The Anglican Church of the Redeemer (Rosseau, Ont.) is part of the multi-point parish of St. Stephen’s Anglican Parish (Rosseau, Ont.).
One of the earliest Anglican churches in Muskoka, the Church of the Redeemer was built by its first minister, Dr. Newton. A vestry meeting was held on March 27, 1871 to arrange a site for the Church of the Redeemer, this meeting was presided over by Dr. Newton. A lot for the church was donated by W.H. Pratt, a local Anglican and proprietor of 'Rosseau House'. The church was finished late September 1873.
In the early years no long-term incumbent could be assigned to the area, either because insufficient funds or that no one was available. Until a long-term Rev. Chowne arrived in 1880, the community was served by the visiting Rev. William Crompton and various Lay Readers.
The church accepted Ebenezer Sirett’s gift of a 2 acre lot for the cemetery on March 26, 1883. The cemetery was not consecrated until October 30, 1897.
A new rectory was proposed in 1892 and finished sometime a year later. The old rectory property was sold in 1893. Soon after, the church started planning the installment of a new foundation. The work for this began in 1895 along with other renovations and additions, among which was the chancel finished in 1896. This chancel was consecrated on October 29, 1897. Small renovations of varying sorts were done until the next project of the bell tower. This was finished construction in 1905.
Incumbents and rectors who have served the Church of the Redeemer include: Dr. Newton (1871-1874), Rev. Mr. Chowne (1880-1890), Archdeacon Gowan Gilmor (1891-1907), Canon Frost (1907-1918), Rev. William Hankinson (1918-1928), Rev. J. Norman (1928-1929), Canon W.F. Swainson (1929-1952), Rev. Reginald Inshaw (1953-1956), Rev. R.G. Charles (1959-1982), Rev. Robert Davies (1983-?).
Sources:
- Isobel Swainson, "The Churches served by the Rector of Rosseau", The Algoma Anglican 26, no. 10 (1981): 4. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_012_025.
- Evelyn Parker, Isabel Matthews Swainson, and Audry Tournay, “A History of the Church of the Redeemer: Rousseau, Ontario”, 1983, Church of the Redeemer (Rosseau, Ont.) sous fonds, Algoma University Archives.
- Gary Denniss, "A Brief History of the Churches in Muskoka", 1996, Synod of the Diocese of Algoma fonds, Algoma University Archives, 2009-156_002_009.
