Church of Mary The Virgin – St. Helen's Anglican Church

St. Mary The Virgin & St. Helen's

Built in 1879, this beautiful church has been a house of prayer for generations, witnessing the transformation of the surrounding community. Over the years, parishioners have gathered in this intimate space as well as in neighbourhood schools and other churches. They have prayed and cared for their community, growing and shrinking in number but unwavering in faith.

In November of 2022, the parishes of St. Mary the Virgin, Blackburn and St. Helen’s, Orleans voted to amalgamate, joining resources to minister to the whole of the community and worshipping together at St. Helen’s on Sunday mornings. The church building on Navan Road is no longer used for regular Sunday worship but it continues to be a beloved and holy place for special services and ministry to the community.

St. Mary the Virgin Church also continues to serve as the chapel for St. Mary the Virgin Cemetery, which has an important and ongoing ministry of service to bereaved families and to the wider community.

The Cemetery

Guided by the Cemetery Board, elected at our Annual Vestry Meeting (AGM), St. Helen’s is honoured to steward the beautiful and sacred site of the St. Mary the Virgin Cemetery. This is an active cemetery with an ongoing ministry, serving people with a connection to the parish and/or the community of Blackburn. We hold an annual Cemetery Memorial Service on the 2nd Sunday in September.

We are governed by the canons of the Diocese of Ottawa and the Bereavement Authority of Ontario. You can read our by-laws here.

If you are interested in arranging for the burial of yourself or a loved one at St. Mary the Virgin Cemetery, please contact St. Helen’s for more information. Our parish administrator will guide you through the process of determining whether this is the right choice for you. Email or call 613-824-2010.

History

Brian Glenn is a member of St. Helen’s Parish and sits on the Cemetery Board. He is also an amateur genealogist and is researching the origins of St. Mary the Virgin and its founding families, writing up the stories to honour and celebrate the long history of the church, the cemetery, and the community.

Part One describes the origins of the church with the deed from Richard Dagg.
Part Two tells of the pioneering families request to consecrate the church and cemetery.
Part Three summarizes the family histories of those who petitioned for the consecration, focusing on those buried in St. Mary the Virgin Cemetery. This Part will be presented in individual chapters for each family.