St. Paul's-Victoria Avenue United Church
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Our Mission Statement
As an Affirming Ministry, St. Paul’s-Victoria Avenue United Church seeks to provide a safe and inclusive faith community that follows the example of Christ. We strive to accept everyone as they are. We welcome the ministry and participation of all persons, inclusive of age, gender-identity, gender expression, health, race, sexual orientation, marital status, differing abilities, religious or ethnic background and economic circumstance, and we recognize and celebrate the diverse abilities and gifts they bring. Empowered by the teachings of Jesus we are called to embody love so lives are changed and the world is transformed in a more just way. |
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St. Paul’s-Victoria Avenue United Church is located at 22125 Communication Road (Hwy 40), Chatham, Ontario. The original St. Paul’s was founded in 1892 as a Presbyterian Church but became a United Church in 1925 when the new denomination was formed. It became an Affirming Church in 2021 and, in 2023, amalgamated with Victoria Avenue United to form a new community of faith with a new name. Victoria Avenue goes back to 1877 and was formerly a Methodist Church. Services begin at 11:00 a.m.
Rural United Pastoral Charge was formed by uniting three rural communities of faith - St. Paul’s-Victoria Avenue, St John’s Botany and Turin. The Charge is governed by an Official Board made up of members of each community of faith. This allows each church to have its own personality and yet support each other to meet our needs and to expand our outreach into our communities and beyond. We learn from each other as we use our special skills following the teachings of Jesus. Our communities of faith have a faith-filled ministry team to lead us. The Charge is governed by Antler River Watershed Regional Council.
Some of the architectural features inside and outside of the church are similar to First Presbyterian Church in Chatham which is a Carnegie inspired structure. The sanctuary holds up to 160 people with a connected hall which has a hardwood floor and a stage. This space is used for study groups, meetings, lunches and other special gatherings. There is a full basement with a complete kitchen. A sound system and internet with Zoom capabilities have been installed in the sanctuary and are used during our church services.
We are blessed with an excellent music director, pianists, and an enthusiastic choir which offers both an introit and an anthem. The church’s acoustics are quite good. On different occasions we have guest musicians who add their talents to the service. We welcome anyone who wishes to share their musical and artistic abilities.
There is a very active UCW which receives direction from Antler River Watershed UCW and National UCW. We have monthly meetings with an average attendance of twelve. Our apple and rhubarb pies, lunches, and other fund-raisers allow us to donate funds and energy to many charities and organizations in the area. We support Mission and Service within the United Church, the weekly Pantry Program, Bill’s Place which supports the LGBTQ+ community, Hospice, Goodfellows, R.O.C.K. Missions, Canadian Foodgrains Bank, and many more. We send monthly cards with notes to our shut-ins and away-from-home students. We also have an Affirming committee and an Outreach and Social Action committee.
St. Paul’s-Victoria Avenue United Church, ‘the little church by the side of the highway’, continues to play an active role in the lives of its members, the people of the surrounding community, and beyond.
Rural United Pastoral Charge was formed by uniting three rural communities of faith - St. Paul’s-Victoria Avenue, St John’s Botany and Turin. The Charge is governed by an Official Board made up of members of each community of faith. This allows each church to have its own personality and yet support each other to meet our needs and to expand our outreach into our communities and beyond. We learn from each other as we use our special skills following the teachings of Jesus. Our communities of faith have a faith-filled ministry team to lead us. The Charge is governed by Antler River Watershed Regional Council.
Some of the architectural features inside and outside of the church are similar to First Presbyterian Church in Chatham which is a Carnegie inspired structure. The sanctuary holds up to 160 people with a connected hall which has a hardwood floor and a stage. This space is used for study groups, meetings, lunches and other special gatherings. There is a full basement with a complete kitchen. A sound system and internet with Zoom capabilities have been installed in the sanctuary and are used during our church services.
We are blessed with an excellent music director, pianists, and an enthusiastic choir which offers both an introit and an anthem. The church’s acoustics are quite good. On different occasions we have guest musicians who add their talents to the service. We welcome anyone who wishes to share their musical and artistic abilities.
There is a very active UCW which receives direction from Antler River Watershed UCW and National UCW. We have monthly meetings with an average attendance of twelve. Our apple and rhubarb pies, lunches, and other fund-raisers allow us to donate funds and energy to many charities and organizations in the area. We support Mission and Service within the United Church, the weekly Pantry Program, Bill’s Place which supports the LGBTQ+ community, Hospice, Goodfellows, R.O.C.K. Missions, Canadian Foodgrains Bank, and many more. We send monthly cards with notes to our shut-ins and away-from-home students. We also have an Affirming committee and an Outreach and Social Action committee.
St. Paul’s-Victoria Avenue United Church, ‘the little church by the side of the highway’, continues to play an active role in the lives of its members, the people of the surrounding community, and beyond.
St. Paul's-Victoria Avenue has several policies in place as per The United Church of Canada
to ensure the safety and well-being of each individual.
Click on each policy to read it.
to ensure the safety and well-being of each individual.
Click on each policy to read it.
If you would like to see events that have happened in the past at St. Paul's U.C., click here.