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St. Saviours Brock
Memorial Church
in Queenston is
"one-of-a-kind"
By Vaughan Douglas
Niagara Farmers' Monthly
The role churches have played in the development of our country has
not been as clearly defined as has that of armed conflicts. This is
especially the case in Niagara with the War of 1812. That conflict
provided Canada with a hero whose name has influenced just about
every aspect of Niagara's growth through the years. The name Brock is
just as familiar to Niagarans as that of Niagara Falls. The history books
are full of the happenings and consequences of that famous conflict
between the United States and what was then the British Colonies of
Upper and Lower Canada.
What has not been disclosed, to any extent, is how those early churches
were formed and their influence on the growth of the community. The
early settlers in Niagara were well aware of the need to maintain their
particular religious beliefs and the part their church had, not only in the
development, but often the survival of their society. A case in point is the
village of Queenston and the Anglican, St. Saviours Brock Memorial
Church. How that church came about is unique. To fully appreciate the
beginnings and how it evolved we should go back to those early years.
Because of its location on the west side of the Niagara River, beneath
the escarpment and at one end of the portage around Niagara Falls, the
village was first known as West Landing. In 1790 the name was
changed to Queenston. Early records suggest the name probably
stemmed from Queen Charlotte wife of King George III.
As the story begins, by 1788 a group of United Empire Loyalists formed a
church congregation in Queenston consisting of what was termed a
strange mix of denominations and beliefs. They were served by various
missionaries but built a church on a parcel of land near the present York
Road and the Niagara Parkway.
Many changes were in the offing for that early congregation and their
church. The Military had a major role to play. In 1820 the Rev. Mr. Brook
Bridge Stevens, a military chaplain at Fort George at
Niagara-on-the-Lake, took over the pastoral care of the congregation. It
was a strange situation. A building finished but no decision as to what
denomination the church should be.
Records suggest there was considerable controversy. The Rev. Stevens
offered his help and an answer was found. The church became
Episcopalian, or Anglican, was named St. Stevens and became fully
united before Rev. Stevens left in 1821. He had served without pay and
also had presented the church with a silver chalice and paten dated
1761 for communion service.
In 1830 the church was struck by lightning and was pretty well
demolished. The remains are now buried beneath the roadway. There
was some doubt as to the legality of the land deed so the church was
not rebuilt.
For forty years the congregation were without a church home. They met
for several years in the Methodist Chapel, which had been built in 1786.
When that church needed more space the St. Stevens congregation met
in a stone barn or in a private home for the balance of the forty years.
The congregation kept their spirits up and were encouraged by a gift in
1848 of a Bible and Prayer Book from the Society for the Propagation of
Christian Knowledge, in England. These were preserved and have been
on display in a glass case in St. Saviours.
In 1870 plans were made to build another church. Two members of the
congregation were driving forces behind these efforts. It is at this time
the name of Brock emerges. Major-General Sir Isaac Brock's family, living
in Guernsey, was contacted and as records indicate were unable to send
money but gave 200 acres of land to the church to use as the
congregation saw fit. Records suggest that the actual receiving and
disposition of this land is unclear, the correspondence about the initial
offer still exists. A brief history of St. Saviours reveals that three lots of
land were donated by local church members and friends.
With deeds to the donated land secure, the present church building,
begun in 1877, was completed in two years. Much of the labour was
given as a gift. Cost of the new church was $2,542.92. The building is
constructed of local limestone and is an exact copy of a Sir Christopher
Wren church in England.
The name of the church was renamed to St. Saviours Brock Memorial and
is thought to be the only Anglican Church in the world bearing the name
of a layman, who also was a warrior.
It has been noted in St. Saviours' history that when St. Mark's Anglican
church in Niagara-on-the-Lake installed new chimes, they presented
their old bell to the Queenston church. This is believed to be the second
oldest church bell in Canada, superseded only by the Mohawk church
bell in Brantford, on the Six Nations Indian Reserve.
Connection to the military continued. On Nov. 2, 1879, the Right
Reverend Thomas Brock Fuller, Godson of Major General Sir Isaac Brock,
and the first Bishop of Niagara, formally dedicated the new church. Holy
Communion, Holy Baptism and Holy Confirmation were administered that
day., In 1881 a magnificent memorial stained glass window,
commemorating Major General Sir Isaac Brock, was installed above the
altar. This was paid for by the York Pioneers, a regiment closely
connected with General Brock, and given in his memory.
(Note: Appreciation is given for historical background of St. Saviours,
prepared several years ago, by Mrs. Leslie Cunningham and Mrs. John
Dawson.)
Copyright ©2000, Niagara Farmers' Monthly
Memorial Church
in Queenston is
"one-of-a-kind"
By Vaughan Douglas
Niagara Farmers' Monthly
The role churches have played in the development of our country has
not been as clearly defined as has that of armed conflicts. This is
especially the case in Niagara with the War of 1812. That conflict
provided Canada with a hero whose name has influenced just about
every aspect of Niagara's growth through the years. The name Brock is
just as familiar to Niagarans as that of Niagara Falls. The history books
are full of the happenings and consequences of that famous conflict
between the United States and what was then the British Colonies of
Upper and Lower Canada.
What has not been disclosed, to any extent, is how those early churches
were formed and their influence on the growth of the community. The
early settlers in Niagara were well aware of the need to maintain their
particular religious beliefs and the part their church had, not only in the
development, but often the survival of their society. A case in point is the
village of Queenston and the Anglican, St. Saviours Brock Memorial
Church. How that church came about is unique. To fully appreciate the
beginnings and how it evolved we should go back to those early years.
Because of its location on the west side of the Niagara River, beneath
the escarpment and at one end of the portage around Niagara Falls, the
village was first known as West Landing. In 1790 the name was
changed to Queenston. Early records suggest the name probably
stemmed from Queen Charlotte wife of King George III.
As the story begins, by 1788 a group of United Empire Loyalists formed a
church congregation in Queenston consisting of what was termed a
strange mix of denominations and beliefs. They were served by various
missionaries but built a church on a parcel of land near the present York
Road and the Niagara Parkway.
Many changes were in the offing for that early congregation and their
church. The Military had a major role to play. In 1820 the Rev. Mr. Brook
Bridge Stevens, a military chaplain at Fort George at
Niagara-on-the-Lake, took over the pastoral care of the congregation. It
was a strange situation. A building finished but no decision as to what
denomination the church should be.
Records suggest there was considerable controversy. The Rev. Stevens
offered his help and an answer was found. The church became
Episcopalian, or Anglican, was named St. Stevens and became fully
united before Rev. Stevens left in 1821. He had served without pay and
also had presented the church with a silver chalice and paten dated
1761 for communion service.
In 1830 the church was struck by lightning and was pretty well
demolished. The remains are now buried beneath the roadway. There
was some doubt as to the legality of the land deed so the church was
not rebuilt.
For forty years the congregation were without a church home. They met
for several years in the Methodist Chapel, which had been built in 1786.
When that church needed more space the St. Stevens congregation met
in a stone barn or in a private home for the balance of the forty years.
The congregation kept their spirits up and were encouraged by a gift in
1848 of a Bible and Prayer Book from the Society for the Propagation of
Christian Knowledge, in England. These were preserved and have been
on display in a glass case in St. Saviours.
In 1870 plans were made to build another church. Two members of the
congregation were driving forces behind these efforts. It is at this time
the name of Brock emerges. Major-General Sir Isaac Brock's family, living
in Guernsey, was contacted and as records indicate were unable to send
money but gave 200 acres of land to the church to use as the
congregation saw fit. Records suggest that the actual receiving and
disposition of this land is unclear, the correspondence about the initial
offer still exists. A brief history of St. Saviours reveals that three lots of
land were donated by local church members and friends.
With deeds to the donated land secure, the present church building,
begun in 1877, was completed in two years. Much of the labour was
given as a gift. Cost of the new church was $2,542.92. The building is
constructed of local limestone and is an exact copy of a Sir Christopher
Wren church in England.
The name of the church was renamed to St. Saviours Brock Memorial and
is thought to be the only Anglican Church in the world bearing the name
of a layman, who also was a warrior.
It has been noted in St. Saviours' history that when St. Mark's Anglican
church in Niagara-on-the-Lake installed new chimes, they presented
their old bell to the Queenston church. This is believed to be the second
oldest church bell in Canada, superseded only by the Mohawk church
bell in Brantford, on the Six Nations Indian Reserve.
Connection to the military continued. On Nov. 2, 1879, the Right
Reverend Thomas Brock Fuller, Godson of Major General Sir Isaac Brock,
and the first Bishop of Niagara, formally dedicated the new church. Holy
Communion, Holy Baptism and Holy Confirmation were administered that
day., In 1881 a magnificent memorial stained glass window,
commemorating Major General Sir Isaac Brock, was installed above the
altar. This was paid for by the York Pioneers, a regiment closely
connected with General Brock, and given in his memory.
(Note: Appreciation is given for historical background of St. Saviours,
prepared several years ago, by Mrs. Leslie Cunningham and Mrs. John
Dawson.)
Copyright ©2000, Niagara Farmers' Monthly