St. John's Anglican Church (Hilly Grove, Ont.) is part of the single-point parish of St. John's Anglican Parish (Hilly Grove, Ont.).
In September 1884, the Bishop of Algoma visited the interior of Manitoulin Island with Rev. J.S. Cole, stopping for a service and vestry meeting at Hilly Grove. At the meeting, Mr. Sproat offered a half acre of land for the construction of a church hall. The Bishop suggested a church truly devoted to worship would be more appropriate. By the spring of 1896, Rev. H.C. Avlwin of St. Paul's at Manitouwaning, had established a Sunday School at Hilly Grove and The Slash. He held services every two weeks at Hilly Grove.
In 1903, the Hilly Grove outstation was under the care of Rev. A.J. Young, and in 1905 the church was erected but incomplete.
Work continued on the church building, and in 1931 the church wardens were in the process of painting and re-shingling.
In 1950 the old church building was dismantled and the timber was used in constructing the St. John's at South Baymouth, Ontario.
Sources:
- "Missionary Work in Algoma", The Algoma Missionary News 7, no. 10 (1884): 1. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_001_002_1884Oct.
- "Manitouwaning Mission", The Algoma Missionary News 8, no. 4 (1886): 5. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_001_004_1896Apr.
- "Notes by the way", The Algoma Missionary News 15, no. 5 (1903): 3. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_001_006_1903May.
- "Notes", The Algoma Missionary News 2, no. 1 (1905): 4. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_001_007_1905Jan.
- "The Bishop Visits the Manitoulin", The Algoma Missionary News 27, no. 3 (1931): 5-6. Algoma University Archives, 2009-081_002_003_1931MayJune.
- "History of St. John's Anglican Church, South Bay Mouth" [1955-1978], Diocesan Heritage Centre History files collection, part of 2013-078_004_014.
