St. George's Anglican Church (Bruce Mines, Ont.) is part of the Anglican Parish of Bruce Mines, Thessalon, and Desbarats and is located between Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. and Iron Bridge, Ont. along the north shore of Lake Huron. Originally the Bruce Mines Mission includes St. George (Bruce Mines), a church at Rydal Bank, and the mission at Thessalon.
St. George's Anglican Church (Bruce Mines, Ont.) was built on lot 5 on the north side of Taylor Street facing the North Channel of Lake Huron in 1881. The church was built by one Mr. Wightman on a solid rock foundation. The pews and furniture were also all made by hand at the time of building. The first resident clergyman was F. C. Berry (1883-1888), apart from him, though, from 1881 to 1908 the situation regarding rectors is not very clear.
St. George's Church was consecrated on October 23, 1887 by Rt. Rev. Edward Sullivan. Prior to the construction of a building joint services between the local Methodist, Anglican, and Presbyterian churches were held at the Union Church on Lot 72 of Taylor Street. In 1897 the church was augmented with a tower and bell at the cost of $200 which was paid for by the congregation. The Bishop of Algoma visited the church in June of that year and dedicated the new tower and bell. In 1898 the church was vacant of a priest with Walter DuMoulin acting as catechist. The Church was closed from 1893 to 1895 save for occasional services on week nights. The church parsonage was built in 1910.
By January of 1945, the parishes of Bruce Mines (Bruce, Desbarats, and Mount Zion) and Thessalon were joined.
The last public service in this church was held on March 8, 2008.
Incumbents: Rev. F. C. Berry (1883-1888), Rev. P. G. H. Robinson (1888-1890), Rev. W. B. Magnan (1892-1893), Rev. J. McConnell (1896-1897), Walter DuMoulin (1898), Rev. C. J. A. Batstone (1899-1900), Mr. E. P. S. Spencer (1900), Rev. A. H. Wurtele (1900-1902), Rev. T. J. Hay (1902-1906), Rev. L. D. Griffith (1907), Rev. P. W. P. Calhoun (1908), Rev. Alfred Percy Banks (1908-1909), Rev. T. O. Curliss (1910-1912), Mr. Owen L. Jull (1912), Rev. W. S. Weary (1913), Rev. S. F. Yeomans (1913-1916), Archdeacon Ven. G. Gillmor (1917-1919), Mr. E. B. Ellis (1919), Rev. P. B. de Lom (1920-1927), Mr. E. H. Rudge (1922), Rev. Canon A. W. Hazlehurst (1927-1928), Mr. Ed J. Smith (1928), Rev. H. Peeling (1928-1944), Rev. R. F. Webb (1945-1948), Rev. J. V. Temple (1948-1949), Rev. R. B. Wright (1949-1951), Rev. G. S. Honour (1951-1953), Rev. B. J. Cooper (1953-1960), Rev. Norman Hornby (1960-1972), Rev. C. A. V. Hornett (1973-1984), Rev. L. Winslow (1984-?).
Sources:
- Bruce Mines: A History of Copper, Churches and Schools, [accessed 2015 July, 9]
- "Bruce Mines Mission", The Algoma Missionary News 9, no. 6 (1897): 45. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_001_005_1897June_0.
- "Sault Ste. Marie Parishes", The Algoma Missionary News 75, no. 2 (1949): 13. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_002_005_1949Apr.
- "St. George's Church", The Algoma Missionary News 76, no. 3 (1950): 8-9. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_002_005_1950Summer.
- "Tiny point carries on", The Algoma Anglican 17, no.6 (1973): 3. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_008_006.
- "Bruce Mines looks ahead to St. George's centennial", The Algoma Anglican 26, no. 5 (1981): 4. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_012_020.
- "St. George's, Bruce Mines, celebrates 100th anniversary", The Algoma Anglican 31, no. 8 (1984): 1. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_014_023.
