Grace Anglican Church (South River, Ont.) is a church in the Almaguin Anglican Parish, which covers the eastern part of the Parry Sound District of Ontario.
In 1891 Grace Anglican Church was built on land donated by Mr. W. C. Connolly. A year later Rev. George Gander held the first service on July 3, 1982. The church was consecrated a short time later on June 23, 1984 by Right Rev. Edward. The South River and Sundridge parishes united in 1898, and a year later Rev. Gander left the church in 1899, after which it was ministered to from St. Paul’s Anglican Church (Sundridge, Ont.).
In 1903 Grace Anglican Church was rebuilt with thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Ard. The Guild later helped renovate the church in 1918, and in 1920 donated a new altar which was dedicated by the Archbishop on March 12, 1921. In 1928 the parish hall was added.
On December 23, 1963, Grace Anglican Church became a self supporting church and combined with the parish, which included: St. John's (eagle Lake, Ont.), St. Paul's (Sundridge, Ont.), St. George's (Magnetawan, Ont.), and All Saints' (Burk's Falls, Ont.).
The church was again renovated in the 1970s.
Incumbents have included: Rev. George Gander (1887-1899), Rev. Charles John Batstone (1900-1901), Rev. E.J. McKittrick (1902-1906), Rev. Alfred Percy Banks (1906-1907), Rev. L.A. Trotter (1907-1912), Rev. Sidney F. Yeomans (1912-1913), Canon Edward F. Pinnington (1913-1916), Rev. Fredrick William Clayton (1916-1917), Rev. J. Norman (1917-1921), Rev. J. Templeton (1921-1922), Rev. W. Daniels (1923-1925), Rev. Christopher Lord (1926-1927), Rev. W. M. Whitely (1927-1940), Canon R.H. Fleming (1941-1948), Rev. L.B. Willis (1948-1954), Canon Sidney F. Yeomans (1954-1956), Canon Edward F. Pinnington (1956-1957), Mr. Allan F. Thompson (1956), Mr. Ernest D. Eldridge (1957), Rev. C. F. Passey (1958), Rev. Ernest D. Eldridge (1958-1961), Mr. McKenzie Smith (1961), Rev. Roswell Crighton (1960-1962), Rev. Robert Cuyler (1962-1963), Rev. Lloyd Hoover (1966-1974), Rev. Gregory Lynn (1974-1976), Rev. Duncan Lyon (1976-1981), Rev. Elliott Alton Sheppard (1981-1991), Rev. Alan Eric Knight (1992-?).
Sources:
- T.B. Higginson, “Historical Notes”, [1992-2007], Alan Knights fonds, Algoma University Archives, 2009-220_001_018.
- “Clergy”, [1992-2007], Alan Knights fonds, Algoma University Archives, 2009-220_001_027.
- “Notes on Past Clergy”, [198-?], Almaguin Anglican Parish (Sundridge, Ont.) fonds, Algoma University Archives, 2012-010_001_006.
- "History of Grace Church South River 1892-1982 (90th)", [1982], Diocesan Heritage Centre History files collection, part of 2013-078/004(012).
