History of St George's

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A Brief Historical Sketch In the beginning, the few Church of England members in New Glasgow were shepherded by the clergy of St. James, Pictou until 1851, and later at Christ Church, Albion Mines (now known as Stellarton). The creation of St. George’s Mission Church began on Christmas Day, 1877 with its first services being held in Mechanics Hall, Archimedes Street and conducted by the rector from Albion Mines, the Rev. Dr. Charles Bowman. The congregation comprised a mere handful of people – the Drakes, the Carews, the Prtichards, the Townsends, the Betts, the Thurstons, the Grays – but the establishment of the steelworks and other industrial institutions brought others, and St. George’s flourished. The Rev. Bowman was succeeded by the Rev. D. C. Moore who conducted services regularly in Mechanics Hall until 1882 and, subsequently, in St. George’s Church until 1888. In 1881 construction of a new building commenced and on June 2, 1882 the Rev. George Hodgson of Charlottetown conducted the first services. In 1889 the Rt. Rev. Hibbert Binney, Bishop of Nova Scotia officially opened the original church on the corner of Temperance and Forbes Streets. In 1908 plans were devised to enlarge the church and the present building took shape. The main structure of our church today dates back to 1911. The building was gothic in design and was, according to a local newspaper “The Enterprise” … “in its appearance, appointments and furnishings … cozy, comfortable, strikingly appropriate and inviting to communion and worship”. In 1922 St. George’s purchased land adjacent to the church and construction began on a new church hall to facilitate the various church organizations and the Sunday School. The new hall was officially opened on February 7, 1923. In 1948 St. George’s undertook the widening of the Chancel to accommodate more choir seats and the installation of a new communion rail. In 1952 a new hall, 63 feet by 25 feet, was constructed in the basement of the church. The vestibule of the church was extended and stairs complete with handrail, formed the main entrance.