St. John the Divine, Arva, Ontario

21557 Richmond Street, Box 129, Arva ON N0M 1C0

The little church at the edge of the city
Rector:   Rev. Wendy Murray

The life of Church of St. John the Divine, Arva, is closely bound to the area it serves just outside the northern boundary of London, Ontario.

The history of London Township's first Anglican parish comes alive when one enters the simple, steepled yellow-brick building.   A prominently displayed wreath honors the memory of the parish founders.   These people of faith were Irish immigrants, who had come into the township under the leadership of Richard Talbot, four years earlier. Drawn by the prospect of a service of worship led by a travelling minister, July 28, 1822, they left the isolation of their cabins and shanties and set out through the woods, on foot, on horse-back and in ox-carts, headed for the farm of Elizabeth and William Geary.   The Robson family, parents and children, walked every foot of the ten-mile journey from their home.

Some 250 people came from throughout the township to be present for the service conducted in the Geary barn by the Rev. Charles James Stewart.   Following the service, 23 settlers - infants, children and adults formed a circle on the mud floor to hear Dr. Stewart, later to become Bishop of Quebec, speak the words of Baptism.   This was the beginning of the worshipping community to become known as St. John's. Some of the family names on the first baptismal list are among the present membership.

One of those baptized, Jacob Freligh (now spelled Fraleigh) gave two acres for the building of a real church, with adjacent burial ground.   The next year, 1823, saw the opening of a plain, frame sided structure with temporary floors and windows.   The likeness of that original building is recalled in a small panel of St.John's stained-glass east window, presented by long-time rector, the late Rev. Arthur H. Jared.

One of the settlers gave two acres of land, at what is now the southwest corner of Highway 4 and Medway Road and the first church opened in 1823.   The ministry of St.John's and founding of the future Diocese of Huron became intertwined in 1832, when Rev. Benjamin Cronyn, newly-arrived from Ireland, was persuaded to remain in London, to take charge of St. Paul's, in the then village of London, and St. John's in the township.   Both parishes were formally constituted as two of the Crown Rectories established by the then Lieutenant Governor, Sir John Colborne, a fact of history recognized today at St. John's by the Union Jack hanging above the nave.