St. James Anglican Church

Request a Record
City
Dundas, Ont.
Full Location

St. James
127 Melville Street
Dundas, Ontario L9H 2A6
Phone: 905.627.1424

Archives Predating 1869
Baptisms 1838, Marriages 1839, Burials 1838
Fonds - Brief Description

St. James Anglican Church (Dundas, Ont.) fonds. -- 1838-1968. -- 2.3 m of textual records.

Rev. William McMurray was appointed rector to both Dundas and Ancaster in 1838. Until 1843 the Dundas congregation worshipped in what was called "The Free Church". The congregation decided to erect its own building which opened on Hatt Street for services in December 1843. Dundas became a separate charge in 1895. During World War I, a munitions factory was built next to the church. The decision was taken to sell the church and move to a different location. The foundation stone of the new building on Melville Street was laid by the Bishop of Niagara in July 1925. This church was destroyed by fire in January 1978. A third church was built which opened for services in April 1980. For a more complete history see Centenary of St. James Anglican Church and Fountain Come Forth: The Anglican Church and the Valley Town of Dundas.

Fonds consists of parish registers containing statistical records, services, Vestry, Women's Auxiliary and Building Committee minutes and financial records. Several of the registers remain in the custody of the Rector at St. James and have not been microfilmed. The part of the fonds now housed at McMaster University has been microfilmed on 6 reels, numbered 1-4, 181-182.

Title based on content of fonds.
Fonds on deposit. Ownership of fonds resides with St. James Church.
Finding aid available in hard copy and electronically.
Researchers are requested to use the microfilms. They must also sign an agreement of use form.
Further accruals are expected.

Finding Aid

Historical Notes

During the later eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries The area now known as Dundas was served only by visiting missionaries. Ancaster obtained a resident clergyman in 1818 and from this date on Dundas came under the care of the Ancaster incumbents. In 1835 Ancaster, West Flamborough and Dundas were worked together as a separate charge from Hamilton and Barton.

The first Anglican church in Dundas was opened for service in 1843. In 1870 St. John's Church, Ancaster, was set apart as a separate charge, but the rector of Ancaster retained the right to appoint the incumbent of Dundas. On the death of Canon Osler in 1895, Dundas was declared an independent charge and Rev. E.A. Irving who had served Dundas as Curate-in-charge since 1886 was appointed the first rector of Dundas.

A second church was opened in 1925, the site of the first having been sold. This second church was destroyed by fire in January 1978.

(See -- 2 Church Histories in filing cabinet)

I - List of Parish Registers

a) Statistical

  Microfilm
Reel
Parish Register A* Baptisms Sept. 1838-Mar. 1850
Confirmations 1840, 1842,
1845, 1848,
1851, 1854
Marriages Mar. 1839-Mar. 1850
Burials Sept. 1838-Mar. 1849		 1
*some Dundas entries 1816-1827 and 1830-1838 are included in the U.E.L.(1903) and Ontario Historical Society (1904). Publications with the Ancaster records, S/W #649.
Parish Register B Baptisms Apr. 1850-May 1882
Baptisms Apr. 1890-Apr. 1902
(for St. Andrew in the Vale,
W. Flamborough)
Marriages April 1850-July 1856
(1 Ancaster entry for February 1857)
Burials Apr. 1850-Apr. 1872		 2
Parish Register C Baptisms Aug. 1865-Dec. 1901
Marriages Sept.1865-Jan. 1902
Burials Jan. 1865-Jan. 1869		 2
Parish Register D Marriages Jan. 1858-Jan. 1869 1
Parish Register E Marriages Feb. 1858-Oct. 1869
(Some Ancaster)
These entries are additional to those in
registers C and D.		 1
Parish Register F Marriages June 1889-Jan 1890
(For Strabane, W. Flamborough
-a total of only 4 entries)		 1
Parish Register G Baptisms Mar. 1902-Nov. 1923
Confirmations 1916-1923
Marriages Feb. 1902-Nov. 1923
Burials Mar. 1902-Dec. 1923		 2
Parish Register H Baptisms Jan. 1924-Aug. 1941
Confirmations 1925-1941
Marriages Feb. 1924-July 1931
Burials Jan. 1924-Dec. 1941		 182
Parish Register I Confirmations 1902-1915
Families 1901-1906
Services 1901-1908		 1
Parish Register J Baptisms 1941-1945 347
Parish Register K Baptisms 1946-1954 347
Parish Register L Baptisms 1954-1958 347
Parish Register M Baptisms 1958-1961 348
Parish Register N Baptisms 1961-1966 348
Parish Register O Marriages 1937-1966 348
Parish Register II Confirmations 1946-1966 347
Parish Register JJ Marriages 1978-1991 347

b) General

  Microfilm
Reel
Parish Register P Service Register 1886-1891 2
Parish Register Q Service Register 1891-1901 2
Parish Register R Service Register 1912-1922 *
Parish Register S Service Register 1924-1936 *
Parish Register T Service Register 1936-1944 *
Parish Register U Vestry Minutes 1839-1888 1
Parish Register V Vestry Minutes 1889-1911 1
Parish Register W Vestry Minutes 1912-1974 *
Parish Register X Church Families, Offerings
and Communicants 1886-1891
Confirmations 1883, 1885,
1887, 1901		 1
Parish Register Y Church Families, Offerings
and Communicants 1912-1922		 *
Parish Register AA Vestry Minutes, Offerings,
Accounts 1889-1911,1891-1902		 4
Parish Register BB Church Families, Communicants
and Services 1902-1912,
St. Andrew in the Vale		 4
Parish Register CC Minutes of the Building
Committee 1841-1844		 181
Parish Register DD Minutes of the Building
Committee 1918-1926		 181
Parish Register EE Minutes of the Women's
Auxiliary 1954-1958		 181
Parish Register FF Attendance Record of the
Women's Auxiliary 1954-1966		 181
Parish Register GG Minutes of the Women's
Auxiliary 1959-1964		 182
Parish Register HH Minutes of the Women's
Auxiliary 1965-1968		 182
Parish Register KK Service Register 1978-1982 347
Parish Register LL Service Register 1982-1988 348
Parish Register MM Service Register 1988-1994 348

c) Financial

  Microfilm
Reel
Financial Register #1 1843-1851 3
Financial Register #2 1854-1866 3
Financial Register #3 1852-1860 3
Financial Register #4 1860-1876 3
Financial Register #5 1884-1888 3
Financial Register #6 1888-1893 4
Financial Register #7 1894-1906 4
Financial Register #8 1893-1906 *
Financial Register #9 1919-1923 *
Financial Register #10 1908-1920 (Expense Account) *
Financial Register #11 1908-1927 *
Parish Register NN Cash Book 1885-1893 348
*Not yet filmed and not yet in the Library. Available only through the Rector.

II - Index of Statistical Records

a) Baptisms

  Microfilm
Reel
Sept. 1838-Dec. 1849* Parish Register A 1
Apr. 1850-May 1882
(See also Register C)		 Parish Register B 2
Apr. 1890-1902
(St. Andrew,
W. Flamborough)		 Parish Register B 2
Aug. 1865-Dec. 1901
(Registers B and C were
both in use during the
period 1865-1882)		 Parish Register C 2
Mar. 1902-Nov. 1923 Parish Register G 2
Jan. 1924-Aug. 1941 Parish Register H 182
1941-1945 Parish Register J 347
1946-1954 Parish Register K 347
1954-1958 Parish Register L 347
1958-1961 Parish Register M 348
Jan. 1961-Aug. 1966 Parish Register N 348

b) Confirmations

  Microfilm
Reel
1840, 1842, 1845,
1848, 1851, 1854		 Parish Register A 1
1883, 1885, 1887-1901 Parish Register X 1
1902-1915 Parish Register I 2
1916-1923 Parish Register G 2
1925-1941 Parish Register H 182
1946-1966 Parish Register II 347

c) Marriages

  Microfilm
Reel
Mar. 1839-Mar. 1850* Parish Register A 1
Apr. 1850-July 1856
(1 Ancaster Entry for February 1857)		 Parish Register B 2
Sept. 1865-Jan. 1902 Parish Register C 2
Jan. 1858-Jan. 1869
(Ancaster)		 Parish Register D 1
Feb. 1858-Oct. 1869
(Some Ancaster)
These entries are additional to those registers C and D. See also the marriage licences from 1860-1867,in Box 1, #34		 Parish Register E 1
June 1889-Jan. 1890
(For Strabane and W. Flamborough, a total of only 4 entries)		 Parish Register F 1
Feb. 1902-Nov. 1923 Parish Register G 2
Feb. 1924-July 1931 Parish Register H 182
1937-1966 Parish Register O 348
1978-1991 Parish Register JJ 347

d) Burials

  Microfilm
Reel
Sept. 1838-Mar. 1849 Parish Register A 1
Apr. 1850-Apr. 1872 Parish Register D 2
Jan. 1865-Dec. 1901
(Registers B and C were both in use during
the period 1865-1872)		 Parish Register C 2
Mar. 1902-Dec. 1923 Parish Register G 2
Jan. 1924-Dec. 1941 Parish Register H 182

II - Index of General Records

a) Service Registers

  Microfilm
Reel
1886-1891 Parish Register P 2
1891-1901 Parish Register Q 2
1912-1922 Parish Register R *
1924-1936 Parish Register S *
1936-1944 Parish Register T *
1978-1982 Parish Register KK 347
1983-1988 Parish Register LL 348
1988-1994 Parish Register MM 348
* Not yet filmed and not in Library-at present, available only through
the Rector.    

b) Church Families

  Microfilm
Reel
1886-1891 Parish Register X 1
1902-1912
(St. Andrew in the Vale, West Flamborough)		 Parish Register BB 4
1912-1922 Parish Register Y *
* Not yet filmed and not yet in the Library-at present available only
through the Rector.    

c) Vestry Minutes

  Microfilm
Reel
1839-1888 Parish Register U 1
1889-1911 Parish Register V 1
1891-1902
(St. Andrew in the Vale, West Flamborough)		 Parish Register AA 4
1912-1974 Parish Register W *
* Not yet filmed and not yet in the Library-available at present only through the Rector.

d) Women's Auxiliary Records

  Microfilm
Reel
1954-1958
(Minutes)		 Parish Register EE 181
1954-1966
(Attendance)		 Parish Register FF 181
1959-1964
(Minutes)
d) Women's Auxiliary Records (cont'd)		 Parish Register GG 182
1965-1968
(Minutes)		 Parish Register HH 182

e) Building Committee Minutes

  Microfilm
Reel
1841-1844 Parish Register CC 181
1918-1926 Parish Register DD 181

IV - FINANCIAL

  Microfilm
Reel
Cheque Books, Account Books, etc.  

a) Note Books

  Microfilm
Reel
Resolutions of the Parochial Assoc.
list of contributors to its funds, with
amounts.		   1842-1851 Box 1, #27
Signatures of Contributors and amounts
of contribution towards the salary of
Rev. McMurray.		   1847-1848 Box 1, #28
Content Date Location
Records of Offerings 1861-1866 Box 1, #1
Records of Offerings 1873-1874 Box 1, #2
Records of Offerings 1875-1876 Box 1, #3
Records of Offerings 1876-1877 Box 1, #4
Records of Offerings 1877-1878 Box 1, #5
Records of Offerings 1878-1894 Box 1, #6
Records of Offerings 1893-1894 Box 1, #20
Offerings and Pew Rentals 1894-1895 Box 1, #7
Offerings and Pew Rentals 1896-1897 Box 1, #8
Offerings and Pew Rentals 1896-1897 Box 1, #9
Offerings and Pew Rentals 1897-1898 Box 1, #10
Offerings and Pew Rentals 1899 Box 1, #11
Content Date Location
Records of Offerings 1899-1901 Box 1, #25
Offerings and Pew Rentals 1900 Box 1, #12
Offerings and Pew Rentals 1901 Box 1, #13
Offerings and Pew Rentals 1908 Box 1, #14
Records of Offerings Undated Box 1,#21,#22
Offerings and Pew Rentals Undated Box 1, #19
Subscriptions for the
Parsonage Debt (None of the
above has been microfilmed)		 Undated Box 1, #24
Bank Account Book 1884-1891 Box 1, #15
Bank Account Book 1891-1894 Box 1, #16
Bank Account Book 1894-1896 Box 1, #17
Bank Account Book 1897-1901 Box 1, #18
Bank Account Book 1889-1891 Box 1, #26
Bank Account Book
(construction)		 1925-1930 Box 1, #38
Cash Book 1885-1893 Reel 348
Cash Book 1892-1896 Box 1, #23
Cash Book 1922-1924 Box 1, #35
Cheque Book, Stubs 1928-1930 Box 1, #29
Cheque Book, Stubs 1929-1930 Box 1, #30
Cheque Book, Cover-with Undated Box 1, #31
receipt-1901 1925-1928 Box 1, #36
Building Fund Contributions,
Women's Committee		 1919-1936 Box 1, #32
Building Fund Contributions,
Women's Committee		 1936-1948 Box 1, #33
Building Fund, Expenditures 1927-1930 Box 1, #37
Building Fund,
Women's Committee
Bank Deposit Books (4) and receipts		 1930-1945 Box 1, #39
Content Date Location

b) Correspondence, accounts, invoices, receipts, etc.

  Microfilm
Reel
Vestry and Churchwardens'
Reports		 1846-1902
and 1922		 Box 2, #4
Funds and Societies 1848-1903 Box 2, #5
Subscription Lists, Collections
and Contributions		 1843-1903 Box 2, #6
Pew Rentals and Lists
of Church Members		 1844-1892 Box 2, #7
Church Building Committee,
Accounts, Subscriptions		 1839-1856 Box 2, #8
Financial Correspondence 1846-1949 Box 2, #9
Church Society, Report and
Balance Sheets		 1858-1859 Box 2, #10
Chancel Fund-Financial Papers 1871 Box 2, #11
Invoices and receipts 1841-1899 Box 3, #1
Invoices and receipts 1859-1863 Box 3, #2
Invoices and receipts 1900-1927 Box 3, #3
Salaries
General Accounts
Orders-Financial
Accounts, Invoices, Notes		 1839-1876
1841-1927 Box 3, #5
1842-1872 Box 3, #6
1864-1866 Box 3, #7		 Box 3, #4
Cancelled cheques, Receipts,
Memos		 1871-1874 Box 3, #8
Receipts and Financial Memos 1874-1876 Box 3, #9
Paid Accounts 1876-1877 Box 3, #10
Paid Accounts 1877-1878 Box 3, #11
Paid Accounts 1878-1879 Box 3, #12
Paid Accounts 1879-1880 Box 3, #13
Content Date Location
Pew Rentals, Invoices,
Cancelled Cheques		 1885-1886 Box 4, #1
Cancelled Cheques 1896-1915 Box 4, #2
Cancelled Cheques 1898-1899 Box 4, #3
Estimates and correspondence
relating to the Church organ
and to Church renovation,
List of Contributors		 1903-1904 Box 4, #4
Financial Correspondence 1919 Box 4, #5
New Building Fund-Accounts,
Receipts		 1919-1927 Box 4, #6
Paid Accounts 1921-1927 Box 4, #7
Accounts 1923 Box 4, #8
Insurance Policies
(See also Envelope #1
for earlier policies)		 1939-1942 Box 4, #9
Envelope Contribution Cards 1910-1937 Box 4, #10
Mens' Club-Financial 1962-1964 Box 4, #11

V - General Correspondence

  Microfilm
Reel
Content Date Location
Correspondence with the Bishop of
of Montreal the Lieutenant
Governor of Upper Canada and the
Bishop of Toronto.		 1839-1840 Box 2, #1
Correspondence regarding the
establishment
of an independent Rector for
Dundas - Rev. Osler.
Churchwarden, Rev. Irving.		 1885-1886 Box 2, #2

VI - Miscellaneous

  Microfilm
Reel
Item   Location
Plan of the Church showing pews
and Pew Holders, undated.
Insurance Policies 1846-1875
Envelope #1
(See also later policies, 1939-1942, Box 4, #9)		   Box 2, #3
Bible, from St. James' Sunday School   Box 5
"The Book of Common Prayer"   Box 5
R. Kipling, `The Finest Story in the World'   Box 5
Framed Photographs:
William Niagara, Christmas 1911, Wilmot Niagara, 1932,
Derwyn Toronto, 1932.		   Box 6
Photocopied volume of the Parish Magazine,   with above items
1886-1891
(earlier issues include Ancaster and West Flamborough)