The Church of the Advent

1890

The Reverend Jacob Ellegood, rector of the Church of St. James the Apostle, having decided to found a Chapel of ease for those living in the West of this parish, held the first service in the house at 3 Staynor Avenue, Westmount, on Passion Sunday 23^rd March, 1890. The service was Evensong at 7 o’clock, when he was assisted by Owsley Robert Rowley. Sunday School was held there in the afternoon, starting the next Sunday.

1892

Steps were taken immediately to erect a Church building, at the corner of Wood and Western [now de Maisonneuve]. The City of Westmount was then the Town of Côte Saint-Antoine. The opening service was held on Advent Sunday, 27^th November, 1892. The service was Mattins, which was sung at 11 o’clock. The service was conducted by the Rev. Charles Cameron Waller, the Assistant at St. James the Apostle, while Canon Ellegood preached the sermon on the text “This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven” (Genesis 28, 17). The organist at this first service was Miss Annie Kirby and the choirmaster Allan MacDuff. Not long after, they got married.

The organ was loaned by the Rev. Edmund Wood, Rector of the Church of St. John the Evangelist. The organ blower was one of the choirboys, John Harrison. The head choirboy was Norman Holland, who had kept his 12^th birthday just one week before. Another of the original choirboys was Herbert Matley, who earned the reputation of never missing a service or a practice. Another was Stuart McDougall, now [in 1950] the Hon. Mr. Justice McDougall. Then there were the two Nowers brothers and the three MacLagan brothers.

At Evensong, which was held at 7 o’clock, the Rev. George Abbott-Smith took the office, the Ven. Lewis Evans, archdeacon of Iberville, preached the sermon and George Hague read the lessons.

On the 2^nd Sunday in Advent, the Right Rev. William Bennett Bond paid his first visit to the Church and preached at the Mattins. He declared that seats were to be free and unappropriated for ever.

The first Vestry Meeting was held on Monday, 19^th December, Canon Ellegood being the chair. George Durnford was appointed Rector’s warden and Frazer Crierie was elected People’s Warden. The first Synod delegates were George Hague and Frederick Flower. It was moved by George Hague, seconded by Frazer Crierie and carried that this Chapel of ease be called the Church of the Advent. The debt on the building amounted to $1000.

It is an indication of the churchmanship of 60 years ago [i.e. 1892] that the first celebration of Holy Communion did not take place till Christmas Day at 11 o’clock. The Rev. Meredith Ogden Smith was the celebrant and the Rev. Charles Cameron Waller preached the sermon. There were only 19 present. Mr. Waller had been appointed Priest in charge.

1893

One of the first gifts in the following year consisted of a Holy table and a Paten and Chalice, received from J.W. Marling.

1894

From April to October the Rev. Meredith Ogden Smith was Priest in charge. He was succeeded by the Rev. Henry Kittson, who introduced a celebration of Holy Communion every Sunday at 8 o’clock.

1896

The Right Rev. William Bennett Bond issued a decree, making The Advent a separate parish, bounded on the East by Fort Street, on the South by Dorchester street [now René Lévesque Blvd in the borough of Ville-Marie], on the West by Greene Avenue and on the North by the City Limits.

The chancel and all its appointments were added to the Church as a gift from the Rev. Henry Kittson in memory of his wife, who died on 9^th June, 1892.

The bell was bought from the offerings of the Sunday School at a cost of $40. It bore the inscription: “Meneely Bell Company, TROY, N.Y., A.D.1896.”

Daily Mattins and Evensong at 10 o’clock and 5 o’clock were introduced in the month of October.

1897

The Rev. Henry Kittson was formally instituted and inducted as first Rector of the Parish by the Bishop on 16^th February, 1897.

The South transept and organ chamber were added during the Summer. Ground was broken in the morning of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee (22^nd June). At the same time a contract for a new pipe organ was awarded to the Casavant firm at Saint-Hyacinthe, at the cost of $2000. The organ was used for the first time in September, when an organ recital was given by William Reed. The organ was paid for by the end of 1899.

1899

There were nearly 300 communicants at Easter. The services of the Rev. Alexander John Doull as Assistant Priest were secured; he had been Assistant at Leeds Parish church.

1900

The Altar, Reredos, Choir Stalls and Font were dedicated. A Sung Eucharist once a month was introduced. The Font was in memory of John Douglas Rogers, born 1897, died 1899.

1901

Mr. Doull was appointed Rector, his stipend being $1200. He stated that there were 190 families on the roll. William Ramsay Spence was now the organist; he died at Perth, Ontario, on 26^th July, 1946, at the age of 87 years, and was buried from The Advent.

1910

When Mr. Doull resigned as Rector, the Rev. Henry Archer Collins, who had been the Assistant, became the Priest in charge till the new Rector was appointed.

Rev. Henry Marwood Little became the third rector of the Parish, in succession to Mr. Doull who was appointed Dean of British Columbia. He became the first Bishop of Kootenay in 1915.

1913

The Rectory at 4175 Western Avenue [now de Maisonneuve Blvd.] was bought for $12 000.

1914

The Eagle lectern was given in memory of Florence Berry, born 1862, died 1912.

1924

The Parish Hall was built. The original mortgage amounted to $7500; this was gradually paid off. At last, the mortgage was burnt on 19^th September, 1950 by Mrs. Eva Emily Cope, who had sponsored the financing of the Hall for many years. Father Little gave the address.

1930

The daily Eucharist was introduced, and the Sung Eucharist every Sunday. During the 30 years of Father Little’s pastorate, many gifts were received, including the Pulpit, the Eucharistic Vestments, the Chancel and the processional cross of Christ the King. Many of these were his own personal gifts, as was also the Altar in the Lady Chapel, which he gave in memory of Gustavus George Nicolls, for 23 years Honorary Assistant Prist. Other gifts included the Aumbry and Sanctuary Lamp, and the White Cope.

1935

Rev. Frederick Patrick Clark was Deacon Assistant; in 1948, he became the 3^rd Bishop of Kootenay. Thus it was that two of The Advent clergy were enthroned in the See of Kootenay.

1940

Father Little retired as Rector, and the Rev. Sydenham Bagg Lindsay, who had been Assistant Priest since 1936, was appointed the 4^th Rector by the Right Rev. Arthur Carlisle, Bishop of Montreal.

1941

The Church was wired anew for improved electric lighting. The control system for this was done in memory of Edith Amy Burt, wife of Father Little, by their son.

The Altar Cross in the Lady Chapel was dedicated in memory of Thomas Everett, Priest, who died A.D.1906, and of his wife, Mary Whitwell, who died A.D. 1928.

1942

On 29^th April, the Right Rev. W.H. Moorhead, Bishop of Fredericton, dedicated a silver Flagon in memory of Arthur Richard Doble, and the lectern in the Lady Chapel in memory of Lilian Ellegood Crawford, a devoted member of the congregation for many years, who bequested a substantial endowment for the upkeep of the Parish.

On the 3^rd Sunday after Trinity (21^st June), the Right Rev. Lennox Williams dedicated the Chancel Window representing St. Andrew and St. George, in memory of Caroline Maria Drummond, wife of Peter Patterson Hall, who was for 16 years Dominion President of the M.S.C.C. Woman’s Auxiliary.

The Golden Jubilee of the first service of the Church was observed with much festivity, concluding with the Solemn Te Deum on Advent Sunday, when Father Little celebrated the Holy Communion at 8 o’clock and preached at the Sung Eucharist. The Church was thoroughly repaired and newly decorated.

On St. John the Evangelist’s Day, the Carol Service of Nine Lessons was given for the first time. This meant the introduction of incense in our public worship. Incense was used at the Holy Eucharist for the first time on Easter Day, 1943.

1944

The organ was completely overhauled and renovated as a memorial and a thank-offering. It was used for the first time at the midnight Eucharist on Christmas day.

Our choristers are affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music, and our servers to the Guild Servants of the Sanctuary.

From time to time, as occasion offers, there is a Solemn Administration of Holy Baptism, with servers and choristers on duty, and the whole congregation are invited to be present.

Quiet Days, Retreats and Missions are held for the deepening and strengthening of the Spiritual Life.

Saturday night is the usual time for hearing confessions; but other times, that may be more convenient, are arranged.

On III Epiphany, the Font Candle was dedicated in memory of a former choirboy, William Robert Merrifield (1897-1913). It was the gift of his mother.

A Red Cope was given in memory of Mary Bruce Murray (1892-1938) by her son; it was worn for the first time by the Right Rev. J.H. Dixon, bishop of Montreal. The Screen in the Lady Chapel is likewise a memorial to her, and was dedicated by the Rector on XIV Trinity, 1944.

1945

The largest congregation ever to assemble in the Church of the Advent was on Septuagesima, 1945, when Solemn Evensong was conducted by a group of the choristers and servers. The rector pronounced the Absolution and the Benediction, which only a Priest may do.

On I Trinity (3^rd June), a silver PYX, for reserving the Blessed Sacrament in both kinds, was dedicated in memory of Georgiana Mousley.

In September, Frederick Gordon Phillips resigned as our organist and choirmaster, after 14 years of splendid work. He was succeeded by Lorne Wemyss West.

1946

On Low Sunday, we had our Easter Carol Service for the first time. It was adapted from a form drawn up by the Liturgical Scholar Percy Dearmer.

The first Camp and Summer School for our choirboys was organised and directed by Lorne West. It was held at Dunham.

On the 17^th Sunday after Trinity, a second Processional Cross was dedicated, the gift of Arthur Innes Pocock, in memory of his brother Edgar and his sister Cicely, both killed on active service.

In the Octave of All Saints the new church bell was erected in memory of Gordon and Isabel Brock. It is more than 200 years old and was cast in the Causard  foundries at Colmar, Alsace (France). As it was then blessed and baptised, there could be no repetition of this, and so it was erected with special prayer. The old bell was given to St. Simon’s church.

1949

On the 10^th Sunday after Trinity, the two Sanctuary windows, representing the Blessed Virgin Mother and St. John the Divine, were dedicated by the Rector, in memory of Adolphus Cecil Jones, Margaret Narracott Prince his wife, and their daughters, Alice Euphemia Kirton and Victoria Georgina Carter.

1950

The Diocese of Montreal kept its centenary and the Bishop made the Rector a Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, in recognition of the large part played by the Advent in the life of the Church outside the Parish. At the Bishop’s suggestion, a Parish Seal was designed: it represents an Angel with a trumpet, flying in mid heaven, and embodies the Parish motto – “The trumpet shall sound”.

1952

On 6^th February, His Majesty King George VI died and a Solemn Requiem was offered for him at the Advent.

Canada was the first nation of the [former] British Empire to proclaim Queen Elizabeth II.

During our Diamond Jubilee year, three of our leading Church officers went suddenly to the other world:

–  on Passion Sunday:  John Montague Cecil Levason, our Assistant Priest,

–  on WhitSunday:  Arthur Innes Pocock, Rector’s warden and Director of the servers, and

–  on 15^th October:  Hohn Henry Bell, our Sexton.

A special meeting of the Vestry was called, when Errol V. Hall, one of the senior members of our congregation, was appointed Rector’s warden. Reginald W. Lydon continued as People’s warden.

On Holy Cross Day (14^th September), the Rev. Alexander Mellor arrived from Barbados to be our Assistant Priest.

The following have been our Assistant Priests during the present incumbency:

–  Rev. John Bradley Owen,

–  Rev. John Howard Winslow Rhys,

–  Rev. Clifford Andrews,

–  Rev. Reginald Gordon Stewart,

–  Rev. John Winston Kerr,

–  Rev. John Bowman Cotton,

–  Rev. John Montague Cecil Levason,

–  Rev. Alexander Mellor

1953

The Rev. Alexander Mellor became the next Rector 1^st June 1953.

“Through God will we do great acts.”.......  Psalm LX 12

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