Amyot (Ont.)

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.

St. George's Anglican Church (Amyot-Heron Bay, Ont.) was a church in the Almaguin Anglican Parish, which covers approximately the eastern portion of the Parry Sound District of Ontario.

Located on the townsite of the Ontario Paper Co. at Heron Bay, St. George's Church was consecrated by the Archbishop of Algoma on May 28, 1961.  The church was built and dedicated in 1958.  The construction was done largely by volunteers from the congregation.

Less than ten years after being consecrated, St. George's at Heron Bay was declared of 'no further use' to the community due to the phasing out of the Ontario Paper Co. and the families moving to Manitouwadge. A motion was passed by the synod executive in 1970 to put the church up for sale.

Incumbents include: Rev. H. A. Vallis (1958-1959), Rev. G. Honour (1959-1965), Rev. A. L. Chabot (1966-1970).

Source:

• "Heron Bay Church To Be Consecrated", The Algoma Anglican 5, no. 5 (1961): 1. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_002_1961May.
• "To Sell Church", The Algoma Anglican 14, no. 11 (1970): 3. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_006_011.