The first Anglican service in Parry Sound was held in the school house by Rev. Robert Mosley on November 7, 1876. The first families of what would become Trinity Church were registered between November 28, 1869 and September 9, 1876. Before the construction of the church, services were held in the courthouse, schoolhouse, and a hall above Frank Strain’s tin shop. In April 1876 Duncan Fraser Macdonald, a government agent in Parry Sound, was approached to copy plans for both the Presbyterian and Anglican churches in Parry Sound. By April 19 he had begun work on the plans and in September 1877 the first service was held at Trinity Anglican Church (Parry Sound, Ont.). The church was dedicated on September 30, 1877 by Right Rev. Frederick D. Fauquier and consecrated on August 29, 1886 by Right Rev. Edward Sullivan. A tower was added in the summer of 1890. The church became self-supporting in 1904.
The church bought three lots in 1909, but could not decide whether to build a new church and parish hall or repair the old one. With the events of the First World War and the following depression, new buildings seemed inadvisable. Instead, a basement was added to the existing church in 1938.
In 1952 Archbishop Wright laid the cornerstone for the new chancel and adjacent rooms. A copper box filled with local and Toronto newspapers, coins and stamps, and a list of church officers and Rectors was placed inside the wall. A new organ was purchased the same year and the Chancel officially opened May 3, 1953 and dedicated June 7 of the same year. In 1956 the Men’s Club put up a flag pole for the flag of St. George. The next year pews were purchased for the church. A 3 year canvas was started in 1956.
In 1962 a new addition and narthex were constructed and dedicated by Archbishop Wright. The renovations included the addition of an entrance to the church nave, re-covering interior walls, additional office and choir room space, and a new modern bell tower. The 37-foot bell tower houses "Victoria" the bell made for the church in 1887. On May 16, 1963 Archbishop Wright dedicated six stained glass windows in memory of William Daly, a devoted choir member at Trinity.
The mortgage was burned on November 18, 1973 with thanks to A.C.W.’s fundraising. The centenary of the church was celebrated just three years later.
Incumbents and rectors who have served Holy Trinity Anglican Church include: Rev. Robert Mosley (1870-1885), Rev. G.H. Gaviller (1885-1892), Rev. William Evans (1893-1900), Rev. F.M. Dean (1900-1902), Rev. T.E. Chilcott (1902-1909), Rev. R.A. Cowling (1909-1918), Rev. Canon Burt (1919-1927), Rev. Stephen Turner (1928-1941), Rev. C.H.G Peto (1942-1943, 1946-1966), Re. T.R. Haughton (1943-1946), Rev. I.L. Robertson (1967-1975), Rev. Canon Wilkinson (1975-?)
Sources:
- "Jubilee of Trinity Church, Parry Sound", The Algoma Missionary News 22, no.5 (1926): 76.
- "New Modern Entrance To Parry Sound Church", The Algoma Anglican 6, no. 10 (1962): 1.
- "St. Cecelia Patron of Music Shown in Windows", The Algoma Anglican 7, no. 7 (1963): 4.
- "Hears about area's early history", The Algoma Anglican 20, no. 4 (1976): 4.
- "Trinity Church, Parry Sound - 100 Years", The Algoma Anglican 20, no. 11 (1976): 4. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_010_025.
- “Trinity Topics”, 1976, Diocesan Heritage Centre history files collection, Algoma University Archives, 2013-078_007_013.
