About Christ Church Chatham

Rectors Past To Present With Their Corresponding Dates
The Reverend Richard Pollard 1819-1824	The Reverend Thomas Morley 1827-1835	The Reverend Thomas B. Fuller 1836-1840	The Reverend Charles O. Wiggins 1840-1841	The Reverend William H. Hobson 1842-1849	The Venerable Archdeacon F.W. Sandys 1849-1877	The Reverend Joshua Pitt Lewis 1877-1878
The Reverend Nickolas Henry Martin 1878-1892	The Reverend R.M. McCosh 1892-1907	The Reverend H.T.S. Boyle 1908-1910	The Reverend Canon R.S.W. Howard 1910-1918	The Venerable Archdeacon R.J.M. Perkins 1918-1940	The Venerable Archdeacon R.D. Mess 1940-1954	The Reverend J.N. Doidge 1954-1955
The Reverend Canon R.M. Jones 1955-1973	The Reverend Canon T.D. Wilding 1973-1980	The Reverend Canon A.H. Skirving 1981-1982	The Reverend Kenneth Anderson 1982-1999	The Reverend William Welch 2000-2004	The Venerable Archdeacon Paul Millward 2004-Present

About Christ Church The community of Chatham dates back to 1793 when Lieutenant John Graves Simcoe was exploring the southwestern frontier. The actual construction of residential buildings began in the early 1800's. In 1807,with the help of local parishioners and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, the Reverend Richard Pollard built a small wooden church painted white with a single spire. Its interior was finished with wood lathe and plaster and furnised with a pulpit and reading desk and was named St. Paul's Church. In 1819, the church was built in the northeastern part of the town on Lots 1,2 ,3, and 4 at the intersection of Gaol Street (today's Stanley Avenue) and Ninth Street on the banks of the Thames River. This 3.5 acre site was set aside for the church by order-in-council after being selected by the residents insteadof the church reserve that had been allocated by the government between Second and Third Streets. In Octorber 1820, St. Paul's Church opened its doors becoming the 1st church in Chatham and the 1st Anglican Church in Kent County, serving the local population which included members of the Black community, Aboriginal peoples, European settlers and the British garrison, Second Battalion of Incorporated Militia. On Monday, September 23, 1838, the church and its ajoining church yard was consecrated by the visiting Lord Bishop of Montreal in whose Diocese Chatham then was. The earliest parish records for St. Paul's date from 1829. Sittings were free and by 1833 the congregation averaged 50-100 persons, although the church could hold 200 if necessary. By the 1840's the congregation had outgrown St. Paul's Church and Reverend Francis William Sandys purchased land on the present church site in 1860 for $1482 across from the then Town Market on Wellington Street. The church was completed in 1861 at a cost of $8000. The church was consecrated on August 26, 1861, by Bishop Benjamin Cronyn and on his recommendation was renamed Christ Church. Christ Church was larger than its predecessor, accomodating 300 parishioners. With its spire, arched windows, and wall fenestration, the architecture of the red brick building is English Gothic Revival modelled after the picturesque style of the simple English country church. Although the floorplan of the church was originally T-shaped, a chancel was added in 1960, creating the cruciform floorplan which exists today. The congregation used St. Paul's Church as a mortuary chapel until it was destroyed by fire in 1869. As a continuing congregation Christ Church Chatham is one of the oldest Anglican places of worship between Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Pacific Ocean. We are committed to providing a safe environment that offers a diverse worship experience, ranging from traditional to contemporary appealing to both young and old alike. We strive to maintain a welcoming community where people from all walks of life can come and grow in their spiritual journey, through worship, Christian Education, outreach, social groups and pastoral care. As part of the Diocese of Huron, which is the second largest diocese in the Anglican Church of Canada, Christ Church Chatham is situated in the Archdeaconry of Lambton-Kent, and Deanery of Kent in Southwestern Ontario. Our staff are pleased to answer any questions or inquiries about our services or programs. When the office is closed, please leave a message and your call will be returned as soon as possible.