Purdy (also known as Bangor) is first mentioned as an outstation of Combermere in the 1886 Synod Journal of the Diocese of Ontario.  In the Ottawa Synod Journal of 1899, we learn that services were being held in the schoolhouse at Bangor.  While the Reverend James D. McCallum was the Incumbent at Combermere from 1897 to 1900, we learn that a house of worship began construction at Bangor.  In 1901, Bark Lake and Bangor were transferred to the Mission of Killaloe, however the following year they were transferred back to Combermere.

It was not until 1909 that we are able to surmise the patron saint of this worship community, for in the 1909 Synod Journal mention is made of a Saint Peter’s Church in the Parish of Combermere. By a process of elimination, we must conclude that that was the name of the church at Bangor.  It had taken over a dozen years for this small worship community to complete their house of worship at Bangor, as the Synod Journal reports that it “was almost finished” by 1913.

And here we see it, as photographed a century later.  The initial impression is of a vernacular structure, an impression that is created by the ordinary double-sash windows in the side walls.  If one is tempted to ask if there could possibly be a more vernacular house of worship in the history of the Diocese, a few details force us to take a second look.

First, for all its apparent simplicity, Saint Peter’s, Purdy is not simply set down foursquare with the closest road, but instead is located in a picturesque hillside setting as was becoming a notable feature for many rural churches at the turn of the nineteenth century.  Second, the fairly steep pitch of the roof was a major indication of its purpose as a house of worship.  

Perhaps the most significant exterior detail was the relationship of the entrance porch at one end of a low wall as had become standard Anglican design for most churches from the 1860s to the turn of the century.  The width of the doorway in the entrance porch anticipated the holding of community funerals here.

Equally telling is the gable wall we see here.  The shingles used in the gable are a form of enrichment for the chancel end of this humble house of worship, distinguishing it from the clapboards used in the rest of the walls. As simple as the window above the altar may seem to us, it hearkens back to the Palladian or Venetian windows set above the altars in the earliest churches of the Diocese of Ottawa, with their central light normally featuring a rounded arch.    

In 1931, the house of worship at Purdy, as it came to be called, was sold due to the removal of Anglican inhabitants from that neighbourhood. After that year, it ceased to be recorded in the pages of the Synod Journal.

If you would like to help the Archives preserve the records of the Diocese and its parishes, why not become a Friend of the Archives?  Your $20 membership brings you three issues of the lively, informative Newsletter, and you will receive a tax receipt for further donations above that amount.

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The biblical story which gives us the feast of Epiphany is found in the second chapter of Matthew’s gospel. It tells of Magi, or Wise Ones, from the east who come searching for the Christ child and end up in Jerusalem saying, “We have seen his star at its rising.” Herod, ever jealous, pretends to be helpful, all the while planning harm for this newborn “king.”  The magi, after consulting with Herod’s scholars leave to find the child, but warned in a dream not to return by the same route, leave by another road. This leaves Herod none the wiser as to where they found the child, and leads him, in the story, to hold a pogrom to kill all the boy children two years old or under.

While modern biblical scholarship will tell you that the story was likely Matthew’s way of identifying the birth of Jesus with the birth of Moses, and is a kind of Midrash on the Moses story as seen through the eyes of the fledgling Christian faith, there are wonderful teachings in this passage which are worth a look and a commemoration.

First of all, it appears that the visit of the Magi is Matthew signalling to us that the birth of Jesus was a universal event. Matthew writes, likely for a Jewish or Jewish Christian audience, the Magi are not Jews. They are, as represented in the text, more likely envisioned to be Zoroastrians from Persia or some similar land. This means that they represent God’s proclamation and revelation to peoples of other faiths.

 Having been our interfaith officer for some years, I have always felt that this story reminds us to be deeply respectful of other religious traditions.  The story of the Magi tells us about God revealing the Christ to people from another faith and culture. Having the humility to see that God is able to work among peoples of many lands and nations, goes a long way to overcoming religious bigotry and bias.

Second, the phrase “we have seen his star at its rising” is interesting. 

 Each year there seems to be some article trying to show or prove what star was seen by the Magi. Was it Halley’s Comet or some conjunction of stars that stood out? But the phrasing is interesting.  It is not about a star that moves and leads. Rather it seems that it is about a star that is simply noticed “at its rising.” I suspect that the pageant idea of a star moving across the sky is what we would call a pious custom, or love song sung by believers. However the language that “we have seen his star at its rising” does speak to a special birth.

 I bumped into a wonderful insight about this in a book called The Syrian Christ.  The author Abraham Rihbany comments, from his youth in the Middle East, that it was (and at least until recently) believed that every child has a star at their birth.  For the Magi to say that they have seen “his” star at its rising is not to say that there was some strange star that suddenly appeared, but that in reading the stars they noticed this child’s star.  I have always felt that the subtext to this story is: What will we make of our star? How will we make our star, seen at our birth, echo that of the Christ’s? 

Third, the jealousy of Herod led him to turn on the children of his time with the killing of the “Holy Innocents” commemorated, by tradition, on Dec. 28. This biblical reference, falling within the 12 days of Christmas, reminds us that the birth of Jesus is also about the innocent victims created by the jealousy of rich, famous, and powerful people. We continue to see that reality in situations like the war in Ukraine, where it is the innocent who suffer most grievously, and in places of famine around the world, where children are the most obvious victims.

Finally, there are some wonderful house blessing traditions attached to the Feast of Epiphany.  

One I like is where chalk is blessed and sent home with parishioners at the worship nearest to Epiphany. The faithful are invited to take the blessed chalk and mark the date on or near their entry doors with three crosses interspersed with the date. So for this New Year it would be 2+0+2+3. 

Another Epiphany tradition is to take, on the day itself, an alternative route home from work, shopping or church to remember how the Magi, listening to the voice of God in their dreams, took an alternative route home to protect the Christ. 

An Epiphany tradition observed in some parts of the church is to leave the crèche up with the Magi in it, until Candlemas on Feb. 2.  This reminds us that Christmas is not just a day but a season that includes Christmas and Epiphany; it lets us reflect on the mystery of the Magi attending the Christ’s birth well into the New Year.  May this Epiphany be a deep continuation of our Christmas celebration and a source of blessing for your New Year.

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The Rev. Dr. Mary-Cate Garden, who is part of our Youth Internship Program (YIP) team of advisors, offered this proud reflection:

“The YIP representatives ‘won’ this year’s Synod. In a year which saw a very full Synod—a very mindful Synod—where delegates had worked hard on the Diocesan discernment process. In a room full of people continuing to work together, thoughtfully and faithfully, the YIP representative stood out. In a room full of delegates who brought their A game, the YIP folks brought their A+ game.

As I listened to the thoughtful, loving, challenging reflections that each of these young(er) Anglicans offered I was in awe. A group that is so often labelled as ‘youth’ and so often thought of as an homogenous group called on the Church to be their best selves and begin to listen to younger voices. To recognize the diversity of experiences that the youth bring to us and to make sure that not only were they invited to the table but that they were invited as full participants.

The YIP presentations were brave and hopeful and full of promise If this is what lies ahead and if the church is wise enough to listen to these voices, then it is a church that will be in good and exciting hands for a long time to come.”   

Here’s a sampling of the thoughts they shared with Synod or reflections on the experience afterwards. 

Deborah said that she was born and baptized in Geneva and confirmed in Ottawa in the Evangelical Lutheran Church. … As an artist, she created a piece of art Friday night to reflect on Synod and the church. It spoke to her desire to feel like she belongs; that there were people who look and sound like her.

“Thank you very much for letting me come to my first synod. My message to you is ‘Try something new.’ Try new music or a new prayer in service because you don’t know how much that means to [a person who might be new to the church or to Canada].

She shared a moving story about her mom, the Rev. Chung Yan Lam. “Something special about my mom. She’s a priest here… She sings a beautiful Mandarin song at the end of her services…My grandma always asks her ‘Why do you sing in Mandarin? ‘Nobody understands.’ It’s so that she also feels like she is wanted in that service, that she has a part of herself in that service. …I hope that in the future we continue to grow and we continue to make our church like a home because it is not only a house of God, it is a home with God.”

Maritsa wrote that “as a new Canadian, she thinks that the Diocese is heading in the right direction with Motion P3A and P3B and welcomes the idea of creating new worshipping spaces particularly for Global Christians. She feels very strongly that creating spaces where new Canadians feel welcome and included and can feel like they belong is so important. She would like to be able to hear the language and music of ‘home.’ She also feels that anti-racism education at a parish level is crucial. She understands that many people don’t realize their words are unwelcoming to people who are new to Canada and she would like to see everyone working towards self-awareness.  

Learning about the National Church’s plan to have an Indigenous church under the umbrella of Anglican Church of Canada, she was concerned that the Anglican Church will still have the final say, which would defeat the point. She is proud, however, that we are moving in the right direction and that we seem to have an open mind about this issue. 

Rebecca is a member of Synod for St. John the Evangelist, a YIP intern, and the General Synod youth delegate from the Diocese of Ottawa. Hearing the aim of engaging more young people in Anglican communities discussed, she offered this advice: “Youth and young adults …are people like everyone else and we have the same core desires including to belong, to be respected and to become our best selves. But we are different in one key way: We are figuring out who we want to be and what we can do for the first time in our lives. We need spaces to learn and grow through new experiences and opportunities. We need to feel that who we are, our ideas, knowledge and perspective, is respected and valued. This is not achieved through token gestures and acknowledgement but through deep engagement and connection. A starting place for this is having youth members of Diocesan Synod. This is far from a token gesture, youth member votes have equal weight to every other member of Synod; equal standing, equal voice. 

She added that the work that the Indigenous church is doing to make the gospel explicitly part of their founding documents is a model that we should all think about when we make policy and documents within the church.” 

Aimerance and Alexis were unable to attend all of Synod because of exams and assignments, but they both said they liked what Deborah had shared about incorporating different kinds of music to allow the church to feel like home. They are both in favor of Motion 3A and encouraged everyone to seriously consider global worshipping spaces.

Robert wrote: “I was really happy to hear about the pathway that our diocese is looking to follow. I think that the focus on new parish structures is an excellent opportunity to use our creativity to help restructure. I am happy to see that parishes will be guided to make the changes that are in the best interest of their parishioners and communities. Robert also wondered what more could be done to help guide younger people in their own personal spiritual development within the church. 

Robyn, a young adult member of Synod for St Albans, said the Shape of Parish Ministry motions fill her with hope; especially motion three….Robyn feels that we must learn to trust our abilities and trust that the Holy Spirit is working in us and our parishes. 

Robyn admired the Primate, Archbishop Linda Nicholls’ willingness to candidly address tensions at the Lambeth Conference regarding same-sex marriage. “She provided some helpful context and reminded us that we are part of the wider Anglican Communion. Being part of this Communion, like being part of a diocese, means that we choose to come together and acknowledge our connection in Christ, despite the many differences we have. This is a beautiful thing. However, we are also in communion with all the many LGBTQ+ folks around the world who are continuously harmed by our religious leaders, and I think that the Primate could have been a bit more pastoral toward these people. I am thankful to be part of an affirming Diocese that is relatively safe for LGBTQ+ folks, but it can still be so painful and heartbreaking to see this fight still being fought in other places around Canada and the wider Communion. I want to remind all members of the LGBTQ+ community within the Anglican Communion that they are beloved even when their leaders fail them.”

Heather Maclachlan, a member of Synod from Trinity, echoed the Archbishop Nicholls pronouncement: “These youth are not the leaders of tomorrow, they are the leaders of today.”

Donna Rourke is Animator of Youth Ministries and YIP. 

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While visiting AMR’s table, Randi also sought ideas about how to display their ceramic feather in the church.

The items from Larry Langlois’s (Huron – Wendat) medicine bag attracted a lot of interest from visitors to the table. The display allowed people to touch and closely examine items such as an ulu — a traditional Inuit knife, a talking stick and a smudge bowl with the four medicines tobacco, cedar, sweetgrass and sage.

Meg Sinclair of Church of the Good Shepherd, Wakefield, was impressed by the resources such as The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and A Disciple’s Prayer Book from the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples. An avid reader who participates in the AMR Circle’s diocesan book group ‘Journeying as Allies,’ Meg said, after visiting the table, “I began to think about the possibility of having a book club in our area where we might discuss Indigenous literature locally and get to know others with similar interests.”

The Rev. Dr. Sarah Katheen Johnson, director of the Anglican Studies Program at Saint Paul University commented: “The presence of the All My Relations table and leadership at Synod provided an opportunity to learn more about important reflection and action taking place in the Diocese. It also raised the possibility of connection between AMR and the work of the Centre on the Churches, Truth, and Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in the Faculty of Theology at Saint Paul University.”

Looking Ahead

In June, during National Indigenous History Month and on Indigenous Day of Prayer (the Sunday closest to June 21) parishes offer prayers, readings, music and/or reflections as part of their journey of truth-telling and reconciliation. As this new year begins, we believe there are many benefits to thinking ahead to June and invite you to contact AMR Circle to share ideas, comments or questions.

Submitted by the All My Relations Circle

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 In June 2021, during the pandemic when it was impossible for the congregation to travel to Iqaluit, the Rev. Canon George Kwari suggested that the congregation of St. Stephen’s might follow up with the people of Iqaluit by asking if there was some project the congregation could assist them with. Frances Macdonnell contacted her friend Darlene Nuqingaq, the co-ordinator of the Iqaluit Music Society, to ask about such projects, and Darlene came back to us at once to say that one thing there was a great need for — but never any money for — was the provision of child-sized Inuit drums for the children of Iqaluit.
 All the children of Nunavut aspire to be drum-dancers when they grow up! But because of the expense and the scarcity of materials, Inuit drums have only been built in adult sizes, and so the children have had to wait years before they were tall enough to be able to learn the ancient Inuit skill of drum-dancing.  “Could the congregation perhaps provide some funds to pay an Inuit craftsman to build such in smaller sizes for the children?” asked Darlene.

“Of course!” replied St. Stephen’s, and a fundraising drive began, raising approximately $6,000 from within the congregation. The craftsman in question was to be David Serkoak, a very well-known elder, drum-dancer, and craftsman; David has drummed in Iqaluit for the Pope, and in Ottawa for Governor-General Mary Simon. 

In October, the parish has received a letter from Charlene Paterson, the vice-principal of Joamie School in Iqaluit (the Inuktitut-speaking Junior school), saying:  “It was our honour the week before last to have our beloved friend, cultural advisor and former school leader, David Serkoak, come to Joamie School. I want to thank St. Stephen’s Anglican Parish, Ottawa, for this wonderful gift of music and cultural sharing between a much-respected elder and the youth of Joamie School. Our new drums are hung in each of the K-5 homeroom classes to be integrated into daily programming when possible.  Please come visit us next time you have the chance, and thank you for bringing us this good fortune and showing generosity and action towards reconciliation. It is through these friendships we forge a new path.”
David Serkoak has initially made 12 of these smaller-sized drums for the children and will make more. It is important to remember is that these drums are not toys; they are hand-crafted musical instruments, and they will last the children of Joamie School for many years. In the pictures below, you can see how much smaller the new drums are than the adult-sized drum David himself is playing.

As Charlene Paterson said, this is another way of expressing friendship and action towards reconciliation.  And as the world opens up again, the congregation of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Ottawa, look forward to another Arctic visit soon!

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It began as a simple question in the spring of 2022. Did I know anyone who made milk bag mats? It has evolved into a multifaceted outreach initiative with three arms of goodness: providing sleeping mats and sit-upons for the homeless and less fortunate, keeping milk bags out of the landfill, and receiving offers of help and wonderful community support from so many people, of all ages, who want to help make a difference.

The situation that was brought to our attention was that Earthub, an organization whose mission is to keep certain items out of the landfill, had stopped collecting milk bags as they did not have an end user to pass them on to.  After just a little research and the building of a large loom, one sleeping mat was woven on a kitchen table and it was a go.  But, this then raised more questions.  Wanting them to stay local, what would we do with them?  Where would they go?  Was there a need?   Connecting with Kim of our diocesan Community Ministries Day Programs, we were quickly introduced to Shawna Thibodeau of Shawna’s Outreach, and soon after connected  with JFS Streetsmarts, Inner City Ministries, Ability First Ottawa, and House of Lazarus.  They quickly confirmed that the need for these mats was very real, great, and unfortunately growing all the time.  All Saints Greely now had another outreach ministry which very soon became a weekly Tuesday evening event.

The mats provide a waterproof spot to sit or sleep on. They add a little bit of cushioning and do not require cleaning or drying like regular beds, sleeping bags and blankets, so they can be used more than once.  They are even used as pillows or canopies from rain and sun.  One has also been taken to replace someone’s bed as it provides protection from bedbugs. We have begun to include handles on them making them easier to carry when they are rolled up.

To date 47 large sleeping mats and 57 sit-upons have been distributed to those in need. About 30 people have been involved in the weaving and preparation of the bags.  We continue to receive many milk bags from the community and Earthub with approximately 23,250 milk bags used so far and kept out of the landfill. Add to that the many words of encouragement and thanks for what we are doing, and there is no question that we belong to a caring and loving community of people who understand and are acting to make a difference for people in need.

Everyone is welcome to help. Together we are sharing our time and talents, (not that it requires much talent), and putting our love for our less fortunate and struggling fellow brothers and sisters into action.  The stories I have heard, and all I have learned about life on the streets, is overwhelming at times.  And at the same time the amazing community we live in, so many people who have supported and assisted in so many ways by donating milk bags, their time cutting, looping, and weaving, has also been overwhelming in its own way.

We hope that someday there won’t be a need, or as much need, but in the meantime, we have heard the call to make a difference and will do what we can, weaving one bag at a time.  –

Grace Jones is Peoples‘ Warden at All Saints Greely.

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She came home to Canada and founded the Madagascar School Project. She gathered a community of friends, colleagues, business people, and church members, and started raising money to build a school. 

In October of 2008, 65 children aged four to six years old began their studies in Lova Soa, a two-classroom school in the highlands of central Madagascar, staffed by Malagasy teachers. Lova Soa means “School of Good Inheritance. 

In January 2010, MSP opened the second school, Sekoly Tenaquip, with 126 students and seven staff. This school is named for the Tenaquip Foundation in Canada, which has supported the cost of constructing all buildings associated with MSP. 

The Tenaquip School now has a student population of over 800 students studying from Junior Kindergarten up to high school graduation. The project has grown and now has many other aspects to increase project’s self-sufficiency, including solar power, farming, water conservation, and medical services.

On Nov 5, 2022 Christ Church Seaway, Long Sault had a table at the Trinity Fall Market in Cornwall, Ont. The following day Kathy Lucking, founder of the school, attended Christ Church to provide an update on the progress of the Madagascar School Project, which hopes to be self-sufficient in the next few years. 

Christ Church presented her with a cheque from both their year-long Madagascar Table as well as the money made at Trinity for the ongoing support of this project.

The following Saturday, St. John the Evangelist in Lancaster held their annual Madagascar tea and Karen Davison Wood presented Gail Wells, (standing in for Kathy Lucking) with a cheque from St. John’s for their contribution to the scholarship fund for students taking post-secondary education. The tea was a huge success, raising more than $10,000 for the Madagascar School Project.

This was truly a “mustard seed” project, and we are so pleased to be a small part of their success. 

Submitted by Lynda Delorme, Beth Helmer and Karen Davison, Area Parish of the St. Lawrence

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This service took place almost exactly 103 years after the original unveiling.  On Nov. 9, 1919, the then Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) unveiled this war memorial for members of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI).  His great uncle, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, had commissioned the window in 1915 to commemorate members of his household at Rideau Hall who died in the First World War. 

This year the restored window glowed once again in its original magnificence.  The subject is The Welcoming of a Slain Warrior by Saints, Champions and Angels.  The young Irish artist Wilhelmina Margaret Geddes (1887-1955) completed the design and making of the window in Dublin; it was then exhibited there and in London prior to its installation above the altar in St. Barts.  Striking colours and strong figures, unlike the usual stained glass of the day, set this work apart from the very beginning.  Having completed a documentary video of the work and the context within which it was produced, we now know a great deal more about the artist and the themes and methods she used to produce this stained glass masterpiece, her only work in North America. 

Since its original dedication in 1919 the ensuing century had taken its toll on the window. Plans for its restoration began several years ago with studies to determine its condition and the work needed to ensure its integrity for the next century. Our fundraising campaign, spearheaded by our Honorary Window Capital Campaign Chair, the Rt. Hon. David Johnson, a former parishioner, drew the enthusiastic support of parishioners and a wider community of friends and supporters, including the Government of Ireland, Veterans Affairs Canada and the City of Ottawa and the Governor General’s Foot Guards.  After reaching our funding goal, work could begin!

In early September, the window was carefully dismantled and taken to Montreal, where artisans at Studio du Verre expertly cleaned and restored the glass and the other parts of the window. A fabric screen with a reproduction of the window fooled many of us into thinking the window was still in situ.

It was a relief to know that by early November the window was back in its rightful home at St. Barts, the original dedicatory plaque also refurbished thanks to the generosity of certain parishioners. While external scaffolding still remained, in the sanctuary all was ready for a service of rededication at our Remembrance Sunday held on Nov. 6, 2022. The Reverend Canon David Clunie officiated at a very special service attended by many parishioners and by a large number of guests.  General John de Chastelain laid the wreath, music featured the Governor General’s Foot Guards brass quintet, our own piper, Dr. Dan Cameron, and of course our director of music, Tim Piper, with the St Barts Choir.  Following the Act of Remembrance, the rededication of the window and the conclusion of the service of Choral Eucharist, the Ambassador of Ireland, Dr. Eamonn McKee, spoke to the congregation of the importance of remembrance and the significance of the Geddes “Ottawa” Window as a special monument which is sure to draw many viewers to our small church.  

We are grateful for the generous support we have received to carry out this important restoration project, especially during this last year of our rector’s ministry, as he retires after 14 years as our rector and 40 years as a priest in this diocese. His leadership and enthusiasm helped made this happen.

If you would like to see the restored window, please come and join us for a service at St. Barts.  Service times are listed on our website at stbartsottawa.ca.  Also, please watch the website for a link to the forthcoming historical documentary about the Geddes “Ottawa” Window entitled In the Company of Angels.

Submitted by Meriel Beament Bradford, parishioner and member of the Stewardship Committee

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“Sharron has been a key person in the process that has brought the three Anglican Day Programs of Ottawa under one management board and one executive director, which will bode extremely well for the future of these programs,” the Rev. Canon Dr. PJ Hobbs, director general of the Community Ministries, told Crosstalk. “She has managed the change with remarkable calm, critical questioning and an undying commitment to the work of the ministries.”

It was Hobbs who first asked Hamilton to apply to join the management board of The Well in 2015 when he heard she had retired. “Sharron was a parishioner at Christ Church Bells Corners, where I served as Incumbent for 12 years… It was very evident that Sharron had great leadership ability but also had the respect of so many people in the parish, and I think that has come to be true in the Community Ministries and the Day Programs,” he said. “When I came into this office and we needed members for the management board for The Well, I immediately thought of Sharron because I knew what a difference she could make.”

At that time, The Well was planning some strategic planning, “Strategic planning was one of the things I did at work as well as project planning, so having just retired I was looking for volunteer work,” she said. “It was such a good fit.”

Then in 2017, the chair of management board of The Well stepped down and Hamilton became the new chair. 

Not long after, however, the executive director of St. Luke’s Table left. The Well’s executive director Rachel Robinson was asked to be an interim director for St. Luke’s while the Community Ministries Committee set up a task force to determine whether they should hire a new director or merge the two agencies under one executive director and management board. When the board decided in favour of the merger, Robinson stayed on as executive director of both The Well and St. Luke’s Table.

At the time, Canon Monica Patten chaired the management board for St. Luke’s Table, so she and Hamilton worked together to merge the two management boards. “We had two separate strategic plans and different priorities, so we had to work together and determine a way forward that still met the needs of The Well and St. Luke’s Table,” says Hamilton. When Patten stepped down at the end of that year, Hamilton became the de facto chair for both “The Well and St. Luke’s Table.”

It was only about a year after that when the executive director for Centre 454 left to take another position, and the committee had to decide between hiring anew or merging Centre 454 with the other two agencies. “We had proved that merging two day programs worked really well,” Hamilton said. The committee decided to merge all three day programs. For a time, Hamilton co-chaired with Centre 454 chair the Rev. Rhonda Waters until Waters too stepped down, making Hamilton the chair for all three agencies.

And then there was the pandemic to contend with. Hamilton points out that typically when organizations merge, time is needed for  planning, prioritizing and organizational development, but there was no time for any of that because when the pandemic hit, Robinson and the staff suddenly had to figure out how to care for participants and provide food outdoors.  Hamilton has high praise for Hobbs, Robinson and all of the staff. “They rented a van and went out and delivered the food to our participants on the street and in their homes, still serving those most vulnerable in our city,”

When asked what she has enjoyed most in her roles, Hamilton says it is the opportunities to see the ministries in action first-hand. “When I was working on the board at The Well… I loved to go in, especially at Christmas time, and serve lunch to the participants, …talk with them, be of service and have a meal with them…. learning more about what each of the day programs offer to each of the participants and how much it is needed and how much it is appreciated.”

Hamilton said this is a good time for her to step down. “The board is in a really good place. They have a really good plan to move forward, so I feel good knowing that I did my part and it is in good hands.”

Hamilton continues to volunteer at Christ Church Bells Corners, her parish for almost four decades, and she has agreed to be assistant lay director for the Cursillo Movement.

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