St. John's - Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories

The First Mission Building

Reverend Isaac Stringer (later Bishop of the Western Arctic) opened the first Anglican mission in the Delta/Beaufort area at Herschel Island in 1894. When the people moved elsewhere, the missions followed. One opened at Kittigazuit near Tuktoyaktuk in 1908. This small log building was erected in 1937. Rev. Thomas Umaok, the first Inuivaluit Anglican priest in the Western Arctic, was the first priest in Tuktoyaktuk. The mission opened the first school in Tuktoyaktuk in 1947, and families from the nearby settlements of Baille Island and Cape Bathurst moved to Tuktoyaktuk to take advantage of this.

This parish is presently without resident clergy however Rev. Hannah Alexie of Ft. McPherson makes regular visits to the community. When Rev. Hannah Alexie is not available, services are lead by lay leaders in the parish.