
| THE HISTORY OF ST. BARNABAS' ANGLICAN CHURCH On August 15, 1926, the St. David's Mission of All Saints' Church held its first service in a classroom of a bungalow schoolhouse (now John Campbell School). Mr. Leonard C. Potter, a student at Huron College, officiated with 12 adults and 2 children. Rent was $5 per Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Phil Thompson were in attendance. The clergy of All Saints' Anglican Church, located in downtown Windsor, headed the services, as the parish was organized as a Mission of All Saints'. In February of 1932, St. David's Parish was formed with The Rev'd William R. Sproule as Rector and the church took over two stores at 1323 Tecumseh Rd. (the Tuson block) in 1934. Bishop Charles Seager presided for Confirmation and 575 attended. The Rev'd Walter Fry (1934- 1938) and The Rev'd Handley Perkins (1938- 1940) led the parish until the new St. Andrew's Church was built and dedicated on January 25, 1940. The church was renamed as the funds to build the church came from the Andrew Jamieson estate. The Rev'd Bruce Martin (1940-1941) and The Rev'd J.D. Gilmour (1941-1951) were Rectors during the war years. The Rectory facing Chilver Rd. was built in 1942 and the new organ was dedicated in St. Andrew's in 1944. In 1947, the Rectory mortgage was burned ($4,000) and the church mortgage was paid in 1950. Bishop George Luxton officiated at Confirmation with 343 people in attendance. The Rev'd J.R. Thompson (1951- 1952) preceded The Rev'd Kenneth Bolton (1953- 1958) in the years of large population growth in South Walkerville. The new St. Barnabas' Church ($300,000) was built in 1955 and dedicated on February 18, 1956 with The Rt. Rev'd William A. Townshend, 21 clergy and 667 people in the church. The Rectory at 2041 Verdun was purchased in 1964 and Beverley Billings did the painting in St. Barnabas' Hall, illustrating some of the Sunday School members at play. The Rev'd Derwyn D. Jones was the Rector from 1958 to 1966 and was later Diocesan Bishop of Huron (1984-1990). During this time, the last payment was made on the Building Fund (April 1964), and the Consecration of St. Barnabas' occurred on June 7, 1964. |


| Rev'd Jack J. Mennell (1965- 1983). St. Barnabas' Fiftieth Anniversary in 1976 saw a parade from the John Campbell School site to the present church. The present electronic organ was installed in 1978. The Rev'd Canon Dennis B. Hayden was Rector from 1983 to 1987. A first set of the Book of Alternative Services was presented for use in the Chapel in memory of Lester Patterson in 1987. The Rev'd William J. Bradley was Rector from 1988 until May 31, 2001. In 1988 a complete set of vestments in the colours of the church year were received as memorial gifts. The Rev'd Lance Smith was Rector from November 2001 until December 31, 2005. The parish hall was named Patterson Hall, in memory of Lester Patterson during this time. As well, St. Peter's Anglican Church joined the St. Barnabas' church family, bringing a variety of new parishioner's as well as their altar and other vestments. From 2006 to 2007, The Rev'd Canon John McIllmurray, coming out of retirement, was Rector while the Parish searched for a new minister. In 2007, The Rev'd Colin Pearce arrived at St. Barnabas' and continues as our present Rector. |




