Few Christian congregations in Canada can look back over two hundred and twenty years of life, but in 2012 that milestone has been realized by St. George's Anglican Church in St. The records tell of some difficult years, with delay, disappointments and money problems, but the story also tells of prosperity, stages of growth, of significant accomplishments, of inspired leadership and meaningful out
reach into the surroundingcommunity. George's traces its beginnings to the year 1792 when the first Anglican clergyman, The Reverend Robert Addison, settled in what is now Niagara-On-The-Lake. People had come across the Niagara River following the War of American Independence in the 1780's, choosing to live under the British flag rather than that of the new United States of America. Those with religious commitments began to meet in homes for worship before any church buildings were established. In 1796 the first church building was constructed in this area, located near the present-day cenotaph, close to the east end of the Burgoyne Bridge. It was financed bycontributions raised from the new settlers, some of them being former members of the Butler's Rangers a regiment fighting on the British side of the War of American Independence.The new church building was not known at first by the name St. George's, but was more like a community church, it being used by Presbyterians, some Methodists as well as Anglicans. During the War of 1812-1814 it became a hospital for wounded soldiers. When that conflict was over, the Anglican Bishop of Quebec, who then had jurisdiction here, urged the local Anglican community to establish the building as a distinctive Church of England property and in due course a priest came from Quebec in 1828 to reside in St. After two years a priest newly arrived from Ireland, The Reverend James Clarke was put in charge and plans were drawn up for a new building and cemetery on the present site. When the original church burned down in 1836, more urgency was added to completing a new building. Finally, in July 1840 after many delays the new building was opened and was called St. Very sadly, two weeks later the rector was killed in a horse and buggy accident as he went to Port Dahousie to take a service there. The construction and the opening of the Welland Canal in 1829 signaled new growth in St. Catharines and area. George's church enjoyed significant growth as well, under the leadership of the Reverend Abraham Fuller Atkinson. The building had become too small so the transepts were added in 1865, the chancel in 1874 and the sanctuary in 1878. The effects of the "High Church" movement in Anglicanism resulted in local theological and liturgical conflict within St. George's congregation, with a sizable number deciding to leave the parish in 1870 to found St. Thomas Church. The split in the parish weakened the congregation significantly, with major struggles being involved in maintaining its life for the next forty years. ln 1910 a new rector came, The Reverend Lewis Wilmot Broughall, and within a very short time the parish began to grow. The life of the church was completely renewed and a Parish Hall constructed. A transformation had taken place bringing the old church back into prominence again. In succeeding years, because of the growth of the congregation, the Parish Hall was enlarged with the gymnasium added in 1936 and extended yet again in 1957. Today the large congregation continues to use its buildings for worship. The large Parish Hall enables the parish to carry out a varied and extensive program of outreach into the surrounding City of St. Catharines, meeting the needs of many citizens as well as of parishioners. George's Church looks to the future in confidence, with skilled lay and clergy leadership and to the adding of many more pages to its story.
