Reflections on the heritage, life & work of faith communities in Ottawa & Eastern Ontario
On September 13, over 140 people filled the pews of Navan-Vars United Church to capacity, in what was a standing-room only Sunday service to mark the 100th anniversary of this little red brick church. Located on the eastern-most boundary of Ottawa, the church at 1129 Smith Road is a place where rural life meets the…
Were the nineteenth century founders of Merivale United Church to rise from their slumber in the adjacent cemetery, they wouldn’t recognize the sprawling suburbs that have swept away the farmlands, which once surrounded their redbrick church. Yet this small church, built in 1876, still stands at the aptly numbered 1876 Merivale Road address — a…
Built in 1912, with a Neo-Byzantine sanctuary that can accommodate over 800 faithful in pews and an imposing Romanesque Revival exterior, Dominion-Chalmers United Church at 355 Cooper Street is among Ottawa’s early twentieth-century architectural gems. On Palm Sunday, I joined 40 members of this small, but engaged congregation for their 10:30 AM Sunday service. While…
You are the salt of the earth — those words from Jesus, recorded in Matthew 5:13, were at the heart of the 10:00 AM Sunday liturgy I attended on February 15 at Russell United Church, a historic house of worship built in 1887. By the end of it, everyone walked away with savoury surprise gifts…
Built in 1909, MacKay United Church at 39 Dufferin Road is a Romanesque Revival architectural jewel. I visited the church on February 8 for their 10:30 am service, alongside around 50 members of the congregation who gathered in person, with several more following a live-stream remotely. I found a crisp, bright interior and a multi-generational…
Built as a Presbyterian church in 1906, Centretown United Church boasts beautifully preserved Gothic Revival architecture and is the only house of worship along the downtown segment of Bank Street best known for its eclectic array of restaurants and shops. I visited the congregation on Sunday, January 11 for their 10:30 AM service, alongside around…
God doesn’t forget us, even when we forget Him. These words are not about a loss of faith; they acknowledge the quiet suffering of those struggling with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other forms of memory loss. It was the first time I ever heard a hymn speak so explicitly and movingly to those losing their ability…
I visited Almonte United Church on a breezy, brisk Sunday and met Reverend Heather Kinkaid who took the time to greet every single person in the pews before beginning the service. Her interaction with the faithful was more than a passing hello. She exchanged a few sentences with everyone, she listened, knew about what was…
I will never look at pretzels the same way after my visit to St. John’s United Church in Kemptville on October 19 — an unseasonably warm day that was as bright as the mood of this cheerful congregation. Built in 1869 to serve as the spiritual home of local Methodists, a fire in 1888 destroyed…
Alexandria United Church in North Glengarry is precisely what this publication is all about: discovering historic churches about which there is very little information online, and encouraging our readers to explore these hidden gems for themselves. I visited Alexandria United Church on Thanksgiving Sunday and attended their 9:00 AM service. A plaque next to the…