Name tags affixed and coffee and music in hand, participants moved into their respective sections – soprano, alto, tenor and bass. In addition to Holy Trinity, Aurora (where choir camp director Mary Ridgely, ODT, is the director of music), the singers came from across the diocese, representing St. Christopher in Richmond Hill, St. Thomas, Huron Street, Church of the Transfiguration, St. James, Sharon, St. Mary Magdalene, St. Basil Roman Catholic Church, St. Olave’s and more.

The Toronto Diocesan Choir Camp ran for many years at Trafalgar Castle in Whitby as an overnight camp for youth. After the pandemic, Ms. Ridgely began offering intergenerational choir days to promote church choral music to a broader audience.

I wondered how we’d get through the thick packet of music by the end of the day. There was a Magnificat by Mary Catherine Rounsavall, the Howard Goodall arrangement of “The Lord is My Shepherd” (from The Vicar of Dibley), a Spiritual called “Ain’t That Good News” by Moses Hogan, as well as an Anglican chant psalm and two hymns. The plan was to sing everything in a service of thanksgiving at 4 p.m. The pressure was on.

Thankfully, vocal clinician Nicholas Nicholaidis was our expert guide for the day. He started with a thorough warm-up of our “instruments.” He explained how our voice resonates in our body and the process that is required when singing. “Our voice is the only instrument that changes from one day to the next,” he said. “So we need to understand the process for using it.”

Originally from South Africa, Mr. Nicholaidis sings with the Elora Festival Singers and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. With his calm yet infectious enthusiasm, we made it through to the end of the service. United by music, we were no longer strangers.

To inquire about hosting a choir day at your church, contact Mary Ridgely, ODT, at tdchoircamp@gmail.com.

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For the first service, Donna Scantlebury was our guest speaker. She is the co-chair of the Bishop’s Committee on Intercultural Ministry and works at the police college in anti-bias and anti-racism training. Her homily was inspiring and challenged us all to examine our unconscious biases and micro and macro aggressions. After the service, our coffee time consisted of Nigerian snacks provided by some of our Nigerian congregants.

For the second service, the Rev. Canon Dr. Stephen Fields, sub-dean and vicar at St. James Cathedral, preached on the four “P’s” – denial of the problem of racism, personhood, our presence and denial of our perspective. The Rt. Rev. Peter Fenty, a retired suffragan bishop of the diocese, was our preacher at the third service, which concluded our celebrations. Both Canon Fields and Bishop Fenty left an indelible mark on many of us. They challenged our core presuppositions, making us stop and think about what we thought we knew and how much more we need to learn, as well as to become more conscious of our beliefs and behaviours. All three guest speakers referenced various chapters in the Bible when making certain points.

Our services were enhanced by talented musicians, including the TrinBirds Steel Orchestra, saxophonist Joseph Callender, liturgical dancer Laila Dottin and pannist Trenyce Sweeney. They were invaluable in helping the congregation connect to the rich Black cultural traditions and heritage of so many of our parishioners. The joyful, upbeat mood of the services was palpable. On the last Sunday, we were joined by members from two other churches that are part of the campus: the British Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian churches. They celebrated and enjoyed a Caribbean-influenced luncheon with us following the last service.

Enthusiasm for Black History Month was so high that we decided to conclude with one final cultural celebration of food and entertainment on Feb. 28. The night’s festivities featured the TrinBirds Steel Orchestra (expanded to six steelpan players); The Yerewolon, performing West African drumming; and singer Susan Grogan and DJ Curls both providing authentic Caribbean party atmosphere and fun. What was advertised as Caribbean appetizers turned out to be a variety of fantastic foods from various countries. We started off the night with a cup of warm and tasty corn soup and went on from there. We enjoyed jollof rice from Nigeria, Jamaican patties and jerk chicken wings, Trinidadian pholouries, Barbadian fish cakes, and Guyanese patties and pine tarts, just to name a few. Lots of fun was had by all and the success of Black History Month encourages us all as we look forward to even greater celebrations in the years ahead.

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His talk then focused on the rebuilding process, which will take several years. Most of the country’s public infrastructure and buildings were destroyed or severely damaged by Hurricane Melissa last October, as were many thousands of homes. Many church buildings on the island were damaged or destroyed. Mr. Davis concluded with his thanks for the relief efforts we have already undertaken. He appealed for our ongoing help and support in the months and years to come.

St. Paul’s has been raising funds for Jamaica relief since the day after the storm hit. Although the funds raised now exceed $7,000, we will continue fundraising and are hoping to take advantage of the Bishop’s Appeal for Jamaican Relief, which will match donations up to $50,000. The deadline for the appeal was April 17, but St. Paul’s is committed to raising funds for relief efforts well past that date!

The service was followed by a lovely luncheon where parishioners could meet and speak to Mr. Davis and his family.

Submitted by Phil and Dawn Claxton, members of the parish.

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Twenty years ago, parishioners realized that the existing facility was inadequate for their needs. The sanctuary, built less than 20 years prior, was large enough, but the supporting infrastructure – the hall, the kitchen, the meeting rooms, etc. – did not provide the necessary space to accommodate current and future activities. Accordingly, the parish began a multi-year program of consultation, fundraising and planning to prepare the way for a building expansion on vacant church-owned land. The expansion included a large auditorium complete with stage, commercial kitchen, meeting rooms, atrium and a connecting corridor to the existing building. In addition, the upper floor of the old building (the original sanctuary then functioning as the parish hall) was completely renovated to provide much-needed administrative offices. The expansion offers space for both church and community groups to meet. The building also hosts a childcare facility that provides a much-needed service to the local Stouffville community, as well as generating revenue for the parish.

At the celebratory luncheon on Jan. 11, I gave a brief history of the building project and loan, the rector’s warden, Cynthia Paulikot, and the people’s warden, Wayne Kerr, shredded the mortgage (a true burning wasn’t possible since the event was held indoors), the Rev. Canon Lisa Newland, incumbent, offered a prayer of thanksgiving to God, and the doxology, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” was sung. Thanks were also given to Linda Hadaway for organizing the luncheon. For the first time in decades, Christ Church, Stouffville is now debt free! We look forward to the new ministry possibilities God is calling us to as we begin this next chapter.

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