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St. john's Anglican Church, Port Hope

We are a Christian community dedicated to knowing God's love in our lives through worship, learning, and caring for others.

We are blessed by each other. All are welcome here.

Whatever your age, background, church experience, marital status, orientation, or ability, you are welcome here. 

Whether you are a lifelong Anglican, just visiting for the day, or checking out what church is about, you are welcome here.

We celebrate the Holy Eucharist on Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and on Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. (together with our brothers and sisters from St. Mark's, Port Hope and St. Paul's, Perrytown Churches). We also gather for worship throughout the year on feasts and holy days.

What Is the Anglican Church All About? 

The global Anglican church groups their churches (“parishes”) into geographic areas called Diocese. The parishes in a Diocese are supported by a Diocesan Bishop and support staff at the Diocese office. St John’s is a member of the Anglican Diocese of Toronto, which spans from Port Credit to Brighton and from Lake Ontario to Wilberforce. The Diocese office website has a very good overview of the Anglican church. If you are new to the Anglican church or want to know a bit more about it, click on this link (“About Anglicanism”):

https://www.toronto.anglican.ca/about-the-diocese/being-anglican/about-anglicanism/

What Do I Do During the Church Service at St John’s?

When you walk into the door at St John’s, you will enter a gathering place (“Narthex”) where folks hang their coats, look at what’s new on the bulletin boards, and pick up an order of service from one of the sidespeople. There is also a “Welcome” brochure on the table to the right of the doors. If a sidesperson did not give you a copy, try to get one on your way by. It includes brief descriptions of the history of St John’s and its various ministries active today. 

Then you can go through the Narthex screen and into the area of the church in which the congregation sits (the “Nave”). Pick any spot you wish. If the pews seem hard, get a seat cushion from the back pews. St John’s has a craft and reading area for kids on the right as you enter the Nave. You can sit with them if you wish, or take them to Sunday School in the parish hall next door. The Sunday School teacher brings them back for the Communion service.

The service leaflet you picked up in the Narthex will guide you through the service. There is a blue hymn book in the pews for you to use as well. If you want to know more about why the service is designed the way it is, click on this link (“Anglican Worship – What To Expect”):

https://www.toronto.anglican.ca/about-the-diocese/being-anglican/anglican-worship-what-to-expect/

Following the Service – What’s Next?

Following both services, when the people leave through the front doors, there is an opportunity to speak with the parish priest. If you are new to St John’s please take this opportunity to have a brief chat with Fr. Jesse. If you attended the 10:30 service, there is often a coffee hour in the parish hall next to the church. Please join us for this if you have time.

Before you leave St John’s, please make sure that you have picked up the “Welcome” pamphlet mentioned above, from the small table beside the front doors. The pamphlet has a form (“Help Us Get To Know You”). Please fill it out and return it to the church the next time you attend services (it can go on the offering plate), or drop it off at the church office or mail it to us. This way, we can be sure to keep in touch.

You can also click on this link to print the Help Us Get To Know You form:

Help Us Get to Know You