Midlothian (Ont.)

St. Peter's Anglican Church (Midlothian, Ont.) is part of the multi-point Almaguin Anglican Parish (Sundridge, Ont.).

The plain frame church at Midlothian was constructed between 1880 and 1884. A tower was added to the church in 1889-1890, costing $180. In November of 1895 the church, 18-20 years after being built, was still not completed. It needed lining, the roof properly sheeted, the walls needed completing, and the seats were only rough boards. The people were badly off, but united to raise money to make the church more comfortable. The interior of the church was finished by December 1895. A bell was presented by an English Clergyman, but was not installed until June 19, 1900. A stone foundation was built, and paid for, in November of 1900 as well. 

By 1897, the Midlothian church, under Rev. D. A. Johnston (Incumbent), was considered the most flourishing station in the Magnetawan mission. In 1900, Rev. W. H. French (Incumbent) took over and reported in 1901 that the Church predominated the Midlothian mission and that an effort to form a Sunday-school would be made after Easter. Finally, St. Peter's was free of debt and consecrated by Bishop Thorneloe on September 24, 1902, along with St. Andrew's at Dunchurch.

Come 1923 the office was vacant. From approximately 1926 until 1941/1942 the services were likely held by Rev. G. H. Phillips, followed by Rev. E. G. Dymond of Burk's Falls. In 1938 it was also noted that the church required improvements on the outside and inside, and that the congregation was very small - consisting of only two Anglican families.

In 1944-1947 the church was led by Rev. J. S. Rhodes. The last incumbent to preach at this church was likely Rev. E. R. Nornabell of Burk's Falls (1953?-1960) as he was in office there until 1960, and by 1957 St. Peter's Anglican was closed.

Early incumbents include: Rev. William Crompton (1880-1884), Rev. A. J. Young (1884-1892), Mr. A. C. Wilson (1893), Mr. T. J. Hay under supervision of Rev. C. Piercy (1893-1896), Rev. D. A. Johnston (1896-1899), Rev. W. H. French (1900-1905), Rev. S. F. Yeomans (1905-1907), Rev. C. Ryan (1907), Rev. R. Haines (1908), Mr. H. J. Hawken (1908-1909), Rev. R. Haines (1909), Mr. P. F. Bull (1909-1912), Rev. W. H. Trickett (1913), Rev. R. M. Fairbairn (1913), Mr. J. W. Hamilton (1913-1914), Rev. J. Thompson (1915-?)

Sources:

• "Maganetawan Mission", The Algoma Missionary News 7, no. 2 (1895): 88-89. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_001_004_1895Nov.
• "Magnetawan Mission", The Algoma Missionary News 9, no. 4 (1897): 29. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_001_005_1897Apr_0.
• "Magnetawan Mission", The Algoma Missionary News 13, no. 4 (1901): 29. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_001_006_1901Apr.
• "Burk's Falls Mission", The Algoma Missionary News 34, no. 4 (1938): 75. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_002_004_1938NovDec.
• "History of the Mission to Magnetawan", 1969, St. George the Martyr Anglican Church (Magnetawan, Ont.) sous fonds, Algoma University Archives, 2009-211_001_001.
• "St. George's - Magnetawan", 1963, Historical Notes, Almaguin Parish, T. B. Higginson, Algoma University Archives, 2009-220_001_018.

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.