Part 2: Locations - past



St. Michael's had its beginnings as a Mission of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, in the west end of St. John's. The small school room first used as a chapel was near two historic landmarks, namely, the "Barking Kettle" and "Apple Tree Well" on New Gower Street, just west of Springdale Street. It was formally opened and the first service held on January 18, 1885.

In 1886, "The Mission Room", as it was familiarly known, situated at the corner of Gilbert and Springdale Streets, became the second site of the church that was to become St. Michael and All Angels.

The first Divine service was held there on May 26, 1886. In 1893, the building was enlarged to provide a school room in the basement, remembered by many as "Miss Worrall's School." The upstairs rooms were reserved for the Mission services.

In this building also, as is not generally known, the Church Lads' Brigade, which was introduced to Newfoundland in 1892, the year of the great fire, and one year after the C.L.B. had its origin in England, had meeting and drill. The Avalon Battalion of the C.L.B. has thus long been associated with St. Michael's.

It was in 1898 that the "Mission Room" first became known as St. Michael and All Angels during the incumbency of Canon H.B. Cartwright as Rector of the Cathedral.

Because of the large increase in the Church of England population in the West End of St. John's, it was found necessary to erect a large church, and a new building on Casey Street became the third site of the "Mission." The corner-stone was laid in 1903, and in 1904, it was dedicated by the Right Reverend Llewellyn Jones. The building served both as a church and a hall. This building was never consecrated since it was intended to be used only as a temporary facility.