The diocese’s annual outreach appeal raised $1,532,000 in 2025. The money will be given to ministries that help unhoused people and ex-prisoners, newcomers and refugees, at-risk women, children and youth, Indigenous people, and those impacted by HIV/AIDS.

Bishop Andrew Asbil says he is amazed by the generosity of Anglicans year after year. “With all of the upset in the world economy, with all of the chatter of communities and nations looking inward, here we have this program that gives so much to people who are in need the most – the vulnerable from the rural communities to the inner city,” he says. “I find it mind-blowing how this kind of generosity makes very effective front-line ministry happen.”

The good news comes as the campaign celebrates its 30^th anniversary this year. Since its inception, it has raised $45 million, helping hundreds of thousands of people in the diocese, across Canada and around the world.

To celebrate the anniversary, FaithWorks is asking parishes to give a little bit more this year to support parish-related food security programs, including food banks. “We’re inundated right now with the need for food,” explains Peter Mentis, the FaithWorks campaign manager.

This year’s campaign is called the FaithWorks 100% +1% Challenge, and the goals are twofold: first, that every parish in the diocese participate; and second, that each parish set a fundraising goal that exceeds their 2025 FaithWorks contributions by at least one per cent of their 2024 offertory amount.

If all parishes participate and achieve their fundraising goals, the campaign will stand a good chance of not only hitting this year’s target of $1.5 million but raising an additional $325,000 for food security programs, says Peter Misiaszek, the diocese’s director of Stewardship Development. The additional money will be put into a special fund earmarked for food programs and dispersed in 2027-28.

Since the pandemic, visits to parish meal programs, deacon’s cupboards, food banks and other food ministries across the diocese have skyrocketed. Mr. Mentis hopes the FaithWorks 100% + 1% Challenge will help alleviate the situation.

“We’re taking inspiration from the multiplication of the loaves and the feeding of the multitude,” he says. “As Jesus fed them, we are called now, in our turn, to feed as well. We’re hoping people will be inspired by that and participate in Jesus’s miracle.”

Bishop Asbil urges all parishes to take up the challenge. “Food insecurity is a daily issue, where families have to make the very painful decision between paying the hydro or paying the rent. It’s becoming a perennial issue, and this initiative helps us address that. It’s an opportunity for Anglicans to show up and say, ‘We can help, we can make a difference.’”

Last year’s FaithWorks campaign had several highlights. Seventy-eight parishes exceeded the amount that they raised in 2024, $150,000 in matching challenges was met, and online and direct mail giving continued to be strong.

One of the reasons for the success is that there has been a transition in the type of ministries that FaithWorks funds, says Mr. Misiaszek. “Seven of our ministry partners now are decidedly parish-based, and another three are very closely associated with the Anglican family, such as Alongside Hope and AURA. It really can be said that we reflect an authentic Anglican United Way, probably more so than ever before. Because we have those profiles in places like St. Stephen in-the-Fields, St. Margaret, New Toronto, St. James, Orillia, and St. James Cathedral, people in the pew can see or hear about how FaithWorks-funded ministries are impacting their own community.”

He also credits Mr. Mentis and parish leaders, both clergy and lay, for the campaign’s ongoing success. “It takes a lot of work by a lot of people. It doesn’t just happen. I’m extremely proud of what Peter and all our volunteers have been able to accomplish.”

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So when Hurricane Melissa hit the Caribbean island nation last October, killing 54 people and causing widespread destruction, he felt it keenly. “When you hear the stories and see the pictures of the devastation and people living with the aftermath – the damaged homes, the disrupted lifestyles, the anxiety and uncertainty – it truly brings ache and pain to the heart,” he says.

The hurricane was the worst in the island’s history, damaging elementary and secondary schools and creating food and water shortages. About half of the country’s places of worship were destroyed or damaged.

“There were a lot of people who had little resources and then had none,” says Canon Francis. “A lot of people are still homeless. They’ve built temporary shelters that will keep them from the rain and the sun. A lot of people are still hungry. A lot of people are still anxious and looking for avenues for hope as they face a future that is unknown to them.”

Canon Francis is urging Anglicans in the Diocese of Toronto and across Canada to give to the newly created Bishop’s Appeal for Jamaican Relief and Reconstruction, which will help with relief and rebuilding efforts. “When one part of the Body of Christ suffers, we all suffer,” he says. “As Anglicans, we are not strangers to one another; we are part of a global communion rooted in shared faith, shared history, and shared responsibility.”

He says the appeal is not just about reconstructing buildings: it’s about restoring communities. “Local churches in Jamaica are often the first places people turn to in times of crisis – for shelter, food, comfort and hope. By giving, Canadian Anglicans are helping those churches continue to be centres of strength and healing in the midst of devastation.”

Bishop Andrew Asbil, with the support of the FaithWorks Allocation Committee and Synod Council, launched the appeal in late February and hopes that parishes across the diocese will embrace it as part of their Lenten journeys. The appeal will end on April 17.

In his weekly Friday letter to the diocese, Bishop Asbil wrote, “In moments such as this, Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:40 speak with clarity and urgency: ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these siblings of mine, you did for me.’ The call is not abstract. When churches lie in ruins and families gather without shelter, we are compelled not only to pray, but to act.”

Bishop Asbil has spoken with the Bishop of Jamaica, the Rt. Rev. Leon Golding, who told him, “The needs on the ground are so great. While many of the church buildings have been heavily damaged, the first priority is restoring electricity and water supply, rebuilding schools and homes.”

The appeal includes a $50,000 matching grant from FaithWorks, meaning that every dollar given up to that amount will be matched, resulting in a possible $100,000. All funds will be forwarded to Alongside Hope (formerly the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund) for distribution. Gifts may be made online at www.FaithWorks.ca or sent by mail to the Synod Office, 135 Adelaide St. E., Toronto, Ont., M5C 1L8.

“Please share this Lenten appeal as widely and as quickly as possible within your parish networks,” writes Bishop Asbil. “Together, during this holy season of Lent, we can restore sacred spaces, strengthen communities, and bear witness to Christ’s compassion in a time of profound need.”

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For Sr. Elizabeth Ann Eckert, the Reverend Mother of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine, the words had special significance. After two years of renovations, the St. John’s Convent Guest House, an oasis of calm and spiritual nourishment in Toronto, was finally open again.

“Those were perfect words for this place,” she says. “That’s what we want when people come here.”

About 150 people attended the reopening event on Feb. 14. Starting at St. Margaret’s Chapel, the Sisters and their guests processed through the guest house, stopping to pray and reflect at some of the newly refurbished bedrooms, washrooms, pantries and meeting rooms, the entrance and office space, the library and the chapel itself. Between stops, they chanted “love is love is love.”

“It was phenomenal,” says Sr. Elizabeth Ann with a smile.

The event was held to thank everyone who supported the Sisterhood over the past two years and who gave to the financial campaign, which raised $7.8 million, including a $680,000 donation from the Diocese of Toronto. Every diocese in the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario gave to the campaign. Archbishop Fred Hiltz, the former Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, and the Rev. Canon Sr. Constance Joanna Gefvert, SSJD, were co-chairs of the fundraising committee.

“We’re very grateful, and we thank you more than you will know,” says Sr. Elizabeth Ann. “What we’ve done is not for us – it’s for all the people who will come and take advantage of this space and time, to be renewed and refreshed in their own lives and to carry that peacefulness and prayer out with them when they go.”

The two-story guest house, which is connected to St. John’s Convent, can provide overnight accommodation for up to 35 people. It is used for a variety of purposes, including spiritual retreats, programs, meetings or simply as a place for people to rest and reflect in a Christian setting. Guests are welcome to take part in the Sisters’ regular round of prayer and to share meals with them in the convent’s refectory.

Not only has the guest house building been renewed, but so has the activity within it. Staff have started to offer Ignatian-style retreats, and some of the Sisters are training to become spiritual directors to meet a growing need.

The renewal all adds up to fresh energy and a sense of purpose.

“It’s great to be open again and getting back into the swing of things,” says Jeanette Strong, the guest house manager. “It’s lovely to have people who have never been here before reaching out to us and discovering us. We have all these workshops but some are just coming for the silence and to be with God, to unplug from the chaos of the world.”

The guest house doesn’t have a television but it does have WiFi – although many choose not to use it, she says. “A lot of people turn off their phones and just be. The feedback we’ve been getting so far has been really encouraging. People love it here.”

In addition to all the renovated rooms, the guest house has new carpeting, new windows and curtains, new light fixtures and new heating and cooling systems. It has been painted throughout and is fully accessible.

The guest house was built in the 1950s to serve as a residence for the Sisters and some staff who were working at the nearby St. John’s Rehab Hospital. It was lightly refurbished in 2004, around the same time that the new St. John’s Convent was built. The Sisterhood of St. John the Divine was founded in 1884.

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So when Hurricane Melissa hit the Caribbean island nation last October, killing 54 people and causing widespread destruction, he felt it keenly. “When you hear the stories and see the pictures of the devastation and people living with the aftermath – the damaged homes, the disrupted lifestyles, the anxiety and uncertainty – it truly brings ache and pain to the heart,” he says.

The hurricane was the worst in the island’s history, damaging elementary and secondary schools and creating food and water shortages. About half of the country’s places of worship were destroyed or damaged.

“There were a lot of people who had little resources and then had none,” says Canon Francis. “A lot of people are still homeless. They’ve built temporary shelters that will keep them from the rain and the sun. A lot of people are still hungry. A lot of people are still anxious and looking for avenues for hope as they face a future that is unknown to them.”

Canon Francis is urging Anglicans in the Diocese of Toronto and across Canada to give to the newly created Bishop’s Appeal for Jamaican Relief and Reconstruction, which will help with relief and rebuilding efforts. “When one part of the Body of Christ suffers, we all suffer,” he says. “As Anglicans, we are not strangers to one another; we are part of a global communion rooted in shared faith, shared history, and shared responsibility.”

He says the appeal is not just about reconstructing buildings: it’s about restoring communities. “Local churches in Jamaica are often the first places people turn to in times of crisis – for shelter, food, comfort and hope. By giving, Canadian Anglicans are helping those churches continue to be centres of strength and healing in the midst of devastation.”

Bishop Andrew Asbil, with the support of the FaithWorks Allocation Committee and Synod Council, launched the appeal in late February and hopes that parishes across the diocese will embrace it as part of their Lenten journeys. The appeal will end on April 17.

In his weekly Friday letter to the diocese, Bishop Asbil wrote, “In moments such as this, Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:40 speak with clarity and urgency: ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these siblings of mine, you did for me.’ The call is not abstract. When churches lie in ruins and families gather without shelter, we are compelled not only to pray, but to act.”

Bishop Asbil has spoken with the Bishop of Jamaica, the Rt. Rev. Leon Golding, who told him, “The needs on the ground are so great. While many of the church buildings have been heavily damaged, the first priority is restoring electricity and water supply, rebuilding schools and homes.”

The appeal includes a $50,000 matching grant from FaithWorks, meaning that every dollar given up to that amount will be matched, resulting in a possible $100,000. All funds will be forwarded to Alongside Hope (formerly the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund) for distribution. Gifts may be made online at www.FaithWorks.ca or sent by mail to the Synod Office, 135 Adelaide St. E., Toronto, Ont., M5C 1L8.

“Please share this Lenten appeal as widely and as quickly as possible within your parish networks,” writes Bishop Asbil. “Together, during this holy season of Lent, we can restore sacred spaces, strengthen communities, and bear witness to Christ’s compassion in a time of profound need.”

The post Bishop’s appeal to help restore communities in Jamaica appeared first on The Toronto Anglican.

It was freezing cold outside on Feb. 1 but the atmosphere inside St. James Cathedral was warm and inviting as many in the large congregation swayed and danced to some of Mr. Marley’s greatest hits, including One Love, One Heart, Redemption Song and Get Up, Stand Up.

The service, called The Bob Marley (Emancipation) Mass, celebrated the Black heritage of the Anglican Church. It included liturgical dancers, a band and a sermon by Bishop Deon Johnson of the Diocese of Missouri. The service was written by the Rev. Canon Dr. Stephen Fields, vicar of the cathedral and sub-dean of the diocese.

The themes of justice, redemption, liberation and hope flowed like a strong current through the service, and Mr. Marley’s lyrics on these subjects were used in many of the prayers.

The song selection reflected these themes as well. The offertory song was Exodus while the songs during communion were Could You Be Loved and Three Little Birds. Mr. Marley’s soulful Redemption Song featured prominently in the service and the recessional song – Get Up, Stand Up – provided a stirring finish.

In his sermon, Bishop Johnson reflected on music, especially singing, as an expression of hope and resistance. He spoke about his great-grandmother of many generations ago who had a beautiful voice and loved to sing even though she was an enslaved person all her life.

“Her singing was singing of freedom, even when she would not see freedom,” he said. “Her singing was singing of dreams that she would never see realized… When you sing, you are set free, even in the midst of bondage. When you sing, you proclaim the revolution, even when you do not see the revolution come. And Eliza knew that. Eliza knew that to sing was to praise God and to love, even when loving is hard.”

He urged Anglicans to channel their love of God into the world to help bring about peace and justice. “I am convinced that we are called at this time in our world to sing – to sing of the revolutionary love that we find in Jesus Christ… We are called to love this world enough to tell it the truth. We are called to love this world enough to be actors and doers towards God’s justice and peace right here and right now.”

During the service, Canon Fields and Ms. Kendall honoured Angela Whyte, one of the One Love dancers who was performing. Ms. Whyte danced at the first diocesan Black heritage service back in 1996.

Bishop Andrew Asbil welcomed everyone to the service. “It is an opportunity to give thanks for the legacy, the wisdom, the sacrifice, the joy and all of the gifts that have been offered down through time by our Black community members,” he said.

He thanked the One Love Dancers and the MOKA band. “We sway and we pray with the great Bob Marley,” he said. “We are one love, one heart. Let’s get together and feel all right.”

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“We thought we would put it online and we might get 100, maybe 200 people downloading it,” she said.

A few churches couldn’t print the resource and asked Canon Paulsen if she could send some printed copies. “So we printed some, and they all went,” she recalls. “And then people were calling us saying they wanted something in a smaller format that they could put in their bible, so we printed 2,000 copies and they all went, too.”

The resource, which featured short, simple prayers written by Christians of different denominations over the centuries, became a sought-after item not only in churches but wherever Anglicans gathered, including the annual clergy conference, Synod and the season’s five big Lift Up Our Hearts services.

“People were not only taking one for themselves but two or three for family, friends and relatives,” says Canon Paulsen, who recently retired as the season’s coordinator. “That’s a really weird thing for Anglicans to do!”

The Season of Spiritual Renewal was held in the diocese from 2023 to Epiphany of this year. It was the first of 20 “calls” that emerged from the diocese’s visioning process, Cast the Net. Its purpose was to help Anglicans rekindle their faith after the Covid pandemic.

Looking back over the last two years, Canon Paulsen says the season provided plenty of surprises and insights. One was that Anglicans in the diocese are hungry for resources and teaching on prayer. Of the 40 workshops offered during the season, the top two best-attended, single-session workshops were about prayer and Christian meditation. A total of 314 people registered for workshops on prayer, averaging nearly 40 people per session.

Another learning was that Anglicans love to gather to worship God, even on a Saturday afternoon. Just over 1,600 people attended the five Lift Up Our Hearts services, which were held in different parts of the diocese. The services included preaching, music, lay anointing and lay witness talks. The offerings amounted to $7,045, which was given to support the ministry of the Council of the North.

Anglicans are also hungry to learn more about scripture, the creeds, church history and Christian disciplines. How to use resources for discipleship and how to develop small group and bible study ministries were among the most popular topics of discussion. The nine-session Christian Foundations course had the fourth-highest registration of all the workshops, and a course studying the Rule of St. Benedict had the sixth-highest registration.

The season found that while Anglicans tend to be shy about sharing their faith, they understand the importance of it and are eager to learn how to do it in winsome and respectful ways. Clergy are also keen to learn how to preach in a way that helps people take steps to become followers of Jesus Christ. The two-part workshop on Preaching Evangelistically was well attended, as was the Everyday Witness course and the workshop on A New and Ancient Evangelism.

One of the key learnings from the season is that spiritual renewal can happen using what is at hand, says Canon Paulsen. “We’ve seen that when we bring to God the best of what we have, to whatever capacity we can, God blesses it. We never expected that many people to show up for worship on a Saturday afternoon, and we didn’t know that we were going to run 40 workshops. Those ideas just kept showing up for us, based on people’s suggestions. We simply created space for lots of the gifts of the diocese to be highlighted. We didn’t look outside the diocese for experts to come in; we saw that we had a lot of great skills and experience right here.”

Another important learning was that worship can drive spiritual renewal. “Having the right resources is very helpful, but worship is the thing that feeds the soul,” she says. “Things happen in worship that we can’t explain. We never imagined people lining up for the ministry of prayer and anointing with oil at all five services, two of which were held in churches that had never offered them before. As people became more aware that God hadn’t left the building, they could pray for others in their lives who had spiritual longings, and could trust that God was already there, sewing the seeds and cultivating the ground.”

Some of those seeds are already starting to grow, she says. More churches are incorporating lay witness talks into their worship services. The talks, which featured lay people giving testimony about their spiritual lives, were one of the most inspiring parts of the five Lift Up Our Hearts services. More churches are also exploring the ministry of prayer and anointing with oil.

On an everyday level, Anglicans in the diocese seem to have drawn a little bit closer to God, she says. “We’re talking about God a little more freely, with the expectation that God is at work, in churches large and small.”

To keep the momentum going, Canon Paulsen and the season’s steering committee suggest some initiatives for the years ahead, including:

• every parish should be encouraged to continue to pray for renewal, and to include such prayers in all their parish meetings and worship services;
• at least one diocesan worship service be offered annually, with possible on-site workshops offered after the service;
• a discipleship conference to encourage discipleship in all churches across the diocese, and for the diocese to develop discipleship resources specific to the diocese’s context;
• book studies on how to share the faith;
• a Season of Spiritual Enrichment that focuses on leadership development.

Canon Paulsen’s biggest hope is that Anglicans in the diocese continue to talk about God more. “For me, that’s the thing I most hope for going forward – that we won’t lose our freedom to talk about the way God is at work in our lives. Because I think that’s going to be the most attractive thing with people who have spiritual longings. If it’s just about signing up for committee work, that’s not going to do it, because they can do that through the Rotary Club. It’s got to be a focus on God first, and our love and worship of God, and out of that will flow all these other good things – love of neighbour through word and deed.”

The post Season plants seeds, provides insights appeared first on The Toronto Anglican.

Oshawa mayor Dan Carter was the guest speaker at the dinner, held Oct. 17 at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel and Suites in Richmond Hill. The sold-out event raised funds to help clergy and their families in need.

Mayor Carter told the remarkable story of his life, from being a homeless addict to becoming the mayor of Oshawa, an experience that transformed his faith and turned him into a passionate advocate for those who live on the margins of society.

“I wouldn’t be standing here today if it wasn’t for somebody who never gave up on me, and I am so grateful that person is my Lord and Saviour,” he told the audience. “He was the one who created a pathway that I’ve been able to follow as a mayor, a father and a stepfather.”

Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Mayor Carter was given up for adoption as a baby after his mother died and his father struggled to look after the family’s seven children. Shuttled from foster home to foster home, he was eventually adopted by an Ontario family but struggled at school due to undiagnosed dyslexia. He was sexually assaulted by a stranger at the age of seven, and a few years later lost his older brother to a motorcycle accident. Dropping out of high school, he turned to alcohol and drugs and ended up homeless in Toronto, an existence that lasted for the next 17 years.

With the help of his sister, Maureen, he started to turn his life around, quitting drugs and alcohol and eventually landing a job as a broadcaster. But tragedy struck again when Maureen took her own life. Devasted, he met with his pastor over many weeks, who helped him through the ordeal. “I learned that God loved me, that there was a place for me, that there was redemption and forgiveness,” he said. Devoting his life to public service, he became a regional councillor in 2014 and the mayor of Oshawa in 2018, being re-elected in 2022.

Bishop Andrew Asbil warmly thanked Mayor Carter for his courageous and compassionate remarks, and the crowd gave him a standing ovation.

There were 404 people from across the diocese at the dinner, including three tables of people from the Parish of Minden, Kinmount and Maple Lake, and three tables of young people, mostly teenagers. The Rev. Denise Byard, assistant curate at the Parish of Ida and Omemee and St. Luke, Peterborough, was the master of ceremony, and singer and songwriter Deb Whalen-Blaize provided the musical entertainment, accompanied by David King on piano and Ian Koiter on bass guitar. Recipients of the 2024 William Kay Bursaries were Jonathan Kang and Grace Rockett.

Bishop Asbil welcomed everyone to the dinner and made light of the fact that it was being held on the same night as the Toronto Blue Jays were playing the Seattle Mariners in the baseball playoffs. “Thank you for your dedication and your faithfulness for being present on the same night as the fifth game of the playoffs,” he said to laughter and applause. “I know how hard it’s going to be to not look at your phones once in a while, and we pray, along with Julian of Norwich, that all will be well.”

On a more serious note, he said that all season, when the Blue Jays were down, “they have found a way, and in some ways our gathering tonight seeks to do the same. There are times when our clergy and our families find ourselves in a place that’s hard and we are down. And we need encouragement and the financial commitment to help us through. In a likewise moment long ago, when (the disciples) came up empty-handed in the middle of the night, Jesus said, cast the net on the other side of the boat. And both the fish and the disciples were swept up into a new place, a new realm of abundance and grace. Your presence here tonight is helping to make a difference for many. We are deeply grateful.”

The dinner and reception were sponsored by anonymous benefactors. The evening’s other sponsors were Ecclesiastical, Northleaf, Nursing and Homemakers Inc., Mr. Ken Hugessen and Ms. Jennifer Connelly, McCarthy Tetrault LLP, AGF Management Ltd., the Anglican Diocese of Toronto Foundation, AON Risk Management Practice, Blair Franklin Capital Partners Inc., an anonymous benefactor, Faith Based Real Estate Inc., Focus Cleaning, RDH Group | Royal LePage Commercial and Xtra Mechanical Ltd.

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Dr. Adderley, incumbent of St. George Memorial, Oshawa, preached at the service, which, like the four before it, was an opportunity for Anglicans to come together and renew their faith after the hard years of the pandemic.

In his sermon, Dr. Adderley said spiritual renewal is grounded in the power of the cross, “for it is at the cross where God’s words are awakened within us, it is at the cross where self gives way to transformation and renewal.”

He said spiritual renewal challenges Anglicans to repair or replace some attitudes, habits or actions. “If we are truly renewed, that means we are a new people, so the way we look at the Church ought to be new, the way we look at the diocese ought to be new, the way we look at our life ought to be new. The chaos and challenges we sometimes face – we ought to have a different approach.”

He said spiritual renewal often comes during life’s most difficult moments. “Sometimes in my darkest days, I ask the Lord, where are you? I cry to you by day and I hear no voice, I cry to you by night and there is still silence. But if I’m to be honest, it is in moments like these when I find strength. It is in moments like these when my faith is renewed and my hope in God is cemented. It is in these moments where some hymns we sing turn to praise. I’m reminded of that good old Lenten hymn, ‘Jesus, keep me near the cross.’ There a precious fountain, free to all, a healing stream flows from Calvary’s heart.”

He said if Anglicans are renewed, then the Church and the diocese will be renewed. “And what does this look like? It looks like a people that is on fire for God’s word – a people that is hungry for God’s love, a people that is more concerned about outreach than inreach.”

He urged Anglicans to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “My family, my friends, for us to truly set this diocese on fire, it’s not about knowing the liturgy, it’s not about knowing what comes next – because we are good at being Anglican – it’s about knowing and having a personal relationship with Jesus the Christ. That and only that will set this diocese on fire. So I encourage you, wherever you came from in this diocese, go back and spread the word. Go back and live God’s holy spirit. Go back and show people that Anglicans can be Christians, that Anglicans do believe in God. As we will sing in a moment, we ask God’s holy spirit to revive us again, revive us so we can be a powerful diocese, revive so we can support the College of Bishops and the clergy, revive us again so we can be the people God has called us to be.”

In a lay witness talk, Ayesha Ramsay-Musgrave, a member of St. Paul, Bloor Street, spoke about her journey to confirmation and how it transformed her life.

Born into a Christian family, she was active in her local church until young adulthood, when the demands of school and work began to take over. “Attending Sunday services and other activities became few and far between,” she said. Then in 2023 she re-connected with a university colleague, now her partner, over a social media post.

They talked about their faith upbringings. He said he was a member of St. Paul, Bloor Street, and asked if she had ever thought about being confirmed. “Truthfully, I had thought about it, but often it was met with fear and some nervousness,” she recalled.

They started watching Sunday services on YouTube together, “and before I knew it, I was back in church on Sundays,” she said. “The nervousness I felt had disappeared, as if it never existed.”

She took part in some confirmation preparations, “and it was in that moment that it became apparent to me, I was right where I needed to be. I needed to be part of a growing church family, learning to love and follow Jesus Christ.

“This, my friends, was God at work, using the holy spirit through the members of this church to help guide me through the decision.” On Pentecost Sunday of this year, she was confirmed at St. Paul’s.

“I vividly recall the emotions of joy, happiness and unity in reaffirming my faith in Jesus Christ,” she said. “Upon reciting my baptismal covenant, receiving prayer and being welcomed into the larger Anglican community, I then knew what it felt like to be part of the family of God.”

She concluded, “If there’s anything you can take away from my story today, let it be this: It’s never too late to renew your faith. It is never too late to let God into your heart. He will be there, waiting for you. He promises to be the same God he was yesterday, today and forever.”

In his closing remarks, Bishop Andrew Asbil thanked all those who took part in the service and the reception afterwards, and those who coordinated the previous four Lift Up Our Hearts services. “What a gift you are for being here today, and to take what our preacher has issued us to do – go home, spread the word, be faithful in your baptismal covenant, and may God keep us forever,” he said.

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But there was something else that drew Mr. Taylor’s attention. In the buildings that had survived the old fire, a new church had been planted. It was called St. George’s, Grange Park, and its friendly signs welcomed one and all.

Unbaptized but feeling the need to explore his spirituality, Mr. Taylor decided to learn more about the church. He checked out its website and spoke to one of its lay pastors. Then he went to a worship service.

It was a decision that changed his life. A few months later, he was baptized in the church’s full-immersion tank. “I wanted to join the body of Christ,” he recalls. “It was a great experience.”

Now a member of the church, Mr. Taylor was one of about 120 people who turned out for the church’s first anniversary celebration on Sept. 7. The crowd, mostly made up of people in their 20s and 30s, enjoyed a party on the lawn followed by a service inside.

Planted by St. Paul’s, Bloor Street last fall, St. George’s has grown to about 100 worshippers on a Sunday. Many who come are looking for community, a place to belong in a sometimes cold and impersonal city. They are mostly young professionals and university students who live in the nearby condo and apartment towers and have found the church through word-of-mouth or social media.

“When I moved down into the city last September, I was looking for a church community to get involved with,” says Bethany Larmour. “After I tried a few that didn’t feel like the right fit, I tried this one. Everyone was so warm and welcoming and very intentional about seeking you out and getting to know new people. It felt like home from the moment I stepped in the door.”

Kate and Rohan Ailani had a similar experience. Recently married, the young couple went looking for a church in Toronto. “I always told my husband, if I could find an Anglican church that incorporates and relies on the Holy Spirit, that would be my perfect church, even though I knew there was no such thing as a perfect church,” says Ms. Ailani. “So we walk into St. George’s, and that’s exactly what we found – a church that respects liturgy and the readings and God’s word but also is so attentive to the Holy Spirit and inviting the Holy Spirit.”

Like other newcomers, she was impressed by the welcome they received from the vicar, the Rev. Dr. Tyler Wigg-Stevenson, and others on the church’s ministry team. “When we came here on that first Sunday, I wanted to leave right away because I didn’t know anyone. But Tyler came and said, ‘I see that you’re new. Let me introduce you to some people.’ I’ve been going to church for my whole life – 34 years – and I’ve never felt so welcomed in a church.”

The couple have been regular worshippers since then. “We feel that there’s a place for us here, and we love that what they say is what they live. It’s like, we’re all in this together, we’re going to seek God together.”

A big part of the church’s warm and welcoming atmosphere is due to its lay pastors, Suzie and Nathan Hodgson. A friendly, Spirit-filled young couple, they do everything from greeting newcomers to leading large parts of the worship service and preaching regularly. Their enthusiasm for the gospel is infectious and genuine.

The couple was part of the 20-person group from St. Paul’s that planted the church last fall. Like Dr. Wigg-Stevenson, they’re on the staff of St. Paul’s and serve there as well as at St. George’s.

“We wanted to be part of building the Church in downtown Toronto, so when the opportunity came to be part of the team at St. George’s, we jumped at it,” says Suzie Hodgson. “It’s been so much fun, not only building a team of people who are excited about going on the adventure of planting a church but also opening up the doors of the church to people from the neighbourhood and inviting them in, to be part of a community and to experience life and faith and meaning in Jesus.”

Mr. Hodgson says the journey has been very Spirit-led. “We prayed a lot before setting out and we continue to pray. When you’re doing something like this, there’s a lot of risk. You don’t know if anyone is going to come, so out of your own sense of helplessness you pray a lot. But it feels like the Spirit has really led us so far and continues to by God’s grace.”

Dr. Wigg-Stevenson likens St. George’s to a new shoot being planted in an old pot, or a sprig of a tree growing out of an old trunk. “The way we tell the story is that this is one of the oldest churches in Toronto – the cornerstone was laid in 1844 and it opened in 1845 – and we’re the youngest church community in the diocese. We’re a new community in an old church.”

The original church, St. George the Martyr, stood on the site from 1844 to 2018, when it was closed by the diocese. It remained vacant or on “sabbath rest” until the new church moved in.

He says the new St. George’s has drawn a lot from the former one. “As we were thinking and planning, we tried to have what we did here liturgically, theologically and spiritually honour where we came from. This place has a charismatic history to it, in terms of foregrounding the reality and presence of the Holy Spirit, and that is embedded in our own liturgical structures. But there was also this catholic sensibility and ceremonial, which we’ve tried to incorporate as well.”

He adds, “We’re trying to live an ancient faith in a modern city. We’re trying to do something very old in a new way.”

Nowhere is that more apparent than in the worship service, which is held on Sunday afternoon. It is a rich blend of the contemplative and the charismatic. It includes ancient elements of the Anglican faith such as the Eucharist, a Eucharistic Prayer from the BAS, the Apostles’ Creed and the Confession of Sins, but unlike most Anglican services, it is “hosted” by a pair of people, and the worship is led by a contemporary praise band. The sermon is 20-25 minutes long and the priest, Dr. Wigg-Stevenson, “faces east,” away from the congregation, when praying to God during the Eucharist. “This is a retrieval of the ancient Eucharistic practice, which reflects that we are all together praying to God; we’re all facing in the one direction, praying on behalf of the people, Lord will you do this thing here,” he says.

A distinctive feature about the service is that it concludes with an extended time of prayer. This includes inviting people to the back of the church, where two-person prayer teams are ready to pray with them.

“We believe that God can and potentially will do something new in the life of anyone who walks through the door on Sunday, and that everything in the worship opens someone to the movement of the Spirit,” says Dr. Wigg-Stevenson. “Rather than being ‘done’ after Communion, that time for prayer stretches it out. It’s an extended response to Communion and everything that has come before – the word and the worship.”

The service clearly resonates with those in attendance. At the anniversary service on Sept. 7, the church was full, with congregants avidly soaking up the prayers and music. Almost everyone went up for the bread and wine during the Eucharist, and some visited the prayer teams at the back of the church.

“We welcome one and all, but we don’t disguise in any way, shape or form that our expectation is that God is real, God is alive and wants to meet with you today and that might well happen in the next hour and a half,” says Dr. Wigg-Stevenson, explaining the service’s appeal. “In fact, it probably will. You’re going to have an encounter with the creator of the universe.”

Young people in particular want to hear that message, he says. “It’s not an easy time to be a young person, in terms of Covid, the housing crisis, ecological despair, the rise of authoritarianism and a resurgence in misogyny and homophobia. Across the board, there’s not a lot to hope in if you’re a young person. I think they’re hungry to hear that God is real and loves them.”

Bishop Jenny Andison, rector of St. Paul’s, says she is grateful to see what is happening at St. George’s. St. George’s is a “mission church” of St. Paul’s, according to the diocese’s canons, so Bishop Andison is the rector there as well.

“We’re learning a ton,” she says. “We’ve made mistakes, and there’s definitely things we’ll do differently next time, but we’ve learned some really good things as well.”

St. Paul’s has a new 10-year vision that includes planting three neighbourhood churches in Toronto. “We’re hoping in two to three years, St. George’s will be standing on its own feet, and then we’ll be ready to plant again, so that St. Paul’s becomes a multiplying church,” she says. “This is happening all over the Anglican Communion; we haven’t invented anything here; we’re just trying to be faithful in our context and use the resources that God has given us to be a generous, multiplying Anglican church in the heart of the city.”

She says the vision isn’t about replicating St. Paul’s in other neighbourhoods. “St. George’s is not a franchise of St. Paul’s. It’s a giving away of resources so more people can encounter Jesus. I hope that delights and encourages Christians in the city. At St. Paul’s, all we want to do is play our part, whatever God is calling us to do in the Diocese of Toronto.”

Bishop Kevin Robertson, who has episcopal oversight of the areas where both St. Paul’s and St. George’s are located, says he supports St. Paul’s vision and the new church plant. “As an Anglican, Christian community, St. Paul’s is seeking to bring the gospel to people in the city, and I am very supportive of that,” he says. “I’m glad to be coming alongside St. Paul’s to support this. I very much see it as a collaborative effort with the diocese.”

He adds, “Thank God, St. Paul’s has been so blessed. They’re able to do these things because of the generosity of faithful Anglicans over the generations, and because of their new vision for church planting.”

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That’s one of the key findings in the final report of the diocese’s Planning Feasibility Study, which wrapped up in April. The report is available on the diocese’s website at www.toronto.anglican.ca/feasibility-study.

In partnership with the diocese, M&M International, a Toronto-based consulting agency, undertook a feasibility study to assess the readiness, capacity and support for a proposed diocesan-wide capital campaign of $45 million over five years. Through 245 confidential interviews, nine open forums and 18 regional deanery meetings, the study gathered input from a broad cross-section of the diocesan community.

“These conversations offered deep insight into parish realities, priorities and the perceived feasibility of a major campaign,” says the report.

The study found that while 89 per cent of respondents expressed a level of support for the campaign’s proposed case for support, there was a clear desire for greater focus, clarity and alignment with urgent parish needs. “Trust, transparency and a well-paced, grassroots approach emerged as central themes,” it says.

M&M International found that the diocese would benefit from refinements to the case for support, stronger communications strategies and a readiness phase before launching a campaign. It recommended a revised campaign goal of $25-$30 million, contingent on implementing the recommendations in the report. It also recommended a minimum 70/30 sharing formula, meaning that 70 per cent of funds raised were retained by the parishes while 30 per cent were for diocesan initiatives.

Several initiatives in the case for support emerged as clear priorities, based on the respondents’ feedback. These included growing the capacity of churches, faith formation and discipleship, parish and diocesan-wide outreach, empowering leaders, invigorating generational ministries, shifting from maintenance to mission, and listening to and walking alongside Indigenous communities and taking prayerful action.

“These initiatives reflect deeply held values across the diocese – spiritual renewal, strong local ministry, future-ready leadership and better infrastructure to support mission,” says the report. “Respondents asked for detailed implementation strategies and emphasized the need for ongoing diocesan support that enables – not replaces – local action.”

Initiatives that received more modest support included parish-led advocacy, imaginative regional ministry, innovative parish initiatives, transforming and greening churches, and caring for neighbours. “Feedback on these areas included concerns about overlap with existing programs, perceived redundancy, and timing or lack of clarity on diocesan vs. parish responsibility,” says the report. “For instance, building improvements were widely recognized as urgent, but many felt they should be addressed through proceeds from the sale or lease of diocesan assets – not additional parish fundraising.”

The study concluded that a refined and prioritized case for support, with a reduced overall financial goal and clear articulation of parish benefits, would be essential for broad endorsement. “Respondents often mentioned the importance of parishes setting their own goals, voluntary participation (in the campaign) and transparent communication from the diocese,” says the report. “Campaign success will depend on focusing on what is most needed, supported and likely to strengthen local ministry for years to come.”

Bishop Andrew Asbil said he was encouraged by the level of participation in the study and thanked respondents for their valuable input. “We heard a lot! Pieces of feedback standing out are that parishes are burdened, leaders are tired, and that our Synod Office can be a loving servant for our diocese. We also recognized a deep hunger and thirst for spiritual renewal, for faith formation, for empowering leaders, and for sharing Christ’s love with our communities. Above all, we heard that we are in this together. While we are 195 parishes, we are all followers gathered in a boat on the Galilean sea, hearing Jesus call to us from the shore. In this study, we heard our collective longing to answer Jesus’ call.”

He added, “As we move together to embrace the 20 Calls in our Cast the Net strategic plan, we know that financial support will be important at the parish level. Over the coming months, we will reflect on the results of this study and next steps for a campaign, including the formation of a prayer team to guide our discernment. Thank you for sharing your time and perspective with this study. There is work to be done, and the Spirit is moving in our diocese, calling us into the future in hopeful new ways.”

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