In 1878, Chelsea was served from Ottawa by the Rev. F.R. Smith. From 1879 to 1885, the mission was vacant and served only in summer in 1882 and 1883 by Mr. N.A.F. Bourne, a student from Montreal. By 1886, the mission consisted of one church, Saint Mary Magdalene, Chelsea and two outstations—schoolhouses at Templeton and Ironsides. In 1900, services were held every week at Chelsea and Ironsides and on alternate Sundays at Kingsmere and Kirk’s Ferry. At Kingsmere, the congregation met at the country house of a Mr. Bryson.

By 1910, Chelsea consisted of one church, Saint Mary Magdalene, Chelsea, and five outstations: a house chapel at Ironsides; the Union Mission Hall at Kirk’s Ferry; a schoolhouse at Cascades; another schoolhouse at Meech’s Lake (as it was then called) and cottages at Kingsmere. By 1924, the mission consisted of one church and outstations of Union Church, Kirk’s Ferry; Union Church, Cascades; and a house at Ironsides. The 1926 Synod Journal noted the effect of the Gatineau Valley power developments on local congregations.  The old settlement at Kirk’s Ferry was swept away by the flooding; however, there were hopes for a strong summer settlement to develop there, requiring priestly services.

In 1928, the mission included Saint Mary Magdalene’s, Chelsea; Saint George’s, Gatineau, a Union church at Cascades and a Union church at Kirk’s Ferry.  In 1929, controversy arose over whether the reopened church at Kirk’s Ferry would be a Union Hall or an Anglican Church. From 1935 to 1940, the Mission of Chelsea was a three-point mission consisting of Chelsea, Gatineau and Kirk’s Ferry, served from Ottawa by the Rev. W.B. Morgan. In 1935, the Union church at Cascades was transferred to Wakefield. In 1940, the mission of Chelsea consisted of Chelsea and Gatineau and an arrangement began where Chelsea was served from Hull, and Gatineau was served from Buckingham.

In the autumn of 1943, old Saint Mary Magdalene Church was demolished, partly because an error caused the old church to be built on two feet of land sold along with the rectory.  The congregation met in the school. In 1944, Gatineau was served from Aylmer. In 1947, Kirk’s Ferry became an outstation of Gatineau, also served from Aylmer. From 1950 to 1956, the congregation of Saint Mary Magdalene met in the United Church at Chelsea. On 24 May 1957, the cornerstone for a new church at Chelsea built of ashlar concrete blocks was laid by Bishop John H. Dixon of Montreal. From 1963 to 1965, the Mission of Chelsea & Portland was established, until Clarendon Deanery was transferred from Montreal’s oversight to the Diocese of Ottawa. In 1971, the mission became vacant, and Chelsea was separated from Portland.

The Diocesan Archives collects parish registers, vestry reports, service registers, minutes of groups and committees, financial documents, property records (including cemeteries and architectural plans), insurance policies, letters, pew bulletins, photographs and paintings, scrapbooks, parish newsletters and unusual documents.

Brian Glenn fonds CL06 E100

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As part of the festivities to celebrate Chelsea’s 150th anniversary, members of the public were invited to take a turn ringing the bell at St Mary Magdalene on June 7, 2025. The original SMM Church was built in 1875, the same year that Chelsea was founded. Longtime resident and member of SMM Church, Irene “Renie” Nielsen, who turned 90 in 2025, was the first to ring the bell.  Photo: Marian McGrath

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