St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) is part of the single-point St. John the Evangelist Anglican Parish (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.).
The Right Reverend George Bishop of the Diocese of Algoma purchased a parcel of land situated at the corner of John and Murray (now Albert) Streets in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Still situated on this piece is St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, St. John’s Memorial Hall and the rectory. The cornerstone of the church building was laid on September 8, 1900. The first services held in the church, then known as St. John's Chapel-of-ease, were conducted by Mr. Albert Lancefield. When Mr. Lancefield left in 1902 to return to Trinity University, Rev. C. Piercy quickly replaced and soon after arriving, had a parsonage built.
In 1905 the church was gifted with a stained glass window on the subject of the Ascension. The window came from Holy Trinity Church, Hurstpierpoint, Sussex, England through the solicitation of Miss Gurney. It was intended that the window should find a place in the Pro-Cathedral Church of St. Luke but the rector and Church wardens came to the conclusion that it was too large. The window was then offered to St. John the Evangelist and it was thankfully accepted. This same year the church underwent reconstruction of its walls.
Shortly after Rev. Johnson’s arrival in 1909, the church became a self-supporting parish and “mother of missions”.
The large Memorial Hall was built as a tribute to parish veterans that served in the First World War; the corner stone was laid on August 6, 1919 and officially opened on November 11. Two bronze tablets that listed the men of the parish who served were unveiled on December 8, 1921.
St. John the Evangelist held it's final service on August 28th 2016. Following the closure of St. John's the congregation merged with the congregation of St. Matthew's Anglican Church (Sault Ste Marie, Ont.) to form a new congregation - Emmaus Anglican Church located at 1643 Wellington St. East, Sault Ste Marie in the building previously occupied by St. Matthews.
Incumbents and rectors who have served St. John the Evangelist include: Mr. Albert Lancefild (1900-1902), Rev. Cannon C. Piercy (1902-1909), Rev. W. Hardy Johnson (1909-1916), Rev. W.H. Trickett (1909-1918), Rev. P.F. Bull (1918-1923), Rev. R.H. Fleming (1923-1934), Rev. Cyril Clarke (1934-?), Rev. Pamela Rayment (? - 2016)
Sources:
- "St. John the Evangelist At Soo Opens Rectory", The Algoma Anglican 4, no.11 (1960): 6.
- "St. John the Evangelist Window Was First Destined for St. Luke's Away Back in 1905", The Algoma Anglican 4, no.4 (1960): 4.
- Rev. Cyril Clarke, “History and Reference Book”, 1937, Diocesan Heritage Centre collection files, Algoma University Archives.
- “Parish Church of St. John the Evangelist”, 1985, Diocesan Heritage Centre collection files, Algoma University Archives, 2013-078_007_028.
