The Anglican Parish of Roches Point

(scroll down for St. Pauls history)

Christ Church is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in Georgina.  The building was constructed in 1862 and the first service was given in January 1863.  Christ Church Roches Point has served the surrounding Community throughout the years from this beautiful building.

This building is a well-known structure, having been featured in many publications dealing with rural Ontario. The latest book to feature the Church was “Rural Roots”. A variety of artists, both local and distant, have produced a number of paintings and photographs of this country church.

The church building was designed by the first Rector, the Reverend Walter Stennett, and built on land given by his parents. The Reverend Mr. Stennett was also responsible for the construction of the structure.

The construction was excellent, as the present condition of the structure shows. However, major repairs have been undertaken over the past few years, not only to repair the signs of time, but to upgrade the building. 

Major renovations began in 1977 with the restoration of the unique stained glass windows. In the late 1980’s, work began on the exterior of the building. In 1990, the interior of the building was completely refurbished to repair the deteriorating plaster work and to modernize the heating, as well as adding air conditioning.  In 1999, the roof braces were reinforced with tie-rods.  The most recent renovavtion undertaking was the replacement of all the rock mortar joints in 2002.

St. Paul's is known as the "Travelling Church".  St. Paul's has been standing at its present location for the past 57 years.  In June of 1999 the parish celebrated St. Paul's 50th anniversary by bringing the parish congregation and families together to share food, fun, and of course stories.

St. Paul's has been moved twice before.  Its original location was at the north-west corner of Ravenshoe Rd. and The Queensway.  It was constructed in 1875. In the early 1900's, St. Paul's was moved to the corner of Boyers Rd. and Metro Rd.  This was quite the event for the early 1900's as it was moved on the ice up Cook's Bay.  In 1949, the church was moved to its present location.

List of Incumbents

1862-1866   The Rev. Walter Stennett, M.A.

1866-1868   Vacancy

1868-1870   The Rev. James Morton

1870-1873   The Rev. Johnston Vicars

1873-1878   Vacancy

1878-1880   The Rev. J.H. Turton

1880-1881   Vacancy

1883-1895   The Rev. C.R. Bell, Mus. Bac.

1896-1900   The Rev. A.M. Rutherford

1900-1904   Vacancy

1904-1907   The Rev. J. McKee McLennan

1908-1911   The Rev. F.M. Dean

1912-1913   Vacancy

1913-1917   The Rev. C.E. Pratt

1917-1918   The Rev. W.A. Pippin

1918-1920   The Rev. W. Creswick

1921-1925   The Rev. S. Ferguson

1925-1927   The Rev. Canon Thomas W. Barnett

1927-1934   The Rev. Fred Ellis

1934-1937   The Rev. A.K. Griffin

1937-1942   The Rev. A.J. Forte

1942-1947   The Rev. J.T. Rhodes

1947-1949   The Rev. H.L. Puxley

1949-1951   The Rev. M.T. Hutt

1951-1953   The Rev. Alfred J. Arthur

1953-1956   The Rev. Edward Morley

1956-1961   The Rev. Frank B. Cooke

1961-1967   The Rev. Jack M. Wiseman

1967-1970   The Rev. Canon Donald Bone

1970-1974   The Rev. Earl Sigston

1974-1986   The Rev. C. Donald Wilson

1986-1991   The Rev. Wayne Carney

1991-1992   The Rev. Canon Elizabeth Kilbourn

1992-1994   The Rev. Canon Terry Tarleton

1995-2012   The Rev. John Coulman

2012-2013   Several Interim Priests

2013-2017   The Rev. Annette M. Gillies

2017-           The Rev. Canon W. David Neelands

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