1. Home
  2. Archives of the Anglican Diocese of Niagara
  3. Records of the Diocese and Individual Churches
  4. Christ's Church Cathedral

Christ's Church Cathedral

City
Hamilton, Ont.
Full Location

Christ's Church Cathedral
252 James Street North
Hamilton, Ontario L8R 2L3
Phone: 905.527.1316

Archives Predating 1869
Baptisms, Marriages & Burials, 1838
Clergy

Abbot, H.P.A.(?)
1906-1914 Canon and Rector
1911 Made Dean

Fonds - Brief Description

Christ's Church Anglican Cathedral (Hamilton, Ont.) fonds. -- 1796-1969; predominant 1835-1969. -- 4.7 m of textual records and graphic material.

The Bishop of Quebec sent Rev. John Gamble Geddes to minister to Hamilton in 1835. The congregation was then meeting in a log-court house along with the Ancaster congregation. The church, a frame building was constructed shortly thereafter and consecrated in 1842 by the Bishop of Toronto. In 1873, when it became certain that six counties were to be removed from the Dioceses of Toronto to form the new Diocese of Niagara, architects were engaged to design a church that would be suitable as a cathedral. In 1876 the new cathedral was opened. For a more complete history see The Pilgrim's Guide to Christ's Church Cathedral.

The fonds consists of parish registers containing statistical records, Vestry Minutes, services, Brother of St. Andrew's minutes, choir registers and attendance records, Servers Guild, and financial registers. Fonds also contains correspondence, cemetery material, Building Committee records, photographs, and other documents. Most of the fonds has been microfilmed on 15 reels of microfilm, numbered 51-54, 56-57, 60-67, 257.

See also the the Gladys McAndrew fonds. McAndrew was an active member Christ Church Cathedral who served as the Dominion Dorcas Secretary-Treasurer. The McAndrew fonds relates to missionary work and residential schools in Canada from 1943 to 1954.

Title based on content of fonds.
Fonds on deposit. Ownership of the fonds resides with Christ's Church Cathedral.
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

See Church History in fonds description.

 

I - List of Parish Registers

a) Statistical

DescriptionMicrofilm
Reel
Parish Register ABaptisms
Confirmations
Marriages
Burials		60
Parish Register BBaptisms
Marriages
Burials
Communicants/Communions		60
Parish Register CBaptisms
Marriages
Burials		61
Parish Register DBaptismal Register61
Parish Register EBaptismal Register62
Parish Register FBaptismal Register62
Parish Register GBaptismal Register66
Parish Register HBurial Register62
Parish Register IConfirmations62
Parish Register JConfirmations62
Parish Registers
K-Z
A2-E2		Marriage Registers62-67
Parish Registers F2-H2Service Registers53 & 67
Parish Registers I2-L2Minutes of the Vestry53 & 57
Parish Register M2Communicants & Financial Contributions Book 1880-1884257
Parish Register N2Burials 1967-1986358

b) Financial

DescriptionMicrofilm
Reel
Financial Register 1Sunday Collections
1806-1807		57
Financial Register 2Church Building Accounts 1835-184757
Financial Register 3Account Book
1835-1847		57
Financial Register 4Cash Book
Pew Rentals (back of book)
1858-1862		66
Financial Register 5Financial Ledger including Pew Rentals, Cemetery Payments
1936-1944		66
Financial Register 6Ledger Accounts
1860-1869		66
Financial Register 7Ledger Accounts
1869-1876		66
Financial Register 8Collection & Expense Ledger 1875-188663
Financial Register 9Ledger Accounts
1879		63
Financial Register 10Communicants Management Minutes
1879-1911		63
Financial Register 11Collection Record
1882-1892		63
Financial Register 12Ledger Accounts
1886-(1895)		54 & 63
Financial Register 13Ledger Accounts
Pew Rentals
Collections
1895-1919		54
Financial Register 14Expense Ledger
Pew Rentals
Collections
Offertories/Missions
1919-(1927)		54
Parish Register M2Financial Contributions
1883-1884		257
Financial Register 15Board of Management Minutes
1918-1948		54
Financial Register 16Parochial Poor Fund
(Juliet Doolittle Trust Fund)
1920-1931		54
Financial Register 17Expense Journal Accounts 1935-196354
Financial Register 18Ledger of Appeals/Pledges
Pew Rentals
1946-(1959)

54
(first half)

55 (second half)

Financial Register 19Church Account Book
1948-1951		54
Financial Register 20Church Account Book
1952-1954		54
Financial Register 21Church Account Book
1954-1957		54
Financial Register 22Church Account Book
1957-1959		54
Financial Register 23Church Account Book
1960-1962		54
Financial Register 24Church Account Book
1966-(1968)		54
See Also:Boxes labelled - Financial Record/Vouchers/Returned Cheques/Receipts/BillsBox #
14-20

II - Index To Parish Records

a) Baptisms

DescriptionMicrofilm
Reel
(1838-1863)Parish Register A
(this particular register has Baptisms, Marriages, Burials and Confirmations all intermingled.)		60
1835-1838Parish Register B60
1835-1850Parish Register C61
1850-1864Parish Register D61
1864-1900Parish Register E62
1900-1925Parish Register F62
1925-1956Parish Register G66

b) Confirmations & Communicants

DescriptionMicrofilm
Reel
1838-1863Parish Register A60
1835-1838Parish Register B60
1838-1900Parish Register I62
1871-1889Parish Register J62
1880-1889Parish Register M2
(Communicants)		257

c) Burials

DescriptionMicrofilm
Reel
1838-1863Parish Register A60
1835-1838Parish Register B60
1855-1882Parish Register H62
1882-1888No records from 1882-88. Continues July 1889 in Register H.N/A
1889-1967Parish Register H62
1967-1986Parish Register N(2)358
 For other material see listed in "Other Records" the following:
Cemetery Book (IV b)
Burial Ground Register

 

 

 

See also Boxes #6, 7 and 8

Cemetery Returns-Reports of Internments, 1888-1907

Cemetery Records (1840, 1855-85)
Report of Internments
Orders For Free Burials
Receipts
Cemetery Lot Deeds 1870-1897

Cemetery Payments in Fincancial Ledger 5

52

 

51

 

 

66

d) Marriages

DescriptionMicrofilm
Reel
Sept. 1838-July 1840Parish Register A60
(1835-1838)Parish Register B60
Mar. 1835-Apr. 1849
1835-1838		Parish Register C
See also Envelope #4		61
May 1849-Dec.1868Parish Register KPt.1 62
Pt.2 64
Jan. 1858-Feb. 1878Parish Register L63
Mar. 1863-May 1864Parish Register M63
Feb. 1869-July 1912Parish Register N63
Oct. 1869-Feb. 1904Parish Register O64
Feb. 1904-Aug. 1908Parish Register P64
Aug. 1908-Jan. 1911Parish Register Q64
Jan. 1911-Nov.1913Parish Register R64
July 1912-Jan. 1938Parish Register SPt.1 64
Pt.2 65
Dec. 1913-Mar. 1919Parish Register T65
Mar. 1919-Mar. 1924Parish Register U65
Mar. 1924-Sept. 1929Parish Register V65
Sept. 1929-Dec. 1935Parish Register W65
Dec. 1935-May 1938Parish Register X65
Jan. 1938-July 1949Parish Register YPt.1 65
Pt.2 67
June 1938-Sept. 1942Parish Register Z67
Sept. 1942-Feb. 1946Parish Register A267
Feb. 1946-June 1949Parish Register B267
June 1949-Apr. 1953Parish Register C267
Apr. 1953-Dec.1959Parish Register D260
Jan. 1960-Aug. 1969Parish Register E260
*For period 1835-1838 see also J.G. Geddes' Book of Banns for Hamilton and Barton, Envelope #4.  

III - Index of General Records

a) Minutes of the Vestry

DescriptionMicrofilm
Reel
Apr. 9 1855-Apr. 26 1886
(*See note below)		Parish Register I253
Apr. 13 1886-July 3, 1939Parish Register J257
May 13, 1886-July 3, 1939Parish Register K2
Vestry Minutes including Financial Statements.		53
Oct. 26 1835-May 30 1848Parish Register L257
* See also Box labelled #13-Vestry Minutes-(1840-1870)

b) Service Registers

DescriptionMicrofilm
Reel
Mar.11, 1886-Dec. 27, 1942Parish Register F253
Mar. 1915-June 1928Parish Register G2Part 2 57
July 1928-Mar. 1936Parish Register H257

IV - Other Records

DescriptionMicrofilm
Reel
Brotherhood of St. Andrews. Minute Book
(3 Registers)		1.(1907-1914)
2. 1914-1923
3. 1923-1930		56
56
Choir Registers and Choir Attendance Records
(5 Registers)		1. Choir Register 1892-1902
2. Choir Register 1902-1911
3. Choir Attendance Record 1912-1922
4. Choir Attendance Record 1922-1931
5. Choir Attendance Record 1932-1950		57
57
56
56
56
Servers Guild Register1960-1961 

IV - Boxed Material

a) Correspondence

Box #Description
Box #1-General Church Wardens' Correspondence, 1830-1899. Includes some subscription lists and financial statements, as well as material relating to pew rentals.
Box #2-Church Wardens' Correspondence, 1880-1925.
Most of this material is financial, but the box includes some notes by Linger on the history of the Church, some copies of sermons and details of services.
Box #3-News Clippings re: Chirst Church, 1870-1924
- Subscriptions, 1920
- Correspondence re: organ, 1923-1924
- Correspondence of Dean Owen, 1924-25
- Correspondence re: Cathedral's Jubilee, 1925
- Public Appeals, Order of Service Pamphlets, Notice of Meetings, 1926-1930.
Box #4- Correspondence of the Dean of the Cathedral, Canon Riley, 1933-1934.
Box #5- Correspondence of Canon Riley, 1933-1936

b) Cemetery Material

Box #Description
Box #6-Correspondence re: Cemetery, 1840-1908.
- Orders for free burials, 1840-1866
- Cemetery statements and returns, 1855-1864, 1877-1879, 1880-1883, 1884-1885.
Box #7- Interment Reports, 1889-1891, 1892-1893, 1894-1898, 1895-1898, 1899-1907.
Box #8- Cemetery Receipts, 1853-1870, 1906
- Deeds of Cemetery Lots, 1870-1897
 (These boxes include records of some burials not listed in the Parish Registers.)

c) Building Committee

Box #Description
Box #9- Minute Book, Building Committee, 1835-1842
- Loose Minutes, 1852-1854
- Minute Book, 1873-1877
- Subscriptions, receipts, specifications, 1850s
- 1842 agreement to complete carpentry in Christ's Church, loose minutes from 1870s, "Helps to the Building of Churches". by the Rev. W.C. Wilson London, 1835.
- Building Committee Tenders, 1852.
- Building Committee Correspondence, 1852-1857
- Building Committee Cancelled notes, 1853
- Certificates for payment and receipts, 1853
- Miscellaneous receipts and expenses, 1874-1877
- Cathedral Seating Plans, one dated 1840, rest undated.
- Architectural description of proposed alterations and additions to Christ's Church, 1960.

d) Miscellaneous Non-Financial Papers

Box #Description
Box #10- Mortgages and other legal papers relating to lands and bequests, 1840s to 1920s.
- As above includes grant of 200 acres in the Township of Nassageweya to Thomas Arnold, 1827.
- As above, 1840s to 1940s.
- Insurance policies and correspondence, 1850s to 1920s. Orders for free burials, 1840-1866
- Agreements, other legal documents, court decisions, 1870s to 1911.
- Correspondence related to redecoration, 1910.
- Agreements with Hydro - early 1900s.
Box #11#1
- Undated pledge to abstain from alcohol.
- 1880s :Certificate of confirmation.
- 1890s :Notification of the publication of marriage banns.
- 1927 :Declaration of acceptance of the faith of The Church of England.
#2
- Order of Service Programs, 1897-1933
- Address by Bishop of Niagara and other historical papers, 1915.
- Sketch of the life of J.G. Geddes, compiled In Memoriam, 1891.
Box #12- Christ Church Cathedral Calendar, 1915-1933
- Church Year Books, 1916-1921

e) Miscellaneous Financial Papers

Box #Description
Box #13- Vestry Minutes 1840s to 1890
- Draft Minutes of Vestry Meetings:
Undated,
1840s (with 1840 subscription list)
1850-1859
1860-1869
1879-1890
Box #14Financial Statements and Reports 1846-1933
- Yearly financial statements and reports, 1860-1910.
- Printed Easter Reports and financial statements, 1846-1892.
- Printed Easter Reports and financial statements, 1894-1933.
Box #15Pews-Deeds, Debentures, Collection Books, Correspondence, 1843-1934.
1. Pew Deeds and Debentures, in approximate date order, 1843-1892.
2. Pew Receipts, Lists, Estate settlements, 1841-1870.
3. Deeds and Legal Correspondence relating to pews, 1852-1934.
4. Pew Rental Collection Book, 1839.
5. Pew Rental Collection Book, 1840-1846.
6. Pew Rental Collection Book (6), 1867-1870.
7. Pew Rental Collection Book, 1869.
8. Pew Rental Collection Book, (no date, 1860s? 1870s?)
9. Pew Rental accounts, 1867-1868.
Box #16Subscriptions towards various Church Funds 1842-1924.
1. Subscriptions towards the salary of J.G. Geddes, 1842.
Pew Accounts, Ground Rents and General Accounts, 1845-1855.
2. Subscriptions towards Christ's Church Dept., 1864.
3. Subscriptions towards Christ's Church Dept., 1865.
4. Subscriptions towards rebuilding and enlarging the Church, the Sunday School Fund and the School House, 1843-1893.
5. Subscription and Pew Rental Lists, 1850s and 1860s.
6. Widows' and Orphans' Fund Apportionment, 1874.
7. Subscribers towards memorial tablet, 1900.
8. Subscription book-alphabetical, 1924.
Box #17Organ Fund, 1875-1926.
1. Subscriptions, 1875-1878.
2. Subscriptions and Correspondence, 1918-1924.
3. Subscriptions and Correspondence, 1924-1925.
4. Subscriptions, 1924.
5. Cash Book
- Memorial Organ Fund, 1924-1925.
- F.W. Wase Testimonial, 1926.
Box #181. Receipts for monies paid out by the Church Wardens, 1843- 1844.
2. As above, 1844.
3. Financial Correspondence, Accounts and Receipts, 1840s.
4. "Adoptions" arranged by the church, 1840s.
5. Invoices, accounts, collections, receipts, pew rental, correspondence, 1840s.
6. Receipts paid for monies paid by Church, 1845-1851.
7. Financial correspondence, vestry minutes, receipts, insurance policies, 1850s.
8. Receipts, accounts, promisory notes, financial correspondence, 1850s.
Box #19(3) Account Books:
a) Receipt Book, Church Wardens, May 1858-Sept. 1859.
b) Receipt Book, Sept. 1859-Sept. 1860.
c) Receipt Book, Apr. 1861-May 1866.
1. Accounts, invoices, receipts, promisory notes, pew rentals, etc., 1850s and 1860s.
2. Invoices, statements of income-expenditure, pew rentals , receipts, 1950s and 1860s.
3. Statements of account, 1850s and 1860s.
4. Receipts and financial correspondence.
5. Receipts and pew rents, 1860s.
6. Receipts, 1860s to 1870.
7. Accounts, 1850s to 1890, with receipts - expenditure statements for 1874-77, 1885-86.
Box #20- Offertory Books, containing details of offerings made at services:
a) Apr. 1890-Dec. 1890
b) Jan. 1891.-Sept. 1891
c) Sept. 1891-Apr. 1892
d) Apr. 1893-Mar. 1894.
- Book of cheque stubs, May 1890-Jan. 1891.
- Bundle of receipts, Apr. 1890-Mar. 1891
- Receipts and paid invoices, 1891-1899.
- Sunday School Accounts, 1862-1901.
- Financial Correspondence including promisory notes, receipts, lists of debts due, pew rental correspondence, 1845-1910.
Envelope #1Prayer Book, T. George III , found in Cathedral vault.
Envelope #2"Book of Common Prayer", published London, 1796.
Envelope #3General Accounts Ledger, 1864-1869
Envelope #4J.G. Geddes' Service Book for Hamilton, Barton and Wellington Square, 1835 with (upside down) Book of Banns, listing marriages celebrated 1835-1838.
Envelope #5Cathedral Guild Letters, membership lists, etc. 1890.
Envelope #6Invoices for advertising medical lecture, 1893.
Envelope #7Mothers' Meeting, Fuel Orders, 1902-1907.
Envelope #8Photographs of the Cathedral, Prayer and other Cards, 1926-1932. Account book-lists receipts from Poor Boxes.
Envelope #9Line Plate of Cathedral Interior.