St. James, Caledon East welcomed Archbishop Linda Nicholls, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, at a special Sunday morning service on June 4 to celebrate 175 years of parish life in the Caledon area.
Archbishop Nicholls leads the Church in discerning and pursuing the mission of God, and despite her national and international roles she makes time to visit parishes of all sizes. Her visit to St. James coincided with the first performance of an anthem composed for the anniversary by parishioner Howard Jones. “St. James in the Heart of the Village” features a lively tune and lyrics that capture the long legacy of faith in the community, including recent times.
When Covid stopped worship in God’s house,
With livestream and Zoom at the touch of a mouse,
God put the church back into everyone’s home,
And still does for those who in person can’t come.
In her address to the congregation, Archbishop Nicholls spoke of God’s constant care for us and our resilience during times like the pandemic. She also welcomed seven members of St. James into the Anglican Communion, a meaningful act for those raised in other faith traditions.
“I’m so glad this happened,” said Claire Olorenshaw. “I was raised in the United Church and attended a Roman Catholic church when my children were little, but I have found my real spiritual home here at St. James.”
Submitted by Diane Allengame, a member of St. James, Caledon East
The power of personal witness