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A Brief History of St Paul's from 1993 
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Rector - Rev'd Mark
Gladding
Honourary Assistant - Venerable Kenneth
Cardwell
Honourary Assistant - Rev'd Canon David
Thomas
Deacon - Rev. Roderick
McDowell
Music Director & Organist - Mrs.
Sarah Cardwell
Wardens
Rectors - Sharon
Insley
Deputy Rectors - Jonathan George
Peoples -
Frances
Blair
Deputy Peoples - Beverly Ashey
St Paul's Anglican Church - A
brief History
St. Paul's was founded in 1821
when the land was purchased from William Smith of the Village of Waterloo
as the site of the future church. However, the actual beginning of the
parish could be dated from 1792 when the Reverend Robert Addison came on
horseback from Niagara-on-the-Lake to hold worship services in the homes of
settlers living at the mouth of the Niagara River.
The first Rector of the established parish, Reverend John Anderson, was also
chaplain of the Garrison stationed at the Fort, and succeeding rectors have
held this same office in the Fort Erie Branch of the Canadian Legion to
this day.
The foundation stones for the first church, erected in 1824, were obtained
from the demolished Fort at the instigation of Colonel James Kerby, and
this small frame structure served the parish for more than fifty years. The
first stone church, opened for services in July of 1881, was destroyed by
an explosion and fire on Ash Wednesday in 1892, to be replaced by the
present building of similar design, on the same site.
The large parish centre, adjoining the church building, was opened in May
of 1984, the fulfillment of a dream to have all church activities under one
roof.
The history of St. Paul's is interwoven with the history of Fort Erie.
Inscribed on memorial plates throughout the church, and on gravestones in
the church yard, are names of many who helped write the history of both the
parish and the town. Many of their descendants still worship within these
walls. Thus it stands not only as a treasured memorial, but also a symbol
of hope for the future.
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