HISTORY

St. James Anglican Church, Murillo, was built in 1884 before which services had been held in parishioner’s homes as early as 1879.  John Baxendale donated five acres of land on which the church was built and an area cleared for future cemetery use.  It was Oliver Township’s first place of worship with the first service being held on October 28th, 1884.  In September of 1885 Bishop Sullivan accompanied by Reverend J. C. Machin of St. John’s Church, Prince Arthur Landing, visited the mission and consecrated the church. In 1886, an additional six acres of land east of the church was purchased in hopes that a rectory would eventually be built.  The rectory was constructed in 1904.  Services were discontinued and the church closed throughout the war years and was reopened in June 1920.

      A catastrophe befell St. James Church in 1924, when a fire completely destroyed the building and its contents.  The services then continued in the rectory and in the Presbyterian Church in the village of Murillo.  A new church was built in 1926 on the same spot where the old church stood.  In 1929 Bishop Roksborough Smith consecrated the new building, which was free of debt at that time. The congregation of St. James decided to demolish the old rectory at the church site, buy a lot in the village of Murillo and erect a new building in 1944.  In later years, it was sold and a new rectory was built in Rosslyn Village where it is still in use today.  The first parish hall in Murillo was sold and the old Oliver #1 School in Murillo was purchased and used as a hall.  This was sold in later years.  In 1950, St. James Church ceased to be a mission and became part of the self-supporting Parish of West Thunder Bay.

WORSHIP

Sunday services are held at 11:00 am from June to September.  During the summer months, a combined Sunday service commencing at 10:00 am is rotated between St. James’ and St. Mark’s.  The services, employing the Book of Alternative Services and the Common Book of Prayer, are relaxed and involve many parishioners in roles as greeters, readers of the lessons, organist, special musical guests, server, lay-reader and collectors of the offerings. The services are generally one hour in length, with the sermon taking 10 – 15 minutes.  Warmth and friendliness, and a sense of rural community distinguish the worship of this church.

 

Worship Services

 

Sunday

11:00 am*

 

*June to September; a 10:00 am service alternates between St. James’ and St. Mark’s; please see Calendar of Services & Events for summer schedule

5 St. Mark’s Street, Rosslyn, ON P7K ON7 Canada

Phone: (807) 939-1103   Email us