-1913), Edward Gyde Heaven (1914-1916), Joseph Dunstone Granger (1916-1917), Mr. E. B. Ellis (1918), Harry Frederick Charles Cocks (1919-1922), Richard Haines (1923-1925), Henry Herbert Heard (1925-1927), John Armour (1927-1928), John Selwyn Rhodes (1929-1931), Joseph Syvier Ralph Sturgeon (1931?-1933), Henry Peeling (1929-1934), James Dalgarno Wall (1934-1937), Mr. M. J. Dempsey (1937), John Stewart (1937-1940), Donald Harry Dixon (1940-1954), Christopher John Passey (Locum Tenens) (1949), Norman Hornby (1954-1960), Kenneth Arnold Robinson (1960-1965), Thomas Edward Collins (1966-1968), Peter Allen Hill (1969-1976), Michael Coriell Eldred (1976-1982), Clayton Thomas Gilber (Bud) Moote (1982-1991), Muriel Hornby (Assistant Priest) (1984-1985), Hugh Hamilton (Assistant Priest) (1989-1991) (Priest in Charge) (1991-2006), Rosalie Goos (2006-2011), Mr. Pat Brown (2011-2018), Susan Montague Koyle (2018-present).
Sources:
- "At Jocelyn, Holy Trinity Church marked 100th anniversary", The Algoma Anglican 27, no. 10 (1982): 1. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_013_008.
- "Church at Jocelyn celebrates 100th anniversary of consecration" The Algoma Anglican 28, no. 7 (1983): 7. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_013_017.
- “Holy Trinity Church, Jocelyn, St. Joseph’s Island: 100 Years”, 1982, Diocesan Heritage Centre History files collection, Algoma University Archives, 2013-078_007_021.
