St Mary's Church History
Once they’d arrived in America, the pilgrims discovered what things they valued enough from their past to carry forward into their future.
Many have roots among the Scottish, English & Irish settlers of 1800s who made their crossing to come to the Queen’s Bush.
This little church was built as a way of expressing their value in carrying forward the English style worship.
It is plain from the history records and furniture that they valued the celebration of communion shaped by the Church of England. In 1870, seven years after the first building was erected, it was deemed important enough to add on the chancel and a door to a small sacristy off to the west, where communion could be prepared.
Eight years later, an English priest, Rev. James Ward, also in charge of Eugenia and Markdale, brought the ornate silver chalice and paten from overseas in a uniquely shaped wooden box. This arched motto also reflects the English theology behind communion: the reception of the heavenly spirit of Jesus on earth, in the gifts of bread and wine.
The early settlers in Osprey Township also valued the English use of
Instrumentation in the church, and so this pump organ was purchased. Imagine the excitement on a Sunday morning as Miss Burke sat down to play it for the first time.
All of the upgrades to the original structure reflect their values:
By 1885 the originally square tower was replaced with an English style spire and a bell forged in England was installed.
They had planned to build an English style rectory next door on land purchased to the east.
- The settlers of St. Mary’s Church weren’t forgetting their past, in order to form a new, more abundant future in Osprey Township
They carried forward what they valued from before.
- In June of 2010 St. Mary’s closed as a regular Church and became a Chapel of Ease.
- There were some difficulties and challenges to overcome. These were overcome by three trustees: June Tyler, Ruth Davis and Denise Young who are now responsible for the care and administration of the Chapel.
As can be seen in the accompanying photographs the Chapel is simple but beautifully furnished and is maintained faithfully by the Trustees.
Remaining are the beautiful and historic church building full of memories both happy and sad, some hymn books, the cemetery and very little money. On closure all bills owed to for hydro and to the diocese were paid and the hydro disconnected.
- The very fact that the very straight backed pews have not been replaced over the years, or the building undergone major renovations, is a statement about the congregation’s satisfaction with its beauty and holiness. Very few churches of this age are in such fine condition.
MINISTERS WHO HAVE SERVED ST. MARY’S ANGLICAN CHURCH MAXWELL ONTARIO
1862- The Rev. Johnston held pioneer services in the woods behind the present sight of the Orange Hall for the Anglicans in Osprey
1863- New church building completed and consecrated in May
? - Rectors Rev. Hill and Rev. J. J. Morton were successors
1877- The church was under the charge of students.
1878- The Rev. Jason Ward (also in charge of Markdale, and Eugenia)
1887- The Rev. O Edgelow (twinned with Dundalk Parish)
1895 – The Rev. J. A. Miller
1896 – The Rev. J. C. Ferrier
1897- The Rev. J. H. Condell
1899- 1901 - The Rev. Jeffry Hill
1901-04 – The Rev. C. L. Mills
1905- The Rev. G. M. Franklin
1907- The Rev. J. Ryan
1908 – The Rev. Millar
1910 – The Rev. N. Williams
1914 – The Rev. C. L. Abbot
1916-1924 – The Rev. W. G. Blackwell
1924-1928 – The Rev. J. H. Pogson
1928 – The Rev. M. F. Oldham
Nov. 1933- Apr. 1934 – No rector
1934- 1936 – The Rev. M. H. Elston
March – Aug. 1937 -Lay evangelist Francis Belt with Rev. Oldham (Tara) &the Rev. A. Gallagher (Owen Sound) taking Holy Communions
1937- 1938 - The Rev. E. C. Rorke assisted by Huron College Seminary student
1938- 1940 – The Rev. E. O. Lancaster
1940-1942 – The Rev. E. M. Caldwell
1942-1944 – The Rev. Leonard Jacklin
1944-1947 – The Rev. W. Bradbury
1947-1948 – No recorded services in the church
1948-1949 – Huron College student Harvey Southcott & L. G. McFarlane, student from Wycliffe College in succession
1949-1950 - The Rev. Alex J. Newell
1950-1953 – The Rev. R. G. Frost
1953- 1955 – The Rev. S.E. Richards
1955-1956 – The Rev. Duncan MacLean
1956 - 1960 – The Rev. W. H. Moore from Houghton Conquest, Bedfordshire, England
1960 - 1964 – The Rev. Donald A. Hunt
1964- 1969 – The Rev. Jack James
1969-1973 – The Rev. Richard Boaz
1973-1976 – The Rev. N. Meier
1976-1983 – The Rev. George Bissel
1983-1990 – The Rev. William Stringer
1991-1996 – The Rev. John Odell
1997 – 2000 – The Rev. Byron Gilmore
2000 – 2004 – The Rev. Anne Mills
2005 – Present - The Rev. Yvonne Summerfield of Markdale, Ontario
1863- New church building completed and consecrated in May
? - Rectors Rev. Hill and Rev. J. J. Morton were successors
1877- The church was under the charge of students.
1878- The Rev. Jason Ward (also in charge of Markdale, and Eugenia)
1887- The Rev. O Edgelow (twinned with Dundalk Parish)
1895 – The Rev. J. A. Miller
1896 – The Rev. J. C. Ferrier
1897- The Rev. J. H. Condell
1899- 1901 - The Rev. Jeffry Hill
1901-04 – The Rev. C. L. Mills
1905- The Rev. G. M. Franklin
1907- The Rev. J. Ryan
1908 – The Rev. Millar
1910 – The Rev. N. Williams
1914 – The Rev. C. L. Abbot
1916-1924 – The Rev. W. G. Blackwell
1924-1928 – The Rev. J. H. Pogson
1928 – The Rev. M. F. Oldham
Nov. 1933- Apr. 1934 – No rector
1934- 1936 – The Rev. M. H. Elston
March – Aug. 1937 -Lay evangelist Francis Belt with Rev. Oldham (Tara) &the Rev. A. Gallagher (Owen Sound) taking Holy Communions
1937- 1938 - The Rev. E. C. Rorke assisted by Huron College Seminary student
1938- 1940 – The Rev. E. O. Lancaster
1940-1942 – The Rev. E. M. Caldwell
1942-1944 – The Rev. Leonard Jacklin
1944-1947 – The Rev. W. Bradbury
1947-1948 – No recorded services in the church
1948-1949 – Huron College student Harvey Southcott & L. G. McFarlane, student from Wycliffe College in succession
1949-1950 - The Rev. Alex J. Newell
1950-1953 – The Rev. R. G. Frost
1953- 1955 – The Rev. S.E. Richards
1955-1956 – The Rev. Duncan MacLean
1956 - 1960 – The Rev. W. H. Moore from Houghton Conquest, Bedfordshire, England
1960 - 1964 – The Rev. Donald A. Hunt
1964- 1969 – The Rev. Jack James
1969-1973 – The Rev. Richard Boaz
1973-1976 – The Rev. N. Meier
1976-1983 – The Rev. George Bissel
1983-1990 – The Rev. William Stringer
1991-1996 – The Rev. John Odell
1997 – 2000 – The Rev. Byron Gilmore
2000 – 2004 – The Rev. Anne Mills
2005 – Present - The Rev. Yvonne Summerfield of Markdale, Ontario
Perhaps at some point in your life St. Mary’s has played an important role in your life or of someone in your family. If you would like to add it to the history of St Mary’s or comment/correct on anything on the web page please contact one of the Trustees or John Moore.