Kagawong (Ont.)

St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church (Kagawong, Ont.) is a church in the Western Manitoulin Anglican Parish. 

The building that would become St. John the Evangelist was originally a warehouse built around 1898. The property was sold to the Diocese by Harriet Snow in December 1936. The church was dedicated on October 9, 1938. The church had been an outstation of Gore Bay and was served by Rev. Walter Jarvis.

The building required alterations to become more fit as a church. These renovations were done with thanks to the voluntary labour of the men of Kagawong and the Montague family, who frequently vacationed in the area during the summer. Families also helped raise funds. The building was given new hardwood flooring, wallboard lining, stove, and seating. Tom Montague made the altar and donated a screen purchased from St. Edmond’s Church in Toronto, given in memory of his mother Elizabeth Montague. He also designed the belfry which was then donated to the church by Mr. Austin Hunt Sr., and Bill Fraser (also a regular visitor) donated the bell from a train. The church originally had a wooden cross, but it was struck by lightning and replaced with a red neon light cross around 1968.

The church had a variety of nautical themed items and decorations. The ship’s wheel on the outside of the church came from a pulp barge which sank in the bay. Life belts came from Christy’s boat and the net floats that decorate the end of the pews were from Graham Brothers. There is a second steering wheel and a light that came from Austin Hunt Jr.’s boat. The pulpit was made from the bow of a boat that was wrecked during a storm on August 23, 1965. There were four casualties in the accident.

Incumbents and rectors have included: Rev. Walter W. Jarvis (?-1939), Rev. Alfred J. Bull (1939-1941), Rev Alfred P. Bank (1941), Rev. Arthur J. Bruce (1941-1945), Rev. Gilbert Thompson (1945-1950), Rev. Samuel Eric Richards (1950-1952), Rev. Michael P. Thomas (1953-1962), Rev. Bain Peever (1963-1966), Rev. M. H. Dunnill (1966-1969), Rev. M. Bradford (1969-1973), Captain David Page (1973-1975), Rev. J. G. McCausland (1975-?).

Sources:

• "Deanery of Nipissing", The Algoma Missionary News 34 (1938), no.3: 58. Part of 2009-081/002(004).
• “History of St. John the Evangelist, Kagawong”, 1979, Diocesan Heritage Centre Parish History collection, Algoma University Archives, 2014-019_001_018.

Western Manitoulin Anglican Parish is a multi-point parish and includes the Anglican churches on much of the Manitoulin Island: All Saints' Anglican Church (Gore Bay, Ont.), St. Francis of Assisi Anglican Church (Mindemoya, Ont.), St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church (Kagawong, Ont.), St. John's Anglican Church (Sheshegwaning Reserve, Ont.), St. John's Anglican Church (South Baymouth, Ont.), St Paul's Anglican Church (Manitouwaning, Ont.), and St. Peter's Anglican Church (Silverwater, Ont.).

Missionaries of the Church of England have been recorded on the island since 1800. The efforts seem to have been more substantial in the 1830s with Rev. J.D. Cameron, Rev. William McMurray, and Rev. Adam Elliot expanding into the Manitoulin islands from their missionaries around the area. In 1838 the Bishop sent Rev. C.C. Brough to Manitowaning to begin a true presence of the Church of England.

By 1966, the Parish of All Saints' (Gore Bay, Ont.) became self-supporting and, at this time, included St. Peter's (Silverwater, Ont) and St. John's (Sheshegwaning Reserve, Ont.). The parish was ministered by Rev. Michael Dunnill. 

The Sheshegwaning church has closed.

Sources:

• "Gore Bay Moves Forward", The Algoma Anglican 10, no. 8 (1966): 4. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_003_018.
• Willis John McQuarrie, “All Saints’ Anglican Church: Parish – 1880 to 2000”, 2000, All Saints’ Anglican Church (Gore Bay, Ont.) sous fonds, Algoma University Archives, 2009-170_001_001.