St. Paul’s Anglican Church (Haileybury, Ont.) is part of the multi-point Northern Lights Anglican Parish.
What would become St. Paul’s Anglican Church was started with help from Rev. Gowan Gilmor, his first visit being in May 1889 and the subsequent visit of Bishop Sullivan in 1890 at Rev. Gilmor’s suggestion. In 1893 the Anglican church was officially present when the bishop appointed Paul A. Cobbald as the area’s licensed Lay Reader. In the early years he gave services in the people’s homes.
In 1894 the land for the church was turned over to the diocese. Bishop Sullivan commented on the property saying, "That which there could not be better." The foundation stone was laid September 30, 1894. The stone walls were completed in 1906, made from saffron coloured limestone from a nearby quarry on Burnt Island. Progress on the church was slow, but the first service was held in it on June 18, 1899. Bishop Thorneloe consecrated the building on October 12, 1902. In 1904 the northern missions were separated from Haileybury and in 1907 the parish became self-supporting.
A rectory was begun in 1909 and by 1911 a parish hall had been constructed.
The Great Fire of 1922 destroyed much of Haileybury, including all of the parish's buildings. The altar cross and candles were saved along with the church's records.
The present church and rectory were built in 1924 through generous donations from friends across Canada and in England. The formal opening of the new church occurred on February 3, 1924. The new church was built at a cost of $30,000 and included a seating capacity for two hundred.
The economic situation of the 1930s necessitated an agreement between St. Paul’s and St. James’ (Cobalt, Ont.) in which the two churches shared the incumbent and each paid half his stipend. This continued until 1946 when help was sought from the Diocese. The parish became self-supporting again in 1948.
In 1953 the porch was rebuilt to match the original plans.
In 1966 the pastoral duties were extended to include St. James’ (Cobalt, Ont.) and St. Simon’s (Temegami, Ont.), although all kept their individual parish identities.
The new building received a variety of gifts, including: stained glass window in memory of Charles Cobbald Farr from his family, the font in memory of Mrs. Probyn, choir stalls in memory of Paul Cobbald, three stained glass windows in memory of William and Margaret Lewis, bishop’s chair, priest’s chair, prayer chair, flower vases, lectern, choir cross, and organ.
Incumbents and rectors who have served St. Paul’s Anglican Church include: Mr. Marsh (student) (1889-1890), W.C. Shaw (student) (1892), Mr. Hamilton (student) (1893), Paul A. Cobbald (Lay Reader) (1893-1922), (Rev. D.A. Johnston (1894-1897), Rev. James Hickaldn (1897-1898), Rev. F.B Brittain-Storer (1899), Rev. H.E. Codd (1900-1904), Rev. R. Cowling (1904-1909), Rev. E.J. Harper (1909), Rev. J.C. Poppy (1909-1914), Rev. Francis H. Hincks (1919-1935), Rev. Richard Haines (1935-1942), Rev. John Watson (1942-1946), Rev. E. Wrightson (1946), Rev. Canon C. Goodier (1946-1958), Rev. Roy H. Nixon (1958-1962), Rev. Eric B. Patterson (1961-1966), Rev. Fred G. Roberts (1966-1974), Mr. Maurice Weight (Lay Reader) (1974-1975), Rev. Roy A. Locke (1975-?).
Sources:
- St. Paul's Church Haileybury Historical Notes, 1954.
- "The Opening of Haileybury's New Church", The Algoma Missionary News 20, no.2 (1924): 20. Part of 2009-081/001 (013)
- Photograph: Colloton, F.W. The Church in Algoma, A Souvenir of the Diocesan Jubilee, 1923, p. 66. Part of 2009-081/001 (013)
- "Haileybury Masonry Church Cheaper Than Wood in 1897", The Algoma Anglican 1 (1957): 5.
- S. John Mason and Eleanor Huff, “A History of The Parish of St. Pul’s”, 1976, Diocesan Heritage Centre Parish History collection, Algoma University Archives, 2014-019_001_054.
