St. George's Anglican Church, Jackson's Point

St. George's Anglican Church, Jackson's Point

Attractions

By: Rebecca Reid

Amongst a myriad of trees at a beautiful lakeside, sits a charming chapel complete with bell and lychgate, teeming in history.

St. George’s Anglican Church, erected in 1877, was the area’s first formal place of worship. This was the same year that the railroad came to Jackson’s Point, increasing the number of seasonal visitors to “Ontario’s First Cottage Country” as well as the need for a place to hold summer services.

Susan Sibbald, an illustrious pioneer of the growing community, became a strong advocate for the construction of the parish. Ms. Sibbald, who had emigrated from Scotland in the 1830s, owned the manor Eidon Hall and many surrounding acres adjacent to the church, now known as Sibbald Point Provincial Park. She and neighbour John Comer donated the land to house the structure. Many others
played a role in St. George’s inception including building designer, Thomas Mossington, William and James Bourchier, who contributed lumber, and Susan Sibbald’s sons who built the church with hand cut stones.

Each stone was thoroughly inspected in order to prevent any with iron from being used in the architecture. However a few did manage to elude the Sibbald brothers as rust stains are apparent on one part of the structure.

St. George’s exquisite stained glass windows were created by the daughters of John Graves Simcoe - the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada.

On the grounds surrounding the church is the burial ground for countless people who had strong ties to the Jackson’s Point area including prominent Canadian authors Stephen Leacock (whose mother had a cottage nearby) and Mazo De La Roche (the Newmarket writer also had a summer home here).

Nearly 150 years later St. George’s is still going strong with both local residents and tourists attending services from the end of April through Thanksgiving, as well as Christmas Day. With its proximity to busy Sibbald Point Provincial Park, the parish employs a Park Chaplain who provides programming and offers spiritual support to patrons and staff.

Musical concerts are also held each summer.

St. George’s Anglican Church is located at 408 Hedge Road. For more information call 905-722-3726.

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