Our history starts towards the end of the year 1876. Bishop MacLean and Reverend John A. MacKay, were on a missionary journey from Prince Albert to Edmonton and camped on the Battle River Flats. The Government House was in the process of construction and so these pioneer missionaries held the first divine service for the workmen, in the telegraph office on the flats, New Year's Day, 1877.

St. George's Church was dedicated September 11, 1878 by Bishop Pinkham.
At this time, Rev. MacKay returned to Battleford with Thomas Clarke and by December 6th, 1878 had built the school house and a community hall. Here Reverend MacKay preached in English in the morning and Cree in the afternoon while Reverend Peter Straith, Presbyterian Minister, conducted the Sunday evening service. When the new townsite was begun, and in the same community spirit of sharing the Church of England rented the Presbyterian building for their services, paying $2.00 a Sunday. They also held services at the Barracks on Sunday evenings or at St. John's Parish, located at the Indian Industrial School until leasing Clouston's Hall in 1885. They hewed logs out of the bush and built a house on a site donated to the Church Missionary Society. Soon after a parish was formed and given the name of St. John's. A log church was built. In 1879, Rev. MacKay was called to the teaching staff of Emmanuel College at Prince Albert, and the work was continued by Reverend Thomas Clarke. During the 1885 uprising, burial services were conducted in the Church for those of the Anglican Communion who died at the Battle of Cut Knife Hill and on the Swift Current Trail.

Reverend J.F. Pritchard came to work in the Battleford area. He moved into the log house and organized the parish on a broader basis, and it became known as
St. George's Parish.

In 1882 Mr. Pinkham was appointed Archdeacon of Manitoba and a residentiary Canon of St. John's Cathedral, and also secretary of the Diocesan Synod, a position that he held until he left Winnipeg in 1887. After his consecration, Bishop Pinkham left for his diocese towards the end of August, visiting Swift Current and Battleford where he held his first confirmation. The second Bishop of Saskatchewan, the Right Reverend William Cyprian Pinkham, administered both dioceses, as Bishop of Saskatchewan with Calgary, until 1904, when he became first bishop of Calgary.
The Church was consecrated on December 4th, 1887 by Bishop Pinkham. Reverend E. K. Matheson, who had laboured with such devotion at St. Catherine's, and then organized the Church at Lethbridge, was appointed to St. George's Church, Battleford. Reverend Edward Matheson who came west with Archdeacon MacKay in 1877, was appointed incumbent in June 1888. It is interesting to note that St. George's parish then extended west to Bresaylor and east to the then little known settlement of Saskatoon and one of the missions he had was Saskatoon. Canon Matheson was widely known as 'St. George's wisest counsellor and friend.'

St. George's has the honor of being the oldest Church in the Diocese of Saskatoon.

A beautiful stone font, made by Mr. Sam Hooper in 1889, proudly acclaimed as the first of its kind "made off line of railway" stood at the front of the Church. In 1893 a stained glass Rose window above the alter was didicated in memory of Robert C. Wyld, a former North West Mounted Policeman and pioneer farmer. The Gothic windows were replaced with tri-coloured glass in memory of the first four bishops of the diocese and the first incumbents Rev. Pritchard and Canon E.K. Matheson. The altar, doors, pews and other fittings all bear brass name plates dedicated to many other pioneers who worshiped here. On the west wall was a watercolour of the Church, as it appeared on 19th Street, painted by Gladys Lindemere, wife of Richard Lindemere.

The settlement of the Saskatchewan plains began in earnest at the turn of the century. Rev. J. F. Dyke-Parker was the Incumbent from 1901 to 1906. In 1906, the rectory was built on property adjoining the church. A bell was sent to the church from friends in England. This was place in the gate which stood at the entrance of the church grounds. During the years the location of the town changed. Houses were moved from the river flats to higher ground, most of the folk who had lived near the Fort moved away and St. George's Church was no longer in the center of the community.

Two year later Rev. Ifor James Jones came to serve the parish as Incumbent from 1911 until 1916 when he went Overseas in the First World War with the 188th Battalion, as Chaplain. Rev. H. Sherstone came to the parish as 'locum tenens,' and remained until 1918 when he was succeeded by Rev. J. F. Haynts.
During his tenure, in 1920, a store was purchased to be used as a Parish Hall. It of course was in the town and the Church was by then on the outskirts.

The years 1922 to 1927 were relatively prosperous years.
Rev. J. Rance was Rector from 1928 to 1929 after which
Rev. A. E. Greenhalgh arrived and continued through the incumbency of Rev. Roy Manwaring, who came to Battleford in 1936 and continued to serve the parish until 1941 when he joined the R.C.A.F as Chaplain at which time Rev. R. P. D. Hicks became Rector. A year later he also joined the Chaplaincy service of the R.C.A.F.

In the year 1936 the Church was celebrating its Golden Jubilee. and Mrs. Matheson donated the home that she and Canon Matheson had lived in to be used as a Rectory. A tablet commemorating the pastorate of Canon Matheson is on the north wall of the chancel. The parish now had its church on the outskirts, a Parish Hall near the business section, and the Rectory on the Main street.

In 1945 it was decided to sell the old Rectory and move the Church to property adjoining the Parish Hall. This move was made in the spring of 1946. The next step was the erection of the Norman (bell) tower connecting the Church and Parish Hall. One of the side windows from the Church was then placed in this section. This was completed and dedicated in memory of Mrs. Matheson, in 1946, the year of the Diamond Jubilee. Many of the church furnishings have been given as memorials.

To reflect on the period from 1942 to 1950 is to recall the unique contribution made by Archdeacon (now Bishop) H. E. Hives, not only to St. George's parish, but to the native people of the West. It was in Battleford that after years of endeavor, he completed a Cree grammar program. Rev. R. Crowder and students served the parish until the arrival of Mr. George Brook in 1954 who came initially as a lay Incumbent, and later ordained as a clergyman. It was in this period that a new Parish Hall was built. The tragic death of Rev. George Brook in 1959 was mourned by all.
Archdeacon H.E. Hives

In 1950 the rood screen was removed. In 1954, the Parish Hall was needing replacement. The old building was removed and construction started on a new hall built to conform to the appearance of the church. See Photo above. St. George's Church was declared a Historical Site in 1982. In 1960, the Rectory was replaced by the formerly owned home of the Indian Commissary, purchased by the parish from the Saskatoon diocese.

1961 was an important year for St. George's Anglican Church. It was the 75^th Anniversary 1886 - 1961. Members of the Vestry in its seventy-fifth anniversary year included E.H.M. Fauls, Minister's Warden; W.A. Moore, People's Warden; W. Rasher, Vestry Clerk; and the followng members at large: A. Sayers, N. Edwards, G. Jamieson, W. Budd, B. Gallivan, S.L. Waterman, C.E. Light, Mrs. J.E. Nunn, Mrs. J. Day, Mrs. F. Light, Mrs. T. Ranson, and Mrs. W. Harley. Incumbent: The Rev. J.R. Wright.
Many thanks are to be given to Mrs. Loscombe and Mrs. R. Nelson for their assistance in preparing a brochure which included the history of St. George's for this event.

In 1967, St. George's was the vcentennial project of the Diocese of Saskatoon and was completely refurbished. The original pews and the pipe organ, bought in 1989, were replaced. A support beam was added to the Church as well as insulation. The large furnace, with one central floor grille, was replaced with a gas furnace and ducts, and a kitchen and bathrooms were built in the hall.

The year 1972 marked the 85^th anniversary of St. George's Church and was celebrated under the leadership of Rev. Arthur Gans with his concept of carrying the church's history into the 70's with many of its activities being co-ordinated with St. Paul's Church in North Battleford. The Rt. Reverend D. A. Ford, Bishop of the Diocese of Saskatoon, officiated at the service for the celebration on Tuesday Oct. 10, and in the evening, Alberta Lt. Governor J. W. Grant MacEwan  –––> addressed the banquet in the parish hall. Grant was born in 1902 at Brandon, Manitoba and later moved to Melfort, Saskatchewan. On January 6^th, 1966 he took the office of Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. He has been the recipient of the following honorary degrees: Doctor of Law from the University of Alberta, 1966; Doctor of Law from the University of Calgary, 1967; Doctor of Law from the University of Brandon, 1969; and the University of Guelph, 1972. Congratulations were received from: Dr. Stephen Worobetz, M.C., Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan; Premier of Sakatchewan, Allen Blakeney; Governor General of Canada Daniel Roland Michener; Archbishop of Qu'Appelle and Metropolitan of Rupert's Land G.F.C. Jackson; and from the congregation of Langmeade All Saint's, Ronald E. Head and Owen Jones.

From: The North Battleford News Optimist - Thursday, October 9, 1986.

The Rebellion days are commemorate by a large brass tablet erected on the south wall by the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire, to the memory of the North West Field Force, which included the North West Mounted Police.

A marble tablet is erected on the same wall in memory of Barnard Tremont, telegraph operator, who was a victim of the conflict.

There is a brass tablet in memory of Patrick Gammie Laurie, a member of the first building committee, and the founder of The Saskatchewan Herald, the first newspaper west of Winnipeg.

On the wall of the Chancel is a tablet commemorating the pastorate of Canon E.K. Matheson, second incumbent of the parish.

A circular stained glass window was inserted in the wall, together with two brass vases to commemorate Robert Wyld, a veteran in the NWMP, and Captain in the North West Forces in 1885, and a member of the first Vestry of St. George's Church.

The altar was donated by Harry C. Adams, in memory of his mother. The drapes were given by Mrs. R.F. Taunt, and the Pulpit, by Mr. Gately.

The screen and pews were a gift of the North West Mounted Police.

An old Communion Rail, made by Indian boys of the Industrial School in Battleford, can be seen in the parish church.

Lights in the Cancel were installed as a gift from the Senior W.A. in memory of Miss Ann Robinson.

The Hymn boards, donated by Mrs. Frank Laycock, commemorate the long service to the church of Mrs F.A.D. Bourke.

A new Communion Rail, installed in 1954, the gift of the congregation, is in memory of Reverend George Brooks.

On the wall is a framed list of those from the parish who served in the First Great War. One hundred and five names are shown, twelve of whom paid the supreme sacrifice.