Saint George's Anglican Church, Allandale , Ontario
1892-2002

History of the Church Through Its Ministers

Clergy

1890 – 1895		Reverend J.K. Godden
1896 – 1903		Reverend W.S. Westney
1904 – 1912		Canon E.W. Murphy
1912 – 1922		Reverend E.B. Taylor
1922 – 1926		Reverend Roy Melville
1926 – 1932		Reverend A.R. Holden
1932 – 1939		Reverend G.E. Fierheller
1939 – 1941		Reverend H.A. Jamieson
1942 – 1945		Reverend A.B. Cathcart
1945 – 1958		Reverend W.J. Newton-Smith
1958 – 1964		Reverend Walter Dyer
1964 – 1968		Reverend Donald French
1969 – 1970		Reverend James B. Harrison
1970 – 1981		Reverend David Kaye
1982 – 1984		Reverend Robert Sinclair
1984 – 1994		Reverend Raymond J. Carder
1994		Reverend Gordon King (Interim for 6 months)
1994 – 1997		Reverend David Adams
1997 – 1998		Reverend Gordon King (Interim for 6 months)
1998 – Present		Reverend Captain David Warren
2006 – 2007		Reverend Susan De Gruchy (Interim for 12 months)
2007 – Present		Reverend Captain Stephen Pessah, Associate Priest

Chapter One - Introduction:

The services of the Anglican Church, Allandale , Ontario , were started in the year 1872 in a building known as the Orange Hall, which was located at the south end of Essa Road , on the left hand side, on the property that was traditionally known as the Leslie Property, or the Golf Club.

Shortly afterwards, services were held in the old North and North-Western Railway station, which was located at the corner of Holgate Street and Essa Road . At that time Allandale was not able to support a full-time minister, so the Rev. E.W. Murphy, B.A., rector of Saint Paul's and Saint Peter's Churches, Innisfil, seeing the need of the people of Allandale, held services every other Sunday in these buildings, and carried on in this manner for fully ten years. Mrs. Murphy was the organist and Choir leader. These buildings have since then been demolished.

In the year 1882, services were discontinued for a very short time, and then Canon Edward Morgan, who was then Rector of Trinity Church, Barrie, began holding services in a dwelling house, which was located at the corner of Essa Road and Burton Avenue . (This building has since been moved and an Esso service station is now located at this point). Shortly afterwards, Canon Morgan purchased a dwelling house on Tiffin Street and had it converted into a Sacred Mission Hall. This hall has since been re-modelled into a house and was owned and occupied by Mr. Nelson Magee in 1967. Services were regularly conducted in this hall by Canon Morgan until his death in 1866. Both Mr. Murphy and Mr. Morgan were highly esteemed for the wonderful services they rendered to the community.

After the demise of Mr. Morgan, the Rev. Canon Reiner, of Trinity Church, Barrie, carried on the services in this hall for two years, and was followed by Judge Boys, acting as lay reader. Judge Boys held services until 1890 and was very highly thought of by everyone for his devoted services. Judge Boys was the father of the late W.A. Boys, M.P., and was the grandfather of the late Mr. J.R. Boys who was a lawyer in Barrie .

The Parish at that time (1890) had grown so rapidly that it was found necessary to engage a full time clergyman, so the representatives of the Parish approached the Vestry of Trinity Church, Barrie, with the request that a Curate to the Rector, the Rev. Canon Reiner, be appointed, whose work would be chiefly in Allandale. This arrangement was made a very short time afterwards, and the Rev. J.K. Godden, M.A., formerly of Beeton was appointed.

The Parishioners of Saint George's were now open to greater privileges and blessings, in being able to receive regular visitations and ministrations from a clergyman they could call their own. Two services each Sunday, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, were given to the people of Saint George's and then the Curate assisted the Rector at a third service in the evening at Trinity Church .

This close affiliation of Saint George's and Trinity lasted for a year and a half, and then on the sixth day of December, 1891, St. George's became a separate Parish. It had two out-stations attached to it, Minesing and Vespra, forming the Mission of Allandale, Minesing and Vespra.

The congregation increased so rapidly under the incumbency of the Rev. J.K. Godden that it was found necessary to erect a new and more commodious church edifice in the place of the Mission Hall.

The great interest and zeal displayed in those days by the church-loving people in accomplishing what they set out to do, is very evident, as the cornerstone of the new church (the present St. George's) was laid on 22 September, 1892, which was about nine months after it was found necessary to take action in order to accommodate the growing congregation. There is little doubt that everyone must have worked very strenuously in this short period of time, as it entailed a very considerable amount of worry and anxiety in the drawing up of the necessary plans, finding the money and selecting the location. Very great credit is due to all of those who shouldered this responsibility. Their far-sightedness in locating and building a church one hundred and ten years ago that would fit the picture for years and years ahead, is really a marvelous accomplishment. Everyone living today will agree that Saint George's is really a beautiful church.

Chapter Two – Laying of the Cornerstone:

Thursday, September 22, 1892, was a day of more than ordinary interest to the Church of England people of Allandale. It marked the laying of the cornerstone of Saint George's Church . The cornerstone was put into place by Lieutenant-Colonel Tyrwhitt, M.P.

The service began at 2:30 p.m. when the Rev. Canon Reiner of Trinity Church, Barrie; Rev. Mr. Scott of Cookstown; Rev. J.K. Godden, incumbent of Saint George's Church, proceeded from the Mission Hall on Tiffin Street to the site of the new church on Burton Avenue, singing “The Church's One Foundation”. They were followed by a large number of the congregation. The service for the occasion was read by the Rev. Canon Murphy, B.A., of Saint Paul 's Innisfil.

In the course of the service an interesting and instructive history of Saint George's Church was read by the incumbent, the Rev. J.K. Godden, M.A. This was followed by the presentation of a silver trowel to Lieutenant-Colonel Tyrwhitt by the Rev. J.K. Godden, with appropriate remarks. Lieutenant-Colonel Tyrwhitt then laid the stone, placing in the proper receptacle the customary papers of the day and coins of the realm. After the ceremony (Laying of the Stone), short addresses were delivered by the clergymen present and Mr. J. Holgate, Esq. At the close of the ceremony a tea was served in the Mission Hall on Tiffin Street, where a great many were present, enjoying the sociability which the occasion afforded.

We of the present generation can visualize the unique sight it must have been to see this very notable group of clergymen and Church of England people, on a beautiful day in September, on parade going down Tiffin Street , along Essa Road , and down Burton Avenue singing “The Church's One Foundation”.

Saint George's Church was completed on 7 January, 1893 and the first services were held on Sunday, January 8, 1893. The sermons in the morning and the evening were delivered by the Rev. Dr. Langtry of Toronto . Trinity Choir, Barrie, under the leadership of Mr. J.C. Morgan, assisted in the music of both services. At the Sunday School service at 3:00 p.m., Rural Dean Kingston, of Penetanguishene, addressed the children.

The financing necessary to erect such beautiful Gothic church was all done voluntarily. Most generous contributions must have been made by everyone at that time in order that we today may worship in this House of God.

(Interesting data regarding the early membership of Saint George's )

• Church Wardens: Mr. Charles Palling and Mr. George Blackbird.
• Church Building Committee: Mr. H. Holgate, Mr. H. Lennox, Mr. E.A. Little, Mr. G. Blackbird, Mr. Chapman, Mr. Bagnell, Mr. E. Meeking, Mr. R. Allingham.
• The Architects: Messrs. Holgate and Lennox .
• The Contractor: Mr. R.E. Fletcher.
• Church records reveal that the first person Baptized in the new church was Fred Henderson of Midhurst, baptized on January 29 th , 1893 by the Rev. J.K. Godden.
• The first Marriage took place on April 12 th , 1893, when John Spencer and Sarah White were married by the Rev. J.K. Godden.
• The first Confirmation Class was held on June 3 rd , 1894, when 15 in the class were confirmed by the Lord Bishop of Toronto . Their names were: Miss Martin, Miss Blevin (Mrs. James), Miss Emma Newbury, Miss Jane Ellis, Miss Harriet Ellis, Mrs. Blackbird, Mrs. Doran, Mr. Blackbird, Mr. Drury, Mr. Morrow, Mrs. Royce, Mrs. Bert Martin, Mr. Percy Martin, Mr. T. Bradford, and Mr. John Payne.

Chapter Three – From 1892 to 1942:

The Rev. J.K. Godden, who had accomplished a great work in the community, left in 1895 for new fields of endeavours. He was succeeded by the Rev. W.S. Westney, who laboured in this particular corner of God's vineyard for six years from 1896 until 1903.

Following his ministry here, the Rev. E.W. Murphy, who had seen the need here in Allandale some thirty years previously while rector of Innisfil, now became Rector of the Parish whose beginnings he fostered. He remained Rector until 1912. The Rev. E.W. Murphy was a Canon of Saint Alban's Cathedral, was a Rector of Saint Paul's and Saint Peter's, Innisfil for 39 years, and Rector of Saint George's for eight years.

During the troublesome years of the Great War, the Rev. E.B. Taylor was Rector of Saint George's. In 1915 the church was consecrated by the Diocesan Bishop on July 8 th as the mortgage was cleared. In 1918, under Rev. Taylor's leadership, another step forward was taken in the history of the Parish. The need of a Parish Hall was felt. Plans were formulated and out of them grew one of the first Memorial Halls erected anywhere in Canada .

This hall, costing some three thousand dollars, was completely paid for by general subscriptions from all of the residents of Allandale. Used by all organizations of the church, and especially as a Sunday School, the Memorial Hall met an important need in the Parish. Mr. V. Knight and Mr. T.C. Royce were the Wardens at the time.

The Rev. E.B. Taylor was followed by the Rev. Roy Melville in 1922. He had a positive impact on the congregation, and even 45 years later, people's memories of him were still fresh in their minds. He was remembered especially for his work among the young people of the Parish. It was during the years of Mr. Melville's ministry that the Choir Assembly Room was added to the church. The fine work of the Women's Auxiliary must be noted here, for they contributed some seven hundred dollars to this welcome addition to the church. It was also at this time that a furnace was place in the hall through the efforts of Mr. Melville and his fine class of boys. Through their efforts, all of the necessary excavation was accomplished under the hall to make room for the furnace.

The Rev. A.R. Holden, 1926 until 1932, and the Rev. G.E. Fierheller, 1932 until 1939, bring us to the Rev. H.A. Jamieson's appointment. His very successful but short ministry was terminated by his appointment to a Toronto rectorship.

The Parish owes a debt of gratitude to the Rev. G.E. Fierheller, who so kindly exercised an oversight of the Parish during the nine months' vacancy between the resignation of Rev. H.A. Jamieson and the appointment of the Rev. A.B. Cathcart.

Excavation of the Church Basement:

This work was carried out in the same manner as the excavation of the Sunday School Hall with the new walls set in four feet from the old foundation and a weeping tile bed under the concrete floor and a connection made to the city sewage system. A washroom was added in the church basement at this time. An interesting part of this program was at the point when the sewer connection was to be made. It was found that the water mains and sewer mains on Burton Avenue were at the same level and the Public Utilities Commission volunteered to insert a ‘U' in their main so we could get a connection for our sewer. All through this project the men of this parish, under the leadership of Stanley King, did yeoman service with the pick and shovel.

As the work to the basement was nearing completion it was decided to make a rear entrance to the building to connect with the organist's vestry. The bricks to cover this portion of the building were laid by Mr. Henry Hamel after the wooden frame, etc. had been completed by Mr. P. Trainor.

Easter Week:

The men had been busy starting excavation of the church basement and it was found that all of the floor joists had rotted out. The men of the building committee had to shore them up to prevent the floor from collapsing during Sunday services.

The condition of the electric service in the church was such that a major renovation was necessary. Mr. Lorne Withers and Mr. Marvin Hobson volunteered their services providing that the church would purchase the materials. As a result, a new electric service was installed, completely re-wired and new lighting installed in the church itself. Mr. Dal Lee helped in this project during the later stages as the downstairs rooms were completed.

An unfortunate incident happened when a fire of unknown origins started outside the door to the kitchen and before the fire department had it under control, the hall was almost a total wreck. Fortunately, just previous to the incident, the fire insurance on our buildings had been adjusted so that enough was realized to renovate the hall. At the same time, the hall was completely insolated and the old platform, which was the scene of many Christmas concerts and other festivities, was removed.

In these years the Sunday School, as a contribution to the Christmas season, were in the habit of presenting a Christmas pageant of the Nativity. This script was originally written by the Rev. and Mrs. Newton-Smith and was staged in the church under the direction of Mr. Ed Norman and Mrs. I. Hobson.

During the War years 1942-1945, Rev. A.B. Cathcart was rector and the church was busy serving the community and the armed forces. Glad Club organized Club for Boys from Camp Borden , several times boys were entertained and 102 boxes were sent overseas to the boys.

It had been decided in 1943 that, due to the depression and War conditions, this Parish unite with Saint Paul 's Innisfil and Saint Peter's Churchill. This arrangement was carried on until 1951 when a committee composed of Rev. Newton-Smith, Mr. Stanely King, Mr. Harry Smethurst and Mr. V.E. Knight with representatives of Saint Paul's and Saint Peter's waited on Bishop Beverly where the question of reverting to separate Parishes was considered. Permission was granted.

Organ Committee:

Originally set up in 1947 with the Rector, the Wardens, H. Webb and representatives from the Women's Auxiliary and Glad Club, the Church Improvement Fund was transferred to the Organ Fund. By 1954, enough funds had been accumulated that it was felt that something concrete should be started. A new organ committee, with Miss Bertha Hogan as its Chairman, was founded with Mrs. Shaw, Mrs. Godden, Mrs. Smethurst, and the Wardens, and Mr. M. Hobson as members.

This group made several trips to other churches to hear various types of organs. Demonstrations were arranged at churches in Keswick, Stouffville, Aurora, and Stayner, where the resident organist played for them. It was finally decided by the committee that an organ of the type installed in the church in Stayner would best fill our needs and was within our budget. Our present organ was recommended and a report brought back to the vestry meeting on January 1955.

The organ was purchased at a total cost of $2,548.00 including turn in value of the old organ and was completely paid for at the time of installation.

The women of the parish had expressed a need for a kitchen. This project was completed for the cost of the materials and an oil furnace was installed in the basement of the kitchen to take care of heating the hall. The rector and some other men hung the rafters crawling along the top of the walls like monkeys. Cupboards and furnishings were supplied also for the convenience of the ladies along with a hot water boiler.

It had been decided that since the Sunday School had outgrown its accommodation in the hall that firstly the basement would be excavated. The men of the Parish, headed by Mr. Stan King, undertook this on a voluntary basis. Due to conditions of the sub soil, it was decided to excavated within four feet of the existing walls. The work was done in sections with a concrete retaining wall set in first and excavations then continued. When this work was completed, a network of weeping tile was installed, as well as a concrete floor, washrooms, etc. A new lighting service was arranged for with our volunteer electricians – Withers and Hobson – looking after this project.

Mr. Dyer Takes Over In 1958:

In 1958, it was decided that we were again outgrowing our accommodation. Also, it would be desirable to consolidate the church property. Therefore, the Robertson property at 11 Granville Street was purchased along with the vacant lot to the rear of the property of Mr. Murray and also a portion which was owned by the city. The rectory at 55 Burton Avenue was sold at this time.

An addition was soon felt to be necessary to the new rectory and a two story addition to the north was erected. The cellar portion served for a time as a nursery for the parishioners during church services. In 1963, our new Parish Hall was under construction with Nesbitt and Davies Architects in charge.

During a morning service in the early spring, an unusual aroma was noticed by the choir and congregation every time furnace would operate. One of the men of the congregation volunteered to investigate and on the Sunday afternoon the furnace was partially dismantled. A dead bat was found resting on top of the fire pot. With its removal, the situation returned to normal.

No history of a church would be complete without some reference to the spiritual well being of the people. Over the years, and due to incomplete records, in excess of 1200 people have been baptized, over 500 people have been married, and over 800 people have been confirmed. For people wishing to trace their genealogical roots, they can research family information by contacting the Church office.