St Thomas Anglican Church (Stittsville) needs repairs!

Please help St. Thomas Anglican Church continue its work in the Stittsville Community.

Who We Are:

St. Thomas Anglican Church sets its heart on being a Christian home that welcomes, encourages, and seeks to inspire all people.

Located in Stittsville, Ontario, we’ve been an active part of this community since 1866. As a registered charity and non-profit organization, our dedicated parishioners work tirelessly to provide support to individuals and families in need, offering spiritual, pastoral, physical, and financial assistance during some of life's most difficult moments. While our congregation consists of about 120 active families, we serve everyone in the Stittsville community, regardless of religious affiliation.

What We Do:

Our parishioners are at the heart of many community outreach initiatives:

• Community Dinners: Every third Saturday of the month, we host a community dinner, serving over 100 hot, nutritious meals. These dinners are offered free for all, but donations are always appreciated. Any leftover food is donated to the Shepherds of Good Hope/Hope Living Centre shelter in Kanata.

• Stittsville Foodbank: We support Stittsville Foodbank by holding clothing sales where quality clothing is sold for just $1 per item. In 2024, this initiative raised nearly $9,000 for the Food Bank, helping those in need while providing affordable clothing. We also collect food weekly to donate to the Food Bank.

• Refugee Support: We’ve welcomed and provided support to several refugee families who relocated to Canada.

• “Lunchbox For All”: we support this registered charity (Reg’d # 74140 0501 RR0001) in its mission to ensure no child goes to school without a nutritious lunch. A recent choral event at our church raised $1300 for those children in need.

• Frederick Banting Alternative School: we supported disadvantaged youth with clothing, food and toiletries. Each student also received an individual letter of support and encouragement. This Ministry was widely welcomed by all.

• Visiting Seniors: Our priest and parishioners regularly visit local seniors’ residences to ensure that those unable to attend church can still receive Communion and obtain spiritual support.

• Our facilities: are open to everyone

These are just a few of the ways we contribute to the wider Stittsville community. We are passionate about making a difference and sharing God’s love with others.

Why We Need Your Help:

While our church has been a cornerstone of Stittsville for over 150 years, the building itself is showing its age. Our original structure was devastated by fire in 1964, but with the help of the community, we rebuilt and have continued to serve ever since. However, the maintenance needs of the building are becoming more urgent, and despite the hard work of our volunteers, the costs are becoming too much for us to handle alone.

In the next 1-3 years, we are facing significant repair and maintenance bills, including (but not limited to):

• Replacing an aging furnace for safety reasons

• Repairing the stained-glass window area above the south entrance

• Replacing several old, exterior doors and windows to improve comfort and energy efficiency

• Replacing the audio-visual equipment used to project during Sunday Services

These improvements are necessary not only to preserve the church building, but also to ensure we can safely continue our vital work in the community.

Our Goal:

We anticipate that these projects will cost more than $50,000. With this initial fundraiser we are aiming to raise $25,000 by June 1st 2026. While this amount will not cover the full cost of all the repairs, it will go a long way toward helping us maintain the church building so that we can keep doing the good work we do in Stittsville and beyond. Specifically, this initial fundraiser will be used to replace the furnace and repair the leaking stained-glass window above the south entrance.

Thank You for Your Support!

We deeply appreciate your consideration in supporting us. Your donation, no matter the size, will help ensure that St. Thomas Anglican Church can continue to be a source of hope, comfort, and support for the Stittsville community.

Thank you for helping us make a lasting impact in the lives of those who need it most.