The Interior of the Church

The present building takes the traditional form of a cross.  It contains a wealth of memorial inscriptions that reflect the history of the area.  The windows provide an overview of style and design of glass, spanning a century and a half.  While the building is one of historic interest, it is primarily the place of worship for the Anglican parish of Niagara on the Lake.  Over the past two centuries its shape has been modified and additions made to its furnishings to meet the changing needs of this active parish.

1.

At your left on the rear west wall, you will see a plaque in memory of Robert Addison, the first Rector.  In 1791 he was sent from England in response to a request from Colonel John Butler and other prominent Niagara citizens.  Addison a 37 year old graduate of Cambridge became chaplain to the regiments at Fort George and missionary at large to the entire Niagara Peninsula.  Construction of the church began immediately, but services were held in the Masonic Hall until it was completed.  The building was used as a military hospital by the British during the War of 1812 and then as a hospital and storehouse by the occupying Americans in 1813.  When the American Army retreated in December of that year they burned the town.  The roof of the church was burned leaving only the stone walls.  Because the residents needed to rebuild their own homes reconstruction of the church proceeded very slowly, but Addison lived to see the consecration of the completed building in 1828.  Addison kept careful records from his arrival in 1792 until his death in 1829.  These provide factual and anecdotal information on the baptisms, marriages and burials of many of the early settlers, all the way from Fort Erie to Ancaster and Brantford.

2.

Beside the Addison plaque is a memorial to Reverend Romain Rolph.  Although born in England he came to Canada when he was quite young and received his education through Bishop John Strachan in York.  He died at Queenston in 1868.

3.

The first window on the north side of the nave, was installed in 1952 and is a memorial to a pharmacist of the Niagara Apothecary, John de Wolfe Randall.  The left panel shows St. Luke “the beloved physician,” carrying his Gospel in his left hand, and in the right, the cadeuceus, emblem of the healing professions.  Above this panel, you will see the open Gospel and below, the winged ox, a traditional emblem of St. Luke.  Above the right panel, the lamb bearing the Christian flag represents Jesus as the Lamb of God.  The roundel at the top shows an angel bearing the crown of victory over death.  You should notice here that the halo of Christ has a cross design within it.  This practice continues in the other windows, sometimes marked boldly and sometimes by very fine scrollwork.

4.

Colonel John Butler was a hero to the loyalists.  His story is outlined briefly on a memorial tablet here.  Although considered a member of this parish, he also found it advisable to pay his pew rent in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian church where a plaque to his memory can be seen.

5.

The middle window on the north wall was installed in memory of H.A. and Alice Garrett. It shows Jesus, preaching from a boat on the Sea of Galilee.  In the background, you will notice other fishing vessels and a town.  The window demonstrates a high degree of realism and the artist’s sensitivity is evident in the expressiveness of the faces.  The base panel at left develops the theme of Christ as the Bread of Life in the sheaf of grain, and that at the right the Light of the World in the lighted lamp.  The top panels carry the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, A and ?, reflecting Christ’s presence before and after all things.  In the roundel at top, an angel holds a scroll, which reads, “The sower soweth the seed”.

6.

Beside the window is the plaque to William Kirby who was an early resident of Niagara.  His novel, historical writings and poetry were well known to an earlier generation.  His wife was the daughter of loyalists and Kirby absorbed and retold the story of the difficulties these pioneers endured.

7.

The third of the north windows was installed in 1926 in memory of Hedley Leeming Anderson, a local doctor for forty years.  The theme is of Jesus calling the children to Him.  The design is almost baroque.  The facial features are stylized and less expressive than those in the previous window, but the use of light and the grouping of the mothers and children focus attention on the figure of Jesus.

8.

Two plaques at the corner of the transept bear the names of eight young men of this parish who were killed in the First World War.

9.

 Pause here and look back at the sanctuary to imagine it as a rectangular building.  You can see by the floorboards under the front pews the original position of the east wall.  In 1839 the building was enlarged and the transepts added.  Galleries were constructed along three sides of the church.  In 1891 the original box pews were replaced and the wood was used for the wainscoting along the sides of the church.  The side galleries were removed.  In the 1960’s a new Delaware organ was located in the west gallery.

10. 

Unseen and too infrequently heard is the carillon in the church tower.  Six memorial bells were given in 1877 by Walter and John Dickson.  Three bells were added in 1917 by ladies of the Parish Guild.

11.

A high pulpit stood where the transept joins the nave.  The upper part of this pulpit is used as the altar in what is now the Peace Chapel.  The walls of this chapel bear a number of military memorials including those to several generations of the Kingsmill family.

12.

The first window in the north transept, the “Resurrection Window,” was designed by the McCausland Company of Toronto.  The composition has a dramatic impact.  Our view is from inside the sepulcher.  Magdalene looks on as the mother of James comforts Mary.  A three dimensional effect has been attained by the use of several layers of glass.  The mother-of-pearl glass used for the wing and robes of the angel provides a glow, even when the window lacks light.  Against the cross in the distance stands a ladder with seven rungs.

13.

The window on the right is in memory of John Lees Alma who was a member of this parish for fifty years.  The use of light and dark glass provides a subtle luminous quality.  In the presentation of the infant Jesus in the temple, his mother kneels and Joseph holds two doves for the sacrifice.  The elderly prophetess, Anna, leans on a cane while Simeon holds the child. The rich use of colour in the pillars and gothic design are like that in illuminated manuscripts and create the effect of being in a temple.  The temple motif is continued at the top of the panels.  The roundel above portrays an angel holding a scroll that reads, “The memory of the just is blessed” and on either side are the Greek letters A and ? signifying Christ as the beginning and the end.

14.

If you pass through the double doors you will enter the north vestibule, which was once a principal entrance to the church.  The roundel of the leaded glass window carries a naval cable and anchor.   The three Kingsmill headstones here were brought in from the cemetery for preservation.

15.

Returning to the sanctuary you will see the baptismal font.  The cover is a very fine sculpture by Jacobin Jones portraying St. Mark holding his  Gospel and standing beside the winged lion, a figure often associated with this evangelist.

16.

The base of the high pulpits on either side of the altar carry the date 1843.  They were built by John Barker in this manner so that everyone including those in the balconies could see and hear the preacher.

17.

The altar was given in 1909 in memory of church warden, John Ball.  It was hand carved from a black walnut tree grown on his farm.  The kneelers at the altar rail as well as the fabric on the chancel furniture were the work of ladies of the parish.  The designs, worked out by the Royal School of Needlework, incorporate images of the agricultural products of the region.

18.

The east window above the altar was installed in 1839, when the church received its present form.  A gift from the Hon. Robert and Mrs. Dickson, it may be an early McCausland.  The left top panels show the ecclesiastical symbols of the mitre, key and staff.  The right top panels carry the royal symbols of a crown and three lions.  Note the four crosses and the lilies at the top, symbols of the death and resurrection of Christ.  The panels of the second series show the Bible, God’s written word, the cross God’s redemptive Word and the dove, God’s Spirit speaking that word.  Those of the lower series show an equilateral triangle, representing the three persons of the Trinity; the Greek letters XP which are the first two letters of the name Christ; the familiar IHS, the first three letters of the name Jesus; and a trefoil again symbolic of the Trinity.

19.

On either side of the east window, are plaques presenting the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer and the Ten Commandments. These were brought from England and installed in1839.

20.

On the north side of the chancel is the bishop’s chair of finely carved wood, bearing the symbol of the mitre at the top.  The smaller arm chair was purchased by the children of the parish for John Wray, who was clerk of the parish for fifty years and for whom his accustomed stool became uncomfortable in his later years.

21.

The brass and bronze lectern dates from Witsunday 1900.  It was originally a gift to Grace Church, Detroit as a memorial to Captain W.L.Melville.  When that congregation became part of the cathedral in 1910, the family requested that the lectern be placed in St.Mark’s where the captain had been a parishioner.

22.

The walls of the south transept hold several memorial plaques.  In addition of particular interest are the letters patent granting arms to the church.

23.

The windows in the south transept were installed in 1942.  The one on the left shows Jesus meeting his mother.  The disciples watch in the background and the distant scene provides a great deal of fine detail.  The window on the right depicts the ascension of Christ.  The raised faces and hands of the disciples as they watch, emphasize that the figure of Jesus is indeed moving upward.

24.

Among the memorial plaques on the west face of the transept is a cemetery headstone bearing the name “Lenerd Blanck.”  When construction of the church began in 1792, the grounds had already been used as a community cemetery.  This stone, one of the oldest in Ontario, was retrieved and placed in the interior of the church.  The lettering is by an unskilled hand, but the date is clearly 1782.  Research has revealed that the man was private Leonard Planck of Butler’s Rangers.

25.

Returning to the nave you will see a plaque which records the death of seven young men of the parish who gave their lives in World War II.

26.

The window in memory of Canon Robert Garrett, the fourth Rector of the church from 1894 to 1917 was installed in 1932.  The panels show Jesus, as a boy of twelve, talking with the priests and lawyers in the Temple.  Mary and Joseph have just found him and are standing behind Him.  The temple location is signified by pillars.  Look back at the three windows on the other side of the nave and you will note that all four, installed in the second quarter of the twentieth century, have a similarity in concept, when compared with the earlier or later windows.

27.

The middle window on the south wall was installed in 1895, in memory of Archdeacon McMurray, the third Rector of the parish from 1857 to 1894.  The scene is by the Jordan River as Jesus, accompanied by two disciples, Andrew and John the Evangelist, meet John the Baptizer.  The roundel shows a banner with a crown of thorns, as well as a chalice and a sacrificial lamb.

28.

A plaque between these two windows was unveiled on the occasion of the centenary of the parish outlining its history.

29.

The third window on the south side of the nave is the most recent addition, having been installed in 1964.  It is the only window designed specifically for St. Mark’s church and reveals a contemporary style in stained glass.  In direct afternoon sunlight it is a blaze of colour.  The right panel shows St.Mark, identified by his traditional symbol directly below him, the winged lion.  The left panel shows St. Barnabas, a relative and sponsor of St. Mark.

30.

A memorial tablet on the west wall recalls the ministry of Rev.Thomas Creen who came to Niagara as a Presbyterian, established a school and eventually became the Rector of St.Mark’s from1829 to 1856.

31.

As you leave the sanctuary you will notice memorial plaques in the vestibule.  One is in memory of officers who died in the siege of 1813.  A second provides the history of the installation of the bells in the tower.  Across from these is one to the wife of Arthur Paffard.  The one above indicates that the entrance itself is dedicated to the memory of Henry Paffard and his wife Hannah with the simple notation that they “for many years worshiped in this church.”  Henry Paffard was the mayor of the town and because of his foresight we enjoy the trees along Queen Street and in Simcoe Park.  The community’s recognition of Henry Paffard is noted on a plaque on the front of the Court House.