The Hon. Ward Chipman, Chief Justice of New Brunswick, offered land on Carleton St. and the money was raised from the “sale of Pews”. The Lieutenant Governor, Sir Howard Douglas, donated 600 pounds sterling from the “King’s casual revenues”, in return for which pews were reserved for the Garrison. St. John’s (Stone) Church became the Garrison Church. You will notice the brass plaque on the first pew as the “Garrison Officers pew”. The Garrison paraded to Church every Sunday while they remained quartered in the city and of late years occasional parades take place. The original plans were drawn up in 1823 and mindful of the constant danger of fire to frame buildings, the Trinity Vestry decided to build in stone and of Gothic design. The stones for the church were brought from England as ballast on returning cargo ships. The first service was held on Sunday, September 11, 1825, and it was consecrated in 1826 by Bishop John Inglis, third Bishop of Nova Scotia (which then contained the parishes of New Brunswick). In a city of wooden churches the new church soon became known as “the Stone Church”, or simply as “Stone” though its official name remains St. John’s Church. Stone Church bears a strong resemblance to many parish churches in England built toward the end of the 12th Century. Best known of these is St. Mary’s, Lutterworth, of which the famous John Wycliffe, the “Morning Star” of the Reformation, was Vicar in the 14th century. In 1852 the city was divided into five parishes and the Chapel of Ease became the Church of the Parish of St. Mark. The first Rector was the Rev. George Armstrong, who for thirty years developed the work, organized and housed the first Sunday School and laid good foundations for the Parish’s future history. Stone’s Rectors have been men of distinction, notable scholars, great preachers. There was an early association with Wycliffe College, Toronto. Many Rectors were Alumnni and two were at one time professors – Canon Ronald A. Ward and the Rev. Dr. J. D. MacKenzie-Naughton. At one period annual Maritime Wycliffe Conferences were held at Stone when the Preachers were members of the College Faculty. Two Rectors became Bishops: The Rt. Rev. Archibald Fleming, first Bishop of the Arctic, and the Most Rev. H. L. Nutter, former Bishop & Archbishop of Fredericton. The emphasis is on Biblical preaching and Evangelical teaching. The Rev. A. LeDrew Gardner began the first Saint John radio ministry with a daily Bible teaching and worship program.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 08:42:11 +0000
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