Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
General material designation
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
Level of description
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
-
1792-2015 (Accumulation)
Physical description area
Physical description
Registers and textual records.
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The Diocese of Niagara was founded in 1875. The diocese covers approximately 3,320 square miles in the province of Ontario. The most northern towns are Harriston and Mount Forest, to the west, Nanticoke, to the south, Fort Erie, and to the west Oakville. The diocese presently consists of the following archdeaconries: Wellington, Trafalgar, Wentworth-Haldimand, Hamilton, Lincoln, and Brock. These archdeaconries are further subdivided into deaneries: Wellington, Wentworth, Halton West, Trafalgar, Haldimand, Barton, Hamilton Central, Lincoln East, Lincoln West, Welland, and Niagara Falls.
There have been three histories written. Firstly, A. H. Young, "The Diocese of Niagara Before 1875," Canadian Journal of Religious Thought (Jan.-Feb. 1926) which covers the period before the Diocese of Niagara was created from the existing Diocese of Toronto in 1875. Secondly, History of the Diocese of Niagara to 1950 published by the Diocese in 1950 to mark its 75th Anniversary. There is a copy in Mills Library, general stacks, BX5612.N5A5, and a photocopy at the reference desk in Research Collections Reading Room. Thirdly, there is Some Men and Some Controversies, (1974) edited by Richard Ruggle, which contains a collection of essays, some dealing with the early history of the Niagara Diocese. It has not been catalogued; available in Research Collections Reading Room. Finally Parish Register A contains a history of the diocese up to 1925 in two volumes.
Custodial history
The records are transferred from the individual churches to the Diocesan Archivist before transfer to McMaster.
Scope and content
The archive covers the records of the churches as well as non-active diocesan records.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
In 1975 McMaster University reached an agreement with the Anglican Diocese of Niagara to collect, describe and preserve the records of the churches in the diocese as well as the non-active diocesan records. Since that time the records of almost all of the churches in the diocese have been deposited at McMaster, amounting to more than 100 parishes. The records are on deposit only and remain the property of the Anglican Church.
Arrangement
Material is arranged in the following way: City - Church - Register.
Language of material
English
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Copies of statistical registers (baptisms, marriages, burials) are also stored at the individual churches.
Restrictions on access
Researchers who visit McMaster will be asked to consult the material on microfilm since many of the original registers are fragile. An application, specifying the purpose for which access is requested, must be completed before the records can be consulted.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Reproductions are for personal use only . Researchers will respect the unpublished nature of the contents of these records, and, in particular, will recognize that disclose of its contents might constitute an invasion of privacy if published in any manner.
For official copies of records, please contact the Diocese directly, 905.527.9968.
Finding aids
Background material and detailed finding aids can be found on Archives of the Anglican Diocese of Niagara finding aid website.
Associated materials
Accruals
Accruals are deposited yearly by the diocese.
