Eagle Lake (Ont.)

St. John's Anglican Church (Eagle Lake, Ont.) was built in 1888 by Thomas Quirt, Arthur Smythe, John Ardiel, and John Ralston at the head of Eagle Lake on an acre of land given by Walter Joy. The foundation was laid on April 25, 1888 and the first service was held on July 22, 1888. Bishop Sullivan visited the church in 1889 and 1890 to hold confirmations.

Curiously the church wasn't consecrated or dedicated after it was built. In June 1903 a driving shed was built and first organ (purchased 1901) was paid for. In 1912-1913 there was complete renovation and a stone foundation was put under the building and the vestry built. St. John’s was again renovated between 1958 and 1959.

On May 18, 1966 St John's was finally consecrated by Bishop Wright. On August 23, 1959 a plaque in was unveiled in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Quirt. Additionally, four stained glass windows created by David Morgan were dedicated in memory of the pioneer families in the area on July 4, 1982 by Bishop Nock.

The church is currently a seasonal (summer) church within the Anglican Diocese of Algoma, Deanery of Muskoka, Almaguin Anglican Parish (Sundridge, Ont.)

Incumbents have included: George Gander (1887-1899), Rev. C.J.A. Batstone (1900-1901), E.J. McKittrick (1902-1906), Rev. A.P. Banks (1906-1907), Rev. L.A. Trotter (1907-1912), Rev. Sidney F. Yeomans (1912-1913), Canon Edward F. Pinnington (1913-1916), Rev. Fred W. Clayton (1916-1917), Rev. J. Norman (1917-1921), Rev. J.V. Templeton (1921-1922), J.H. Pogson (?), rev. W. Daniels (1923-1925), Rev. G.H. Phillips (1926), Rev. W.M. Whiteley (1927-1940), Canon R.H. Fleming (1941-1948), Rev. L. B. Willis (1948-1954), Canon S.F. Yeomans (1954-1956), C.F. Passey (1956-1958), Mr. Ernie. D. Eldridge (1958-1961), Rev. McKenzie-Smith (1961), Rev. Ross Creighton (1961-1962), Rev Robert Cuyler (1962-1963), Lloyd Hoover (1964-1974), Rev. Gregory Lynn (1974-1976), Rev. Duncan Lyon (1976-1981), Clifford Train (1975-1986), Rev. Elliott Sheppard (1981-1991), W.J. Gigg (Summer 1987, 1988), Rev. Alan Eric Knight (1992-?).

Sources:

• Lola McCaig, "First 100 years, 1888-1988, of St. John's, Eagle Lake", The Algoma Anglican 35, no. 9 (1988): 6.
• T.B. Higginson, “Historical Notes”, [1992-2007], Alan Knight fonds, Algoma University Archives, 2009-220_001_018.
•  “Clergy”, [1992-2007], Alan Knight fonds, Algoma University Archives, part of 2009-220/001(027).

Almaguin Anglican Parish is a multi-point parish in the Anglican Diocese of Algoma within the Deanery of Muskoka. Active churches in this parish include Grace Anglican Church (South River, Ont.), St. George the Martyr Anglican Church (Magnetawan, Ont.), and St. John's Anglican Church (Eagle Lake, Ont.) (seasonal). Inactive churches within the parish include St. Andrew's Anglican Church (Dunchurch, Ont.), St. George's Anglican Church (Amyot-Heron Bay, Ont.), St. John's Anglican Church (Dufferin Bridge, Ont.), St. Paul's Anglican Church (Seguin Falls, Ont.), St. Paul's Anglican Church (Sundridge, Ont.), St. Peter's Anglican Church (Midlothian, Ont.) and All Saints’ Anglican Church (Burk's Falls, Ont.).

The earliest recorded church erected was St. George the Martyr Anglican Church (Magnetewan Ont.), pioneered by Rev. William Crompton. The church was founded in 1880 and was later considered the centre of the area’s mission. The church later united with Burk’s Falls. Rev. Crompton was responsible for starting two other churches in the Almaguin Anglican Parish: All Saints’ Anglican Church (Burk’s Falls, Ont.) and St. Andrew’s Anglican Church (Dunchurch, Ont.). The former was established in 1882 and has unfortunately been destroyed by fires twice: once in 1884 and again in 1908. The church was built for the third time on November 1, 1909. As for St. Andrew’s, it was not built until the end of 1896 even though services were being held as early as 1890. The church went through a period of disuse until a peak of attendance in 1957. This did not last long and the church was closed in 1961.

Rev. George Gander was responsible for opening most of the other churches in the parish; he remained in the area until approximately 1900. One of these churches was St. Paul’s Anglican Church (Sundridge, Ont.), opened on December 30, 1888. The church was destroyed by fire on March 5, 1960 and rebuilt May 26 later that year. St. Paul’s in Sundridge is closely associated with Grace Anglican Church (South River, Ont.), another Rev. Gander church. The South River church held its first service on July 3, 1892, and was later rebuilt in 1903. The last church on record opened with Rev. Gander’s help was St. John’s Anglican Church (Eagle Lake, Ont.). This church was built in 1888 largely with thanks to the Quirt, Smythe, Ardiel, and Ralstone families. The first service was held on July 22, 1888. This church is currently operating during the summer only.

Finally, not much is on record for St. Peter’s Anglican Church (Midlothian, Ont.), aside from its short life; it was consecrated in September 1902 and closed in 1957.