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Ontario's Anglican Cathedrals - Diocese of OntarioSt George's Cathedral |
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  The Diocese of Ontario was formed by separating the 15 eastern counties of Ontario from the Diocese of Toronto in 1861. Its first bishop was John Travers Lewis who was elected almost unanimously. He was elected at age 37 and served for almost 40 years.
The territory of the diocese was greatly enlarged in 1886 by the transfer from the Diocese of Algoma of the district of Nipissing, lying south of the Matawan River. In 1896 the diocese was subdivided with the north and western portion becoming the Diocese of Ottawa leaving the Diocese of Ontario covering the 5 counties of Prince Edward, Hastings, Lennox and Addington, Frontenac, and Leeds Grenville. The first St. George's church, a wooden structure, was built in 1792. The first rector was Rev. John Stuart who in 1785, had settled at Cataraqui (Kingston), becoming the first resident Anglican clergyman in Upper Canada. St George's Church dates from 1825, with additions in 1838-40 and 1891-94. It was built in a style popularized by Christopher Wren and common throughout Britain. The interior was destroyed by fire in 1899 but the reconstruction, including stained glass windows and ornate plasterwork, was completed within 18 months. St George's became the Cathedral of the Diocese of Ontario when the Diocese was established. In June 1870, Bishop Lewis requested that the seat of the see be moved to Ottawa. The request was rejected at the Synod but the Bishop himself did move to Ottawa only returning to live in Kingston in 1889. The Cathedral Church of St George 270 King Street East (at Johnson Street), PO Box 475, Kingston, Ontario K7L 4W5 |