Sundridge (Ont.)

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.

Almaguin Anglican Parish is a multi-point parish in the Anglican Diocese of Algoma within the Deanery of Muskoka. Active churches in this parish include Grace Anglican Church (South River, Ont.), St. George the Martyr Anglican Church (Magnetawan, Ont.), and St. John's Anglican Church (Eagle Lake, Ont.) (seasonal). Inactive churches within the parish include St. Andrew's Anglican Church (Dunchurch, Ont.), St. George's Anglican Church (Amyot-Heron Bay, Ont.), St. John's Anglican Church (Dufferin Bridge, Ont.), St. Paul's Anglican Church (Seguin Falls, Ont.), St. Paul's Anglican Church (Sundridge, Ont.), St. Peter's Anglican Church (Midlothian, Ont.) and All Saints’ Anglican Church (Burk's Falls, Ont.).

The earliest recorded church erected was St. George the Martyr Anglican Church (Magnetewan Ont.), pioneered by Rev. William Crompton. The church was founded in 1880 and was later considered the centre of the area’s mission. The church later united with Burk’s Falls. Rev. Crompton was responsible for starting two other churches in the Almaguin Anglican Parish: All Saints’ Anglican Church (Burk’s Falls, Ont.) and St. Andrew’s Anglican Church (Dunchurch, Ont.). The former was established in 1882 and has unfortunately been destroyed by fires twice: once in 1884 and again in 1908. The church was built for the third time on November 1, 1909. As for St. Andrew’s, it was not built until the end of 1896 even though services were being held as early as 1890. The church went through a period of disuse until a peak of attendance in 1957. This did not last long and the church was closed in 1961.

Rev. George Gander was responsible for opening most of the other churches in the parish; he remained in the area until approximately 1900. One of these churches was St. Paul’s Anglican Church (Sundridge, Ont.), opened on December 30, 1888. The church was destroyed by fire on March 5, 1960 and rebuilt May 26 later that year. St. Paul’s in Sundridge is closely associated with Grace Anglican Church (South River, Ont.), another Rev. Gander church. The South River church held its first service on July 3, 1892, and was later rebuilt in 1903. The last church on record opened with Rev. Gander’s help was St. John’s Anglican Church (Eagle Lake, Ont.). This church was built in 1888 largely with thanks to the Quirt, Smythe, Ardiel, and Ralstone families. The first service was held on July 22, 1888. This church is currently operating during the summer only.

Finally, not much is on record for St. Peter’s Anglican Church (Midlothian, Ont.), aside from its short life; it was consecrated in September 1902 and closed in 1957.