Heritage

Origins: the McLennan Estate

In 1897 the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Lancaster, was erected by Mrs. John McLennan and her daughter in memory of the late John McLennan. In the autumn of 1897, an application was made to Bishop Hamilton of Ottawa for a Priest. In June 1898, the Reverend Arthur H. Whalley left the Rectory of Bell's Corners and was licensed to the County of Glengarry. The Church was erected on the McLennan Estate, called Ridgewood.

Architecture

It is a real gem of a small cruciform church, complete with a belfry and a peal of three bells. The bells were first rung for Divine Service on July 21st 1899. The large bell is a gift of the late Hugh McLennan of Montreal, the other two of Mrs. John McLennan.

Today

The exterior of the Church seems to have changed little in appearance over the years; repairs have been done with loving care to maintain the character of the building. In 1993, in response to a growing population, an addition was built on the Church that doubled the seating capacity. This addition was possible due to a bequest from Hugh William Douglas.

Both the interior and exterior appearance of the original Church were maintained in the addition. In 1998, the former Church Hall was razed and a new hall was built through the generosity of many members. The new Church Hall was dedicated to the memory of the Osborne family's 100 years of service to St. John's.

Twenty-two incumbents have served this Church since its dedication in 1898.

In 2018, the congregation joined the newly formed Area Parish of the St. Lawrence (St. Lawrence Parish) along with two other Anglican churches in the region - Trinity Church (Cornwall) and Christ Church Seaway (Long Sault).

*Special thanks to Kellie and David Clifford for compiling this history.

Former (and Current) Rectors

1899-1902 The Reverend Arthur Hrny Whalley
1902-1905 The Reverend William Henry Green
1906-1909 The Reverend Thomas Bailey
1909-1913 The Reverend Arthur James Fitzpatrick
1913-1914 The Reverend John Lister Coles
1914-1916 Vacant
1916-1917 The Reverend Harry Bruce
1917-1924 Vacant
1924-1945 The Reverend James Lionel Homer
1945-1947 The Reverend Richard Goodwin Fiander
1947-1961 The Reverend Harold Norman Oswald Hodder
1961-1964 The Reverend Canon James Samuel Kings Tyrrell
1964-1965 Vacant
1965-1971 The Reverend Stephen Bertram Kenward
1971-1974 The Reverend W. Donald Chapman
1974-1979 The Reverend Cyril Coleridge Watson
1979-1984 The Reverend Gordon H. Worden
1984-1989 The Reverend Roger Steinke
1989-1998 The Reverend Dean K. Purdy
1998-2003 The Reverend Daniel Gregory Howard
2003-2014 Vacant/Unclear Serving
2014-2020 †The Reverend Patrick Stephens
2020-2023 †The Venerable Peter Crosby
2023- †The Reverend Adam Joseph Brown
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†Indicates a Rector of the Area Parish of the Saint Lawrence