St. James Anglican Church sits at the top of a gentle hill in the historic village of Maitland, Ontario, overlooking the village and the St. Lawrence River in Augusta Township, midway between Brockville and Prescott.

In 2026, our congregation is celebrating a remarkable milestone — 200 years of continuous worship under the same roof, in the same stone building where it all began. As one of the oldest continuously operating churches in Ontario, St. James has been a quiet but enduring presence through every chapter of this region’s story. Over the years, Maitland itself has been described as “a very neat village indeed,” “a living museum,” and “one of the most unspoiled places in Ontario.” St. James is very much part of the reason why.

Deep Roots in a Historic Village

Our church’s roots stretch back to the United Empire Loyalists who settled Augusta Township in 1784 and began gathering for worship in private homes as early as 1785. By 1825, some 90 people came together to pledge whatever they could — cash, cattle, grain, or labour — toward building a dedicated church. George Longley, a successful timber merchant and Maitland’s first postmaster, generously donated the land and contributed several hundred pounds toward construction.

The site chosen was no accident: it was placed in the shadow of a great oak tree, which still stands today.

On April 20, 1826, an agreement was made between trustees George Longley, Dunham Jones, Reverend Robert Blakey, and builders John Shepherd (a mason) and James Howard (a carpenter) to construct the church. The trustees successfully raised the necessary funds and obtained architectural plans from Arthur McClean, a builder from Ireland who had previously designed a church in Brockville.

Under the guidance of Reverend Robert Blakey, a dedicated Yorkshire priest, the vision for St. James Maitland came to life and welcomed its first worshippers around 1827.

Architectural Heritage

The resulting stone church, evocative of a Georgian meeting house, features a wood-capped Norman-like tower adorned with gothic battlements and pinnacles. The front and roadside walls were constructed with courses of hammered stone, while the other two were made from rubble stone and covered in roughcast. Initially, the tower cap was painted to resemble stone, and the bell screens were green. The interior was finished with whiting, Spanish brown, and yellow ochre. Of the original 38 box pews on the ground floor, only one remains today.

The building itself is a largely unaltered example of early Gothic Revival architecture, described as “basically a Georgian meeting house of domestic proportions, decorated with gothic battlements and pinnacles, intended to impress the casual eye.” In recognition of its significance, the Ontario Heritage Trust has honoured the building through its Provincial Plaque Program.

Treasured Features

Among our most treasured interior features are three memorial stained-glass windows:

• The Good Shepherd above the altar was crafted by the celebrated artisan Harry Horwood of Prescott, whose work is also showcased in Chrysler Hall at Upper Canada Village.
• The Transfiguration on the west wall.
• The Light of the World on the east wall.

Together, these windows provide a quiet and enduring source of comfort to all who worship here.

Throughout the church, a number of plaques also bear witness to the many members of the St. James community who have contributed and served the church in meaningful ways across the generations; a quiet but lasting tribute to the people who have made this place what it is.

The carillon chimes, installed and dedicated in 2011, ring daily at 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM, featuring Westminster chimes followed by hymns. St. James also features both a beautiful piano and a cherished organ in the church, with an additional piano in the Parish Hall. Together, these instruments enrich our worship services, elevate our celebrations and concerts, and bring a special touch to various community events.

The Parish Hall

In 1927, St. James Church acquired the former Wesleyan Methodist Church, located across the street, to serve as the St. James Parish Hall. This building, constructed in 1854 from brick and featuring a gothic-styled doorway and windows, stands as one of the few nineteenth-century structures in Maitland made from material and covered with roughcast. Today, it continues to serve as a warm and welcoming gathering place for the whole community.

The Historic Cemetery

Surrounding the church is the St. James Cemetery, a beautifully maintained burial ground that serves as the final resting place for many members of our community. It holds the stories of the families, clergy, and community figures who shaped this place.

Ruth Wells Longley, whose family’s land gift made the church and cemetery possible, is buried here alongside her son George Canning Longley, a pillar of village civic life. Robert Chillion Peter Webster, inventor and preservationist, rests here, as does Richard MacDowell Dumbrille, C.M., who devoted more than sixty years to St. James and was appointed to the Order of Canada for his heritage work across the region. The cemetery also holds connections that reach far beyond Maitland: Margaret Weatherhead Arnold, whose family ties link this quiet village to the American Revolution, and Tamara Azanta Kulikovsky, daughter-in-law of Grand Duchess Olga, sister of the last Tsar of Russia, who chose to be buried here in the Russian tradition.