St. James' Anglican Church (Murillo, Ont.) is a congregation in the Anglican Parish of West Thunder Bay. The parish was previously known as the Oliver Mission and the West Thunder Bay Mission. Services were held in the homes of parishioners as early as 1879. These early services were held by Rev. John McMorine, Rector of St. John's (Thunder Bay, Ont.)
In 1884 John Baxendale donated five acres of land on which St. James' Anglican Church was built. The church was the first place of worship in Oliver Township and the first service was held on October 28, 1884 by Rev. J. McMorine. In September 4, 1885 Bishop Sullivan accompanied by Rev. J.C. Machin of St. John's Church (Thunder Bay, Ont.) visited and consecrated the church. The first incumbent of St. James' was Rev. M. Kirby who served from 1895-1897.
In 1886 an additional six acres of land were purchased with the intention of building a rectory. A rectory was constructed in 1904 on this site. The roof was re-shingled with steel in October 1907. In 1924 a fire completely destroyed St. James'. While the church was being rebuilt services continued in the rectory and in the Presbyterian Church in Murillo, Ont. A new church was built in 1926 and consecrated in 1929 by Bishop Roksborough Smith. In 1939 a new church hall was built for St. James; this land was donated by G.J. Ellett. The Archdeacon of Algoma, the Venerable C.W. Balfour formally opened the church hall on January 20, 1939. Around this time the church bell was donated by an anonymous church in Toronto, and was rung the first time on May 25, 1941.
In 1943 the rectory adjacent to St. James' was demolished and a new rectory was built in Murillo. In 1981 a new parish hall and narthex on the west end of the church were added to St. James' Church and dedicated by Bishop Nock.
Incumbents and rectors who have served St. James’ include: Rev. M.C. Kirby (1895-1897), Mr. R.H. Bell (student) (1897-1898), Rev. T.J. Hay (1898-?), Mr. W.H.G. Battershill (student) (1904?), Rev. H.D. Height (1908), Rev. J. Norman (1908), Mr. Height (1908), Mr. Monckton (1909), Mr. Rogers (layreader) (1909), Mr. Norman (1910), Rev. H.G.S. Watts (1925-1927), Rev. A. Greaves (1927-1934), Rev. J.S.R. Sturgeon (1934-1935), Rev. A.J. Bull (1935-1936), Rev. G.K.L. Lowe (1936), Rev. Cyril G. Peto (1937-1941), Mr. Harold Nickle (student) (1941), Mr. Francis M. Belt (catechist) (1942-1943).
Sources:
- "Parish Profile of the Parish of West Thunder Bay: September, 2014"http://www.dioceseofalgoma.com/UploadedFiles/file/Job%20Postings/WTBProfile%20final-reduced%20%283%29.pdf [Accessed 2015 July 24]
- "The New Church Hall at Murillo", The Algoma Missionary News 35, no.1 (1939): 21. Algoma University Archives, Part of 2009-081/002(004)
- "Murillo Church History Dates Back to Pioneers", The Algoma Anglican 4, no.4 (1960): 10.
- "Murillo's Eighteith Anniversary", The Algoma Anglican 8, no.11 (1964): 4.
- "St. James Murillo - One Hundred Years Old", The Algoma Anglican 24, no. 1 (1980): 3. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_012_011.
- "Dedication and Confirmation at St. James' Church, Murillo", The Algoma Anglican 26, no. 8 (1981): 8. Algoma University Archives, 2013-086_001_012_023.
- “The Mission of Oliver”, (ca 1943), Diocesan Heritage Centre History files collections, Algoma University Archives, 2013-078_007_011.
