Imagine officers of a British army regiment playing cricket beside a newly built church. That was the scene back in 1864, when St Jax Montru00e9al first opened its doors. Back then it was known as St James the Apostle Anglican Church. The open land around it led to the nickname St. Crickets in the Fields.
St Jax Montru00e9al stands at 1439 Sainte-Catherine Street West. This Anglican church has a rich history filled with changes. Over the years, it has been altered expanded restored and even partly demolished.
A rectory was built next door in 1868. It was torn down in 1937. A small chapel was added in 1896. Shifting foundations caused it to be rebuilt in 1956. The Parish Hall was built behind the rectory in 1924. The nave was lengthened towards Sainte-Catherine Street in 1877. The north transept was built in 1895.
Look up at the major window over the altar. It depicts the Ascension and honors Canon Allan P. Shatford. He served as the second Rector of St James the Apostle from 1911 to 1935.
In 2015, the parish of St. James the Apostle was dissolved. A new church plant supported by Holy Trinity Brompton was installed in 2016. Today St Jax Montru00e9al is a mission parish. It is supported by the Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
St. James the Apostle had strong ties with the Victoria Rifles of Canada. This bond lasted until the regiment disbanded in 1995. The regimental colours now hang inside the church. Tablets commemorate congregation members who served in the two World Wars.
Notice the Gothic Revival architecture of St Jax Montru00e9al. It is built of grey limestone. Take a moment to wander through the church garden. It is open to the public during office hours. Volunteers from Innovation Jeunes recently renovated it.
Inside, thirty-one stained glass windows adorn the church. Four are particularly significant. The center panel depicts St. James. It memorializes Charles Watson Phillips who died in 1853. The panel to the left represents the Centurion. The congregation erected it in memory of Charles’s brother. The panel on the right shows Christ appearing to Mary. It honors Charles’s widow Dame Ann Bain. The Phillips family donated the land for the church. They were generous benefactors.
At the back of the west transept, find a three-paneled window. The center panel shows Jesus Christ as Saviour of the World. The congregation gave it in memory of the Prince Consort. The left panel represents Christ blessing children. It memorializes the Judah family. The right panel depicts Christ in memory of Robert Foster and his wife Margaret Haldane.
The east transept holds a special window. The congregation donated it to honor those who fought in World War I. It is known as the Regimental Window. Various armed services are represented in this remarkable artwork.
St. James the Apostle received a Cross of Nails. It came from Coventry Cathedral in England. The German Luftwaffe destroyed the cathedral during the Coventry Blitz of 1940. The cross hangs on the office wall symbolizing fellowship and the search for Christian relevance.
Today, St Jax Montru00e9al continues to evolve. It strives to be a modern and open-minded space where everyone feels welcome. From its beginnings as St. Crickets in the Fields to its current mission. St Jax Montreal remains a significant landmark in Montreal.