Charles Inglis, Bishop of Nova Scotia, requesting a cleric be sent to the area.

Addison served as a chaplain to the British Army and presided over the funeral of Major-General Sir Isaac Brock, who had worshipped in the church.

On 10 December 1813, the retreating American forces set fire to the village, by then called Newark, including the church.

The land was likely used as burial ground by local Indigenous populations prior to colonization as well.

The earliest stone in the cemetery is that of Elizabeth Kerr, daughter of Sir William Johnson, 1st Bt, and Molly Brant, dated 1794.