Parish news roundup

Caledon community helps ring bell

The bell at St. James, Caledon East has been ringing in joy and sorrow since 1901. On Nov. 11, the church participated in the Bells of Peace, commemorating 100 years since the Armistice in 1918. The event attracted parishioners, people from the neighbouring church in the village, and others, including members of the Royal Canadian Legion and Caledon’s mayor. People took turns ringing with five seconds between tugs on the old rope, while others listened in the candlelit church. The last ringer was the youngest member of the congregation, who helps ring the bell each Sunday. Piper Al Lawrie played a lament and Amazing Grace as darkness fell. The event spoke to the need people have for acts of solemn remembrance, and the role churches can play as community hubs for spiritual gatherings other than regular worship services.

Diane Allengame, St. James

St. Thomas, Brooklin celebrates sesquicentennial

Almost 150 years ago, Thomas Lumsden donated two acres of land to a small group of Christians to establish a place of worship. On the corner of what is now St. Thomas Street and Winchester Road, Brooklin, St. Thomas Anglican Church began. The first service was held on Dec. 21, 1869. In 2019, St. Thomas’ will be 150 years old and the parishioners will be celebrating throughout the year. “It’s a time of giving God thanks for the rich legacy left to us by our forebears in faith,” says the Rev. Canon Claire Wade, incumbent. A history of the church’s ministry was published and launched on Nov. 18, 2018 and the sesquicentennial celebrations kicked off on Dec. 23, 2018. For information about events in 2019, visit www.stthomasbrooklin.com.

From left, Frances Parker, the Rev. Dan Graves, Natalie Campbell, Mitchell Needham and Carol Tremayne of St. Paul, Newmarket walk in the town’s Santa Claus Parade in November. The church’s float, depicting a woodland scene with a deer looking into a manger at the Baby Jesus, said, ‘Take Time for God With Us This Christmas.’

Bishop Andrew Asbil joins Major Rev. Canon David Saunders and lay minister Carolyn Atkinson for the 28th anniversary service of St. Martin, Courtice on Nov. 18.

St. Paul on-the-Hill, Pickering presented its Youth Achievement Scholarship awards to, from left, Nicole Howes, Bethany Brown, Andrew Fryer and Monique Brown. The bursaries help local Grade 12 students pay for their post-secondary school education. Two overseas students were also given scholarships. Over the past 11 years, the program has given scholarships to 35 students from the Ajax and Pickering area and 12 who live overseas.

Young people wait their turn to ring the bell at St. Barnabas, Chester in Toronto on Nov. 11 to mark the Armistice that ended the First World War a century ago. About 50 parishioners and members of the wider community took part, ringing the bell 100 times in honour of the occasion.