St. Paul’s is a community of people that assist one another to become mature followers of Jesus. Wherever you are in your spiritual journey, it is our hope that you will find St. Paul’s to be a place where you can come grow along with us.
WHO WE ARE
Our Mission
As Disciples of Christ we are to worship, teach and equip. To be agents of healing, love, justice and forgiveness.
Vision Statement
A growing community called to know Jesus Christ and make Him known in the world by our presence.
OUR VALUES
We are:
- Christians, part of the Anglican communion
- representative of all ages and all economic groups
- married and single, adults, youth and children, seniors
- drawn from all areas of the Ottawa/Kanata area
- sympathetic to the struggles that many of us experience throughout life,
humanly flawed and seeking enlightenment - we are committed to living in respectful community, in God’s name
We serve:
- anyone in need, the whole community
- those who hear the rhythm of God’s voice in music
- the faithful as well as the seekers
How do we do this:
- worship and prayer
- Christian education programs for all ages
- a lyrical choir and contemporary music
- prayer groups
- youth and adult social opportunities
- providing support to support organizations in Kanata
- and the response of our parishioners and staff to needs as they present themselves
Opportunities for learning and fellowship (many organized and led by parishioners) include:
- Church school and nursery program
- baptismal preparation
- Sunday coffee and newcomers’ welcome table
- youth groups
- seniors afternoon out program
St. Paul’s ministers to its members, the larger community surrounding the church, ministry with and through the Diocese of Ottawa, and ministry elsewhere in Canada and the world. This outreach includes:
- pastoral outreach such as pastoral care, home and hospital visiting, counselling
- community outreach such as the Kanata Food cupboard, Walk of the Cross, and special concerts
- seniors program
- support for parishes which are not self-supporting, diocesan administration, synod, committees, lay and clergy training, diocesan programs
- support for diocesan social service ministries (The Well, Centre 454, Women in Crisis Project, Ottawa Pastoral Centre)
- support for mission projects throughout the world and in Northern Canadian diocesesAs with the other areas of St. Paul’s ministry, there is active lay participation in many outreach activities. The cost of this Ministry includes St. Paul’s financial commitment to the Diocese of Ottawa, but does not include many areas of individual giving such as money to the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund, food and clothing contributions, etc.
History of St. Paul’s
The present St. Paul’s is the fourth structure built in Hazeldean to house the Anglican congregation. Though the first settler arrived in 1818, it was not until 1844 or 1845 that the old stone church on what is now the west side of Young Road, was raised.
Just 30 years later, the congregation having grown considerably, a new church was planned, and land was purchased from James and Alice Mulligan on February 7, 1874. The site chosen was on what is now the east side of Young Road, directly across from the original building. With the willing help of the parishioners, the building grew apace, and it was not long before a graceful, white, wooden structure arose. In the open belfry hung a bell, donated by the Hodgins family, which was heard on quiet Sundays calling the people to worship.
1935 had been a time of drought, with the countryside longing for rain. By October 20th, the shingles of the church roof were beginning to curl slightly from utter dryness, and it was then that disaster struck.
The fall day was chilly enough to necessitate a fire for the afternoon services, so the wood burning furnace was lit as usual. In the church itself, there was no hint of what was happening above. No children had yet arrived for Sunday School, and it was a mere chance of the Hand of Providence which caused a passing man to glance at the roof. Sparks had fallen from the chimney and lodged in the tinder-dry shingles. By the time the passer-by had given the alarm, the flames were already eating deeply into the roof.
At the fire, the Rev. H.O. Hodder worked along with his people, trying to save his church, but in spite of heroic efforts the fire quickly made great headway.
The congregation, stunned by this great blow in the middle of a depression, rallied its pioneer spirit and decided to rebuild as soon as possible. The loss of $6,000. was only partly covered by insurance. As the people had toiled and sacrificed for their first church almost a century ago, when money was scarce and tools were few, so they toiled and sacrificed again in the lean years from 1935 to 1937. By the fall of 1936, an excavation had already been made, on the site of the fire, and the summer of 1937 saw the foundation stone laid and St. Paul’s, made of Nepean sandstone, rose again..
A 4,300 square foot addition of a hall, nursery, offices and complete kitchen facilities was done in 1985 to meet the needs of the ever growing congregation.
Throughout the years, lawn socials, box socials, suppers and other entertainment have been carried out by young and old. Many will recall the “The Christmas Tree” which was always held on New Year’s Night at the old Orange Hall, across from Mr. Young’s store. What a happy event that was, how many of the little ones who gazed wide-eyed at the sparkling tree are grown men and women, watching their children and grandchildren take their place in the life of the church known as St. Paul’s.
Today St. Paul’s is again fortunate through the generosity of it’s members to be worshiping in a brand new facility designed to accommodate the growth in Kanata. In 2004 we started an ambitious program to completely change the church. We did preserve some of heritage as can be seen in the re-use of the stones and pews in the church.