It was a rather innocent conversation. Would Holy Trinity and St. Stephens Memorial consider pastoral oversight of Christ Church Glanworth? Well yes, but if we are doing that we would like permission to build a relationship between Holy Trinity and St. Stephens.
We began with a simple question. What might be possible? The biggest issue facing both congregations was long term financial stability. Both congregations had an attachment to their buildings. So, we began at the social level. We worshipped together, we broke bread together, we shared fun events. We soon discovered that we all got along well. Some of the original concerns that the “personality” of the two congregations might not work together, had been debunked.
With the pending retirement of the Rev. Canon Marian Haggerty as Rector of Holy Trinity, there was a recognized opportunity to lower employee costs, without anyone losing a job. Thus began a plan to develop a parish with two buildings, one full time Rector, supported by Honorary Assistants and Deacons. Each congregation would have a “main” service of worship on Sunday morning and we would develop midweek opportunities as well. We felt that we could share office staff, equipment and other resources which would increase efficiency and reduce costs.
With a plan of attack in place and the permission of the Bishop, we sent our idea to Diocesan Council mid 2015. With approval from that group, followed by final go ahead from the Bishop; we suddenly recognized there was must work to do. Joint Wardens meetings, Parish Council meetings, financial consultations, new job descriptions, a growing vision and then that moment we realized that this was really going to happen.
January 1, 2016 brought into existence the Anglican Parish of Holy Trinity St. Stephens Memorial (HTSSM). The growing relationship continues to build as together we construct a long term future as one.
We began with a simple question. What might be possible? The biggest issue facing both congregations was long term financial stability. Both congregations had an attachment to their buildings. So, we began at the social level. We worshipped together, we broke bread together, we shared fun events. We soon discovered that we all got along well. Some of the original concerns that the “personality” of the two congregations might not work together, had been debunked.
With the pending retirement of the Rev. Canon Marian Haggerty as Rector of Holy Trinity, there was a recognized opportunity to lower employee costs, without anyone losing a job. Thus began a plan to develop a parish with two buildings, one full time Rector, supported by Honorary Assistants and Deacons. Each congregation would have a “main” service of worship on Sunday morning and we would develop midweek opportunities as well. We felt that we could share office staff, equipment and other resources which would increase efficiency and reduce costs.
With a plan of attack in place and the permission of the Bishop, we sent our idea to Diocesan Council mid 2015. With approval from that group, followed by final go ahead from the Bishop; we suddenly recognized there was must work to do. Joint Wardens meetings, Parish Council meetings, financial consultations, new job descriptions, a growing vision and then that moment we realized that this was really going to happen.
January 1, 2016 brought into existence the Anglican Parish of Holy Trinity St. Stephens Memorial (HTSSM). The growing relationship continues to build as together we construct a long term future as one.