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New Anglican church opens in Ottawa

Jan 8th, 2008 by

Last Sunday, the promised new church for conservative Ottawa Anglicans held its first worship service. The turnout was small, but hopes are high.

And on the first day, barely a dozen of the breakaway Anglican faithful showed up.

Far from being disappointed, Brian DeVisser said he considered yesterday’s service a historic and successful occasion that bodes well for Ottawa’s conservative-minded Anglicans.

“It went really well,” said Mr. DeVisser, shortly after completing the first service of the Kanata Lakes Fellowship at the neighbourhood’s tiny, but venerable Old Schoolhouse.

“We really hadn’t a clue how many people to expect because getting the word out over Christmas has been difficult. It can only get better.”

Tony Copple, the guitar-strumming president of Anglican Essentials Ottawa, said he had delivered 350 pamphlets announcing the Fellowship’s inaugural service, but otherwise, yesterday’s event had not been advertised.

The Kanata Lakes group will shortly apply to join the nationwide Anglican Network, which currently has a modest 500 members in 16 parishes. The main church has 641,000 members in 2,800 parishes.

Read the whole thing.

h/t: John K in the comments. Check out John’s blog, too.

Posted in Anglican Church of Canada, Anglican Essentials

10 Responses to “New Anglican church opens in Ottawa”

  1. 1
    Warren says:
    January 9, 2008 at 7:01 pm

    The article made me think of Mars Hill Church (MHC) in Seattle. This short history, taken from the MHC website should explain why:

    Mars Hill Church began in 1996. At the age of twenty-five, Mark Driscoll gathered a core group of twelve people in the living room of the Wallingford rental house where he and his wife, Grace, lived. For the next seven years, Mars Hill met in various locations throughout the city until, in 2003, the church (one thousand strong) moved into a renovated hardware store between Fremont and Ballard. Within three years, however, the church had outgrown its new home.

    In early 2006, Mars Hill became a multi-campus church with the opening of the Shoreline Campus. The concept of meeting in separate locations was nothing new. Throughout its history, size and other factors compelled Mars Hill to hold services in various places throughout Seattle. And hundreds of Community Groups (small Bible studies) gather weekly throughout the entire Puget Sound region. As a people, Mars Hill Church was used to spreading out.

    The difference this time around, however, was the implementation of video sermons and other resources that made the strategy more efficient and sustainable. Later in 2006, Mars Hill acquired two new properties, in West Seattle and Wedgwood (used as an administrative office), further facilitating a growth that has yet to stop.

    Today, close to six thousand people represent Mars Hill. On Sundays, they gather in three different locations, and during the week they meet in homes from Everett to Orting, North Bend to Bainbridge. Mars Hill Church is a people seeking to love one another, love the beautiful Pacific Northwest and its people, and love the God who makes it all possible: Jesus Christ.

    Our Lord should never be underestimated.

  2. 2
    Mrs. Falstaff says:
    January 9, 2008 at 7:33 pm

    There were actually 18 people there. I guess the reporter didn’t count the children!

  3. 3
    Warren says:
    January 9, 2008 at 7:35 pm

    I should add one more thing . . .

    Way to go Brian! I’m praying for you, brother. If I get moved back to Ottawa, your church will definitely be one of the first I look at for a church home.

  4. 4
    Drumroll says:
    January 10, 2008 at 12:00 pm

    Brian, Tony and the rest of you faithful people in Kanata Lakes District. Blessings to all of you, courage, strength and Faith will see wonderful Growth. The eyes of many are upon you and a great many of them are in the ACC, some are afraid of what is happening, others are delighted but haven’t moved yet (but will)……

  5. 5
    Ellie M. says:
    January 10, 2008 at 8:31 pm

    “Barely a dozen”? It seems to me the Christian Church itself started with the faithful witness of a mere twelve people…

  6. 6
    Kate says:
    January 11, 2008 at 1:10 pm

    #5 – LOL! That’s the way to look at it, for sure!

  7. 7
    Anglican Music says:
    January 20, 2008 at 10:01 pm

    Anglican, Christian, or both?

    While “evangelical” (whatever that means), its focus on the original Scriptural meaning and eternal salvation certainly puts it at the other extreme not only from the social Gospel of the TEC/ACC, but also from Joel Osteen (and others) who try to…

  8. 8
    Kate says:
    January 21, 2008 at 7:30 am

    I don’t know much about Joel Osteen, but all of his books have a huge picture of his face on the cover, which makes me think that he is probably more about himself than about God (I know, I know, don’t judge a book by its cover, but still….)

  9. 9
    james Burt says:
    June 20, 2009 at 7:08 am

    My wife and I will be visiting Ottawa in July 4-6 and would love to worship with you. Where are you located. We will be located near the NAC and Parliment. Thanks.

  10. 10
    Kate says:
    June 20, 2009 at 10:49 am

    #9 Responded to privately.

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