Grace Anglican Church
Grace
159 Mill Street North
Waterdown, Ontario L0R 2H0
Contact:
Grace
Box 727
Waterdown, Ontario L0R 2H0
Phone: 905.689.6715
Grace Anglican Church (Waterdown, Ont.) fonds. -- 1858-2006. -- 28 cm of textual records.
In 1850 Rev. A.P. Morris began conducting services in the township hall at Waterdown. In 1860 a small building was erected but because of the growing congregation it had to be enlarged five years later. Other renovations followed. For a more complete history see Grace Church ... One Hundred Years of Growth.
The fonds consists of parish registers containing statistical records, services, Vestry and Men's Club minutes and other documents. Most of the fonds has been microfilmed. The fonds also contains some statistical records for St. John's Church (Burlington, Ont.). Researchers should also consult the St. Christopher's Church (Burlington, Ont.) fonds.
Title based on content of fonds.
Fonds on deposit. Ownership of the fonds resides with Grace 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.
Historical Notes
In 1847 Frederich Feilde and Elizabeth Gildart Feilde issued a deed of approximately two acres of land on the north side of the village of Waterdown, to be used for the purpose of a church site, rectory, and cemetery. Evidently at that time occasional services were held, but it wasn't until 1850 that the Rev. A.P. Morris, Headmaster of the Grammar School, Hamilton, began conducting services in the Township Hall. These intermittent services continued for ten years when the Reverend G.N. Higginson was appointed first incumbent of the parish.
In 1860 a small building was erected for worship, but five years later it had to be enlarged as the congregation grew. During the incumbency of the third Rector, the Rev. Stewart Houston, Lowville was linked with Waterdown. This arrangement continued until 1870, when Lowville ceased to be part of the parish, and St. Matthew's, Aldershot, and Grace Church were linked, which arrangement remained until 1922. At that time St. John's, Nelson, became associated with Grace Church which association continued until 1974.
It is evident from early entries in the Parish Register that a large area was ministered to from Waterdown. Names of the following places appear: Strabane; Rockton; Lowville; Nassagaweya; Freelton; Kilbride; Campbellville; Carlise; Greensville; Troy; Beverly; Nelson; West Flamboro; Morriston and Acton.
According to record of the Diocese of Niagara, when the Rev. Stewart Houston was appointed in 1866, he was designated "Incumbent of Grace Church, Waterdown & Missionary parts adjacent".
See Church History in filing cabinet.
I - List of Parish Registers
| Microfilm Reel |
||
|---|---|---|
| Parish Register A | Baptisms 1858-1929 Confirmations 1890-1908 *Marriages 1859-1878, 1887-1928 Burials 1858-1929 |
246 |
| Parish Register B *Marriages | 1867-1888 | 246 |
| Parish Register C | Baptisms 1929-1951 Confirmations 1924-1963 Marriages 1929-1953 Burials 1930-1961 |
246 |
| Parish Register D | Services 1903-1925 | 256 |
| Parish Register E | Services 1926-1950 | 256 |
| *NOTE: It would seem that when the Rev. Stewart Houston became Incumbent of the Parish, he entered the marriages in Parish Register A, but also started Parish Register B in which he entered marriages only. He might have intended this to be his own "Marriage Book". However, when the Rev. J. Francis succeeded him, he only entered the marriages in Parish Register B. There are no marriages entered in Parish Register A between August 28 1878 and November 30 1887. Marriages were again entered in Parish Register A from November 30 1887 to November 21 1928. Register B was no longer used. | ||
| Parish Register F | Baptisms 1951-1961 | 315 |
| Parish Register G | Baptisms 1961-1970 | 315 |
| Parish Register H | Marriages 1954-1991 | 315 |
| Parish Register I | Vestry Minutes 1859-1941 | 315 |
| Parish Register J | Men's Club Minutes 1953-1968 | 315 |
| Envelope #1 | Loose Material from Register J |
not filmed |
| Parish Register K | Marriages 1991-2001 | 409 |
| Parish Register L | Marriages 2001-2006 | 409 |
| Parish Register M | Burials 1962-2001 | 409 |
| Parish Register N | Burials or Cremations 2002-2005 | 409 |
III - Index of Statistical Records
a) Baptisms
| Microfilm Reel |
||
|---|---|---|
| June 1858-May 1929 | Parish Register A | 246 |
| Oct. 1929-May 1951 | Parish Register C | 246 |
| NOTE: Parish Register A is that of Waterdown and include only Waterdown entries. | ||
| Note: Parish Register C is designated that of Grace Church, Waterdown, and St. John's, Nelson. It therefore records Baptisms from both congregations. | ||
| 1951-1961 | Parish Register F | 315 |
| 1961-1970 | Parish Register G | 315 |
b) Confirmations
| Microfilm Reel |
||
|---|---|---|
| Apr. 1 1890 Apr. 29 1892 Apr. 29 1894 Nov. 8 1896 May 26 1899 Oct. 18 1908 Mar. 27 1917 |
Parish Register A
There being no section in the register |
246 |
| 1924, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1932, 1934, 1936*, 1936, 1938, 1941, 1943, 1945, 1947, 1959, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1963 |
Parish Register C *All Confirmation services were held at Grace Church, Waterdown, with the exception of one at St. John's, Nelson (May 5 1936). Occasionally one or two candidates for Confirmation were presented in another Church in the Diocese, likely for the convenience of time. However, they are recorded in the Register. |
246
|
c) Marriages
| Microfilm Reel |
||
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 14 1859-Aug. 28 1878 | Parish Register A Pgs. 1-30 (Marriage Section) |
246 |
| Dec. 16 1878-Sept. 19 1888 | Parish Register B Pgs. 5-8 |
246 |
| Nov. 30 1887-Nov. 21 1928 | Parish Register A Pgs. 31-57 (Marriage Section) |
246 |
| Mar. 21 1867-Sept. 19 1888* | Parish Register B Pgs. 1-8 |
246 |
| Oct. 12 1929-Dec. 5 1953 | Parish Register C Pgs. 1-95 (Marriage Section) |
246 |
| 1954-1991 | Parish Register H | 315 |
|
*NOTE: Marriages from March 21 1867 to August 28 1878 are recorded in both Register A and Register B. However, there are four marriages in Register B not recorded in Register A: Oliver Best & Eliza Harrison July 2 1868 ; John Sprout & Elizabeth Brown Oct. 26 1870 ;Vickers Henry Peart and Sarah Chisholm Feb. 22 1871 ;William H. Falls & Emily Townsend Apr. 10 1871 |
||
| 1991-2001 | Parish Register K | 409 |
| 2001-2006 | Parish Register L | 409 |
| c) Burials | ||
| June 28 1858-Sept. 1929 | Parish Register A | 246 |
|
Apr. 1 1930-Nov. 29 1961 |
Parish Register C | 246 |
| 1962-2001 | Parish Register M | 409 |
| 2002-2005 | Parish Register N | 409 |
| II Other Records | ||
| a) Service Registers | ||
| Parish Register D | Services 1903-1925 | 256 |
| Parish Register E | Services 1926-1950 | 256 |
| b) Soldiers at the Front, Waterdown The following names are listed on the very back page of Parish Register A:
|
Thomas Flintoft Robert Buchan George Taylor Willie Harrison Clifford Nicholson |
246 |
| c) Vestry Minutes | ||
| Parish Register I | Vestry Minutes 1859-1941 | 315 |
d) Men's Club Minutes
| Microfilm Reel |
||
|---|---|---|
| Parish Register J | Minutes of Meetings 1953-1968 |
315 |
