St. John's Anglican Church (Garden River, Ont.) was built in 1832 but destroyed by fire in 1882. The new church was opened for services October 20, 1883, and consecrated July 6, 1884.
The parsonage was originally built in 1897. In 1910 and 1911 the church underwent sunstaintial renovation including improved aisle matting and external painting. In 1950 the parsonage moved to the North side of highway 17. IThis included the addition of a concrete foundation and a furnace. Electricity and a water pressure system were installed in the church in 1946. The sod was turned for the new Parish Hall and Chapel in 1951, officiated by Bishop Wright, Canon Colloton, and Rev. Privett. The buildings were finished in the summer of that year.
Within this church there are several pieces of art that are significant to the area; its stained glass windows were donated to the church in 1902 by Alice Longfellow, daughter of American poet and educator Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (who published the epic poem “The Song of Hiawatha” in 1855), as well as the collection of summer wildlife scenes, painted in 1971 by Canadian Artist, Muriel Newton-White.
Sources:
"The History of St. John's Mission: Established 1832" (1952), Diocesan Heritage Centre history files collection, Algoma University Archives, part of 2013-07_003_010.
