A fire ravaged St Nicholas Birch Cliff Anglican Church in 1916. Only the baptismal font and a piano survived. This wasn’t the end though. It was a new beginning.
St Nicholas Birch Cliff Anglican Church stands before you a testament to faith resilience and community spirit. Established in 1912 as a mission church it began humbly in a stable. The village of Birch Cliff needed a place to gather. Rev Charles Luce found a generous offer. George Davis provided his stable. The name St Nicholas honoured Rev Luce’s father’s parish in England. Bishop James Sweeney dedicated the site. Sixty members formed the initial congregation.
Birch Cliff grew rapidly in 1912. Families emigrated from the UK. The tiny church expanded costing 1500. Parishioners gifted oak pews a carved stone baptismal font and a lectern Bible. The expanded church opened on October 5 1914.
Tragedy struck. The fire destroyed the church. A new location was chosen. Harold Carter a local Gothic architect designed the new brick building. He became an active member. The three stained glass windows behind the altar are a gift from the Carter family.
The cornerstone was laid on July 22 1916. Many dignitaries attended including the Governor General of Canada and the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. Services were held under a marquee tent during construction. The new church was dedicated on May 29 1917. The pulpit came from St Nicholas Gloucester England. The altar was a gift from St Paul’s Bloor Street.
Rev Charles Luce resigned in 1919 returning to England. Rev WJ Taylor arrived in 1920. He established a parish library. Sunday was a busy day for students exchanging books. The church’s growth continued. By 1923 membership reached 380. The basement hall was extended. This would become the foundation for the church’s later expansion in 1953.
Another fire almost destroyed the east side of the parish hall. The organ was damaged. The fire was arson. Fortunately insurance covered the damage. Sunday school enrollment swelled to over 500 in the 1930s. In the 1940s a fundraising group was established to pay off the mortgage. Forty feet of land was purchased as a war memorial.
The final phase of construction finished in 1953. Stained glass memorial windows were added. In 1993 the organ loft was destroyed by a water leak. An electronic organ replaced the pipe organ. The organ loft became the Memorial Room in 1995. Nine stained glass windows were dedicated. An elevator was installed.
St Nicholas Birch Cliff Anglican Church celebrated its 85th anniversary in 1997 and its 100th in 2012. This church is more than a building. It’s a living testament to enduring faith community and overcoming adversity. It’s a cornerstone of Birch Cliff’s history.