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From 1825 until 1853, the Stone Church
in uptown Saint John was served by the rectory of Trinity Church and his curate
as both Churches were in the Parish of Saint John.
Reverend Armstrong was soon to prove himself a very ardent and zealous worker as he was primarily responsible for the formation of St. Mary's Church.
In 1854, Reverend Armstrong organized the nucleus of a congregation and began to hold worship services in the Orange Hall on Brussel Street. Accommodations in the hall were very uncomfortable. After a few years, however, the mission proved too small for the congregation and it was decided to erect a Church.
Construction of St. Mary's was begun on September 7, 1860 with the laying of the cornerstone by Chief Justice Parker of the NB Supreme Court, with an appropriate religious service. The Church was completed in the duration of a few months following upon being free of debt, was consecrated at St. Mary's Chapel-of-Ease by The Right Reverend John Medly, first Bishop of Fredericton on Ascension day, May 9, 1861.
The cost of the structure was $2300, which was raised by subscription. From the outset, St. Mary's was built as a "free church." The interior of the Church remained largely unfinished and was reported to have a seating capacity of 400.
Early in the morning of November 28, 1881, tragedy struck St. Mary's. The Sunday school hall which had been built in 1886, was destroyed by fire. A new Sunday school hall was officially opened on September 24, 1885, with special services.
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St. Bartholomew's Church was built in 1917. This photo gives a good view of the surrounding area before residential development took place in the Forest Hills area. |
In December, 1931, St. Mary's vestry was approached by the Commissioners of the General Hospital who expressed an interest in purchasing the rectory. The rectory was situated next door to the Church on the uphill side. The Hospital Board offered to pay $6200 cash for the rectory, take over the remaining $1800 of the mortgage and allow the rector to live there rent free until 1933. This was a most generous offer and was accepted as the Church was in need of extensive repairs.
| On September 7, 1967, Bishop O'Neil announced the amalgamation of the Parishes of St. Mary's and Coldbrook to be effective October 1. St. Mary's was filled to near capacity on Wednesday, September 27, 1867 for the deconsecration service. Bishop A. H. O'Neil presided over the proceedings. The sadness of the occasion filled the air, with emotion showing on the faces of many, including Bishop O'Neil and Reverend Donald Brown. The amalgamation became effective October 1, 1967 with the Reverend Brown becoming the first rector of the new St. Mary and St. Bartholomew's Church. |
) The Deconsecration service for St. Mary's September 27, 1967. |
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