St. George's Church was started in 1832 in St. George's Square in Downtown Guelph. Following a fire, it was re-located to its current location on the banks of the Speed River. Our current church building was built in 1873. We have been serving Guelph since 1832.
1832
Rev. Arthur Palmer becomes the first rector.
1833
First church, a wooden structure, built on St. George’s Square.
1851
Second church, a stone structure, built on St. George’s Square.
1867
First rector appointed Archdeacon of Toronto.
1873
Third and present church, designed by Henry Langley, opened for worship on April 20.
1875
Archdeacon Alexander Dixon appointed rector.
1879
Rectory built.
1900
Rev. Gilbert F. Davidson appointed curate-in-charge.
1907
Archdeacon Gilbert F. Davidson appointed rector.
1918
Archdeacon George F. Scovil appointed rector.
1926
Carillon with 23 bells, the clock, and the present organ installed.
1943
Canon Stuart H. Brownlee appointed rector.
1949
Archdeacon Stanley A. Kirk appointed rector.
1951
Cloister built; rectory converted to offices & rectory apartment.
1959
New parish hall and memorial chapel completed.
1967
Archdeacon William J. Robinson appointed rector.
1967
Archdeacon William J. Robinson appointed rector.
1970
Archdeacon William J. Robinson consecrated Bishop of Ottawa.
1970
Archdeacon Clarence M. Mitchell appointed rector.
1980
Archdeacon Clarence M. Mitchell consecrated Suffragan Bishop of Niagara.
1980
Archdeacon Peter B. Moore appointed rector.
1982
Parish celebrated 150th Anniversary.
1985
Pews restored.
1986/87
Exterior of the church and the rectory were repainted.
1991
New parish hall named “Mitchell Hall” in honour of Bishop Clarence Mitchell on his retirement.
1992
Archdeacon Thomas M. Greene appointed rector.
1993
Palmer stained glass window repaired; organ console rebuilt.
1995
Increased accessibility to services and building completed.
1997
Restoration of the stained glass windows completed.
1997
Parish celebrated 165th anniversary.
1998
Interior church restoration completed.
2000
Old parish hall named “Palmer Hall” in honour of the first rector, Archdeacon Arthur Palmer.
2000
Work room was named in honour of Florence MacKinnon, a devoted worker in the field of Christian education of young people.
2006
The carillon – one of only eleven such instruments in Canada – restored. 13 bells were added to make it a 3-octave instrument.
2007
Parish celebrated 175th Anniversary.
2007
Anniversary Window installed above the cloister door.
2008
Slate roof on the church replaced & restored to 1873 appearance.
2009
Reverend Ralph Blackman appointed rector.
2016
Heating plant replaced; organ upgraded to digital.
2017
Granted our own Coat of Arms
2017
Episode of Murdock Mysteries filmed at St. George's
2020
First online services broadcast on March 15, due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022
Celebrated our 190th Anniversary
2022
The Rev. Victor Kischak appointed Rector