The robust community of faith is a town hub, hosting a food bank, community lunches, and more for 3,500-resident Capreol, Ontario
Trinity United Church Capreol is a small faith community at 72 Young Street in Capreol, Ontario, serving a town of about 3,500 residents. Our town is home to a grocery store, four churches, a library, a hardware store, a pharmacy, and numerous other local businesses. The community also supports an active Community Action Network, a thriving Lion’s Club, a curling rink, a local arena, a popular ski club, and several service organizations. Many artisans contribute to the local market in the summer, operate small storefronts, or home-based businesses. We are a busy little town.
As an active member of Trinity currently completing the Licensed Lay Worship Leader (LLWL) program, it has been my honour to serve the church in several capacities over the past 16 years, and currently as Chair of Council.
Trinity is an Affirming Church, which is something we are all proud of, and something we work at all the time. No one should ever be excluded from God. We are always learning.
As well, Trinity takes the acknowledgement of territories very seriously. We are always finding ways to show that we want reconciliation and reparation with Indigenous neighbours.
Trinity has recently been blessed with a new, or I should say a continuing minister. Rev. Pam Brown has been with us for five years as a student minister, and upon her ordination has chosen to stay with us in a partially funded position. Our church is very excited to have Rev. Pam remain with us as she has been a pleasure to travel with on her journey of faith. We look forward to a time of growth and learning for our community of faith.
We have had so many wonderful things beginning at Trinity over the past few years. Rev. Pam started a monthly mid-week Supper Church, which has been very successful. It’s a time of sharing a meal, communion, and fellowship. A monthly program entitled Tunes, Tales, and Tots has also emerged. This program invites tots from birth to five years with their caregiver/parent to come for a time of play, story, games, a light snack, and fellowship.
Trinity hosts the Bread and Roses food bank in Capreol. The food bank is open once a month and serves around 50 families each time. The volunteers are from both the church and the rest of the community. One of the community volunteers had an idea to start a free lunch once a month. With help from Trinity as the host, “Let’s Have Lunch” was born and has been very well attended. This has become the place to go for lunch on the second Friday of each month, where you will be served a bowl of soup, a fresh bun, dessert, tea or coffee, and an abundance of good friends and good fellowship.
Where will we be in 10 years? That question is so hard to answer. Sadly, as our church is right now, many of our active members—myself being an average example—will be well into our eighties. Like a lot of small rural churches, we are missing a couple of generations of children in the church. This, then, becomes our goal for the next ten years: to grow the membership. I don’t like focusing on numbers, but it's hard not to when you are asked to answer that question.
Should we give up and disappear? No, I believe faith, persistence, and outreach will lead to growth and that Trinity United in Capreol will be around long after I have gone—and that’s the way I would want it.
— Charlotte Cameron is a member and Chair of Council at Trinity United Church in Capreol, Ontario.
The views contained within these blogs are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of The United Church of Canada.