St. George's Church (Georgetown, Ontario) Explained

St. George's Church
Pushpin Map:Canada#Ontario#Canada Southern Ontario
Pushpin Label Position:top
Pushpin Mapsize:200
Map Caption:Location of St. George's in Ontario
Coordinates:43.6508°N -79.9224°W
Location:60 Guelph Street, Georgetown, Ontario
Country:Canada
Denomination:Anglican
Churchmanship:Evangelical
Status:Parish church
Functional Status:Active
Groundbreaking:July 25, 1878
Completed Date:December 29, 1878
Parish:St. George's Church (Georgetown, Ontario)
Diocese:Anglican Diocese of Niagara
Province:Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario
Rector:Reverend Canon Robert W. A. Park
Asstpriest:Reverend Nancy Rowe
Parishadmin:Sue Graham

St. George's Church, Georgetown, Ontario, is a parish church of the Anglican Church of Canada, in the Anglican Diocese of Niagara.

History

St. George's Church was officially established in 1852 with the appointment of the parish's first full-time priest, The Reverend Thomas W. Marsh. The first St. George's Church was built in the late eighteen forties on land donated to the church by Mr. and Mrs. George Kennedy.[1] The original church was a plain frame structure with tower and spire. It contained straight box pews and in the centre was a square enclosure used by the choir; the music being supplied by a small cabinet organ.

The first baptism recorded was of John Cook, farmer, Esquesing, who was born January 24, 1812, and who was baptized August 3, 1852, by the rector, Thomas Marsh. The first Confirmation was held on June 3, 1855, and was conducted by the Bishop of Toronto. The first Marriage performed at St. George's was celebrated on March 12, 1856, between William Long and Ann Price by the Rev'd Thomas Marsh. The first burial recorded in the registry of St. George's was for Thomas Manson Thompson, on Sept. 30th, 1852. And the first burial recorded in St. George's Burial Ground was Evan Price on June 2, 1855, also by the Rector, Thomas Marsh.[2]

On July 25, 1878, the corner stone for the current stone building was laid and on December 29, 1878, the church was officially opened by Bishop Fuller. In the 1880s the rectory, for the priest and their family to live in was constructed on the land on the east side of the church. In 1921, an extension to the chancel was added making room for an organ chamber and below it a kitchen and a church school room. The following year, in 1922, St. George's began to hold Communion services each week, rather than the traditional once a month.[3]

In 1973, St. George's parish hall was constructed where the old drive shed had once stood. In 2005, the rectory house was torn down due to mould.

Services

There are three Sunday services: 8:00 a.m. a quiet, traditional said Eucharistic service using the Book of Common Prayer, 9:30 a.m. the full Anglican Choral Eucharist service using the Book of Alternative Services, and 11:15 a.m. a Modern Eucharist. Thursday at 10:00 a.m. is the weekly midweek Eucharist.[4]

Messy Church

In April 2007 St. George's became the first church in Canada to join the Messy Church initiative. St. George's continues to offer "Messy Church" services on the second Wednesday of each month at 5:00 p.m. (not during summer).[5] [6] [7] [8]

Parish Rectors

External links

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: St. George's Anglican Church . McMaster University Library . June 17, 2017.
  2. Book: Ruggle , Richard E. . St. George's Anglican Church, Georgetown, Ontario : a history. 1982. Book. Georgetown, Ontario. The Church. June 18, 2017.
  3. Book: St. George's Church centennial 1852–1952, Church of England, Niagara Diocese, Georgetown, Ontario.. 1952. Book. Georgetown, Ontario. The Church. June 18, 2017.
  4. Web site: Service Times, Sunday Worship, Thursday at 10 am, Messy Church . St. George's Anglican Church, Georgetown . June 17, 2017.
  5. Web site: We Celebrate 10 years of Messy Church . St. George's Anglican Church, Georgetown . June 17, 2017.
  6. Web site: Messy Church at St. George's Anglican Church, Georgetown . The Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF) . June 17, 2017.
  7. Web site: Roll up your sleeves! Messy Church Canada is growing . Anglican Journal . June 17, 2017.
  8. Web site: SUMMER 2017 – Messy Church reaches double digits . The Niagara Anglican, A section of the Anglican Journal . June 18, 2017.