St. Matthias Anglican Church

ST MATTHIAS CHURCH - A BRIEF HISTORY

 Since its recorded beginnings in 1880 with the baptism of two infants, St Matthias has undergone constant change - in rectors, location, parishioners, size and mission. Its purpose, however, must have always been to exemplify the current mission statement of providing a welcoming home that encourages spiritual growth and inspires clergy and congregation to use their gifts to serve Christ in the wider communities of God's world.

The two aforementioned infants were baptized by the Rev. George Jemmett in the dining room of Byers Hotel. Byers Hotel is long gone together with the fields and farms of Hintonburg and today Wellington Manor, 1141 Wellington is found in its place. Subsequently a rented hall, Wilson’s Hall, was used for services. This was on the north east corner of Wellington and Carruthers where now stands an apartment building above several stores.

On November 1, 1890, the cornerstone for a church was laid on the east side of what is now 17 Fairmont Avenue. The church had space for 200 worshippers and its own rectory. This church can still be seen although it is masked by additions, and is now owned by The Orpheus Theatre Musical Society. The rectory at 11 Fairmont Avenue is now a triplex. In 1918 the Rev. W.A.E. Butler was appointed rector. Through his efforts, a large Memorial Hall was built which commemorated the valour of the 126 parishioners who served overseas in World War I. Part of the old hall still remains at 19 Fairmont Avenue. This too has been added to and it is now an office building.

As Ottawa expanded westward the parish grew and the church became overcrowded. The Rev.Cecil Roach spearheaded action which led to the purchasing of twelve lots on Parkdale and Warwick Avenues south of the CNR tracks, and in June 1939, Canon Butler, the previous rector turned the first sod for the new church. It was decided to begin with a basement church until sufficient funds could be raised to complete the structure. World War II prevented completion until November 1949 almost ten years after the congregation had begun worshipping on this site. Despite cutbacks on the original plans, the new church, at $210,000, cost twice as much as the original estimate, While the ‘upstairs’ church was under construction, services were held in the nearby Elmdale Theatre at 1196 Wellington. Today this building houses The Cornerstone House of Refuge Apostolic Church.

The rectory was completed in 1952 but after 2000 was no longer used by a rector and in 2008 was sold to the Parkdale Montessori School. Of the twelve original lots purchased in 1938, three were expropriated for construction of the Queensway (together with four houses on Parkdale and two on Warwick), two were used for the rectory, St Matthias stands on four, and the remaining three are used for parking.

Removal of the CNR tracks and construction of the Queensway began in 1960 causing upheaval and decreased attendance at church, but the financial compensation for land expropriated, and improved church access were cause for celebration when the front doors were reopened for the Christmas Eve service in 1961.

Canon Roach retired in 1967, thirty one years after becoming rector, and was succeeded by the Rev. John Baycroft who served until 1984 when he left to become Dean of the Cathedral and then Bishop of Ottawa. The Rev. John Fowler, former Dean of Moosonee and rector of St Matthew’s Cathedral in Timmins was appointed rector in 1985. After his retirement in 2000, the Rev. Joan Riding, rector of All Saints, Sandy Hill was appointed to lead St Matthias into the 21^st century.

November 2008