St. George Memorial Church
Oshawa ON

St. George's Memorial Church is a caring, Christian community within a welcoming church that provides Christian learning for life, an inclusive participatory style of worship, an inviting church environment and a vibrant outreach ministry on a solid base of expanded financial resources.
The parish community of St. George's Oshawa, exists to worship God and proclaim Christ, to minister and to help all people grow in fellowship and faith.

Located in downtown Oshawa, Ontario, the parish community welcomes all new comers to the church and invites your family to join us for a Sunday service.

 

Question: Where is St. George’s?

Answer: We’re located on the north east corner of Centre and Bagot streets in Oshawa. We have parking behind the church off Bagot street, parking on Bagot and Green P parking lots on Athol and behind the Library.

Question: What are your Covid protocols?

Answer: All COVID restrictions have been lifted. Masks are no longer required, but we’re all at different comfort levels, so feel free to keep wearing your mask. And please stay home if you’re feeling unwell.
You’ll find hand sanitizer in various places throughout the building.

Question: What should I wear?

Answer: Wear whatever makes you comfortable. Don’t worry about what you look like – we’re happy to have you join us!

Question: What happens when I get there?

Answer: If you arrive a few minutes before services begin, a sides person(greeter) will welcome you and give you a bulletin to help guide you through the service. They’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have. Find a seat where you feel most comfortable.

Question: How will I know what to do?

Answer: Just follow along! We usually stand to sing and sit to listen to the readings and the sermon. Your bulletin includes the words to the prayers and hymns at the 10:00 service. We say some of the prayers together (written in bold type), and some are said or sung by the priest or choir. Join in as you feel comfortable.

Question: Do I have to give money?

Answer: We take a collection every week to support the work we do in our church and in the wider community. It’s completely up to you whether you’d like to contribute. We’re grateful for anything you might choose to give, but don’t feel like you need to.

Question: Can I receive Communion?

Answer: All baptized Christians are invited to receive the bread and wine at Communion. Everybody can come forward for a blessing, indicated by crossing your arms over your chest. You can also choose to stay in your pew.

When it’s time for Communion, the congregation goes to the front of the church, row by row, guided by our sides people. You’ll stand or kneel at the altar rail and either hold out your hands to receive the wafer, or cross your arms over your chest if you’d like a blessing instead. There is an accessible Communion station on the main floor as well.

We drink the wine from a common cup, or chalice. If you’d prefer not to receive the wine, you can go straight back to your seat, or you can cross your arms over your chest when you approach the chalice bearer. Intinction (dipping the bread in the wine) isn’t permitted — it’s far less safe than the common cup.

Anglican theology has always held that communion in one kind (just the bread) constitutes full participation in the Eucharist.

Question: What does Anglican mean?

Answer: The Anglican Church is one of the branches of Christianity. The whole Anglican family worldwide has more than 80 million members in 165 countries. We’re part of the Diocese of Toronto, which includes more than 200 church communities in the GTA and beyond.
It is a great privilege to gather, share stories of faith and worship God on this beautiful territory, which we now know as Oshawa, but which has been the site of human activity – and therefore storytelling and worship – for many thousands of years.

We wish to honour the ancestral guardians of this land and its waterways: the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. The treaties that were signed for this particular parcel of land are collectively referred to as the Williams Treaties of 1923. Today many Indigenous peoples, including the Metis Nation continue to call this land home and act as its stewards, and this responsibility extends to all peoples, to share and care for this land for generations to come.
 

Download St. George Memorial Church vCard with Service Times
Click here to contact the church  

Download Interim Priest In Charge Reverend Canon Richard Miller vCard with bio
Click here to contact Reverend Canon Richard Miller  

 

https://stgeorgesoshawa.org/  

 

 

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Serving at St. Vincent’s Kitchen
Delivering Meals on Wheels
Providing special meals at St. George’s for the homeless
Making teddy bears for Third World countries and for Alzheimer patients
Visiting parishioners who are in hospital, nursing homes or confined to their own homes
Participating in the Open Door program to welcome visitors to our church each weekday between 11:30 and 1:30
Playing the chimes on a daily basis
Delivering altar flowers to various places  

The Worship Ministries

The Chancel (Altar) Guild
The Servers Guild
The 'Open Door Program' Volunteers
Intercessors
Lay Administrators
The Sides People
St George’s Choir
St George’s Music Team
St. George’s Chimers Guild  

 

Early Days

The first St. George’s church was built about 1847. It was a simple wooden structure built on the north east corner of what is now Park Road and King Street. It was built on land donated by J. B. Warren.

The second St. George’s church was built in 1858 at the south east corner of Centre and John Streets on the land that is now Memorial Park. It was a wooden structure with a steeple. It was enlarged by an addition in 1881 and additional pews were installed. It was used until the new church was built in 1924.

In 1880 a Parish Hall was built on Centre Street just north of the present St. George’s. The hall served the parish and the community until 1953. As well as being used for the large number of children attending Sunday School, many drama presentations and a Minstrel Show were presented on the stage in this hall. A New Building

By 1912 the congregations had once again become too large to be accommodated in the second church and the decision was made to build a new church. However, the outbreak of war intervened and it was not until 1922 that the cornerstone was laid for the third and present church. The church was named St. George’s Memorial Church in memory of those members of the parish who served during the war. The church was built on the site of the rectory on land donated in 1861 by John Crawford and the Hon. William Allen and their wives.

In 1923 Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Cowan presented their home and surrounding land to the church to be used as a rectory. The land was situated on Athol Street just north of the new church. This house became known as Cowan House and was used as a rectory until 1962. It was used afterwards as a nursery and crèche on Sunday mornings, for meeting rooms and the church office until 2021.

The present St. George’s Memorial Church was opened on May 11, 1924 by the Rt. Rev. James Sweeney, Bishop of Toronto. The rector was Canon de Pencier. The new church was designed and the construction supervised by the renowned architect, Eden Smith. It was built of Credit Valley whitestone and built in a traditional English Gothic style. A bell tower formed part of the new church and the bell tower and carillon were a gift to the church by the Houston family to honour Mrs. Houston’s father, Edward Carswell. A three manual Casavant organ was presented to the church in 1929 which enhanced the church music program.

During the 1920’s the church served not just the spiritual needs of the community but also the social needs. Sports teams were formed for football, hockey, softball and cricket. Drama presentations and a Minstrel Show were produced and presented not just at St. George’s but in many locations in the area. During the depression in the 1930’s, the St. George’s branch of the Anglican Young People played an important role in the community by holding debating competitions, public speaking contests, sporting events and drama productions.

In 1939, a memorial pillar was installed at the site of the second St. George’s church. It was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Owens, Primate of All Canada. The stone marks the place of the former church chancel and can be seen in Memorial Park.

The mortgage on St. George’s was burned and the church consecrated in 1944. The Women’s Guild raised the required funds of $22,000 to pay off the outstanding debt. Post-War Years

In 1952 the first sod for the new Parish Hall was turned by Mrs. F. W. Cowan and later that year the cornerstone was laid. The hall was opened and dedicated in 1953. The exterior of the hall was built with the same Credit Valley stone as the church. The hall has been and still is, used extensively by the church and the community. The large Gothic window at the west end of the hall depicting Christ with the little children had been placed in the former Parish Hall in 1880 by “the young ladies of the congregation”.

In the 1950’s the church once again served not just the spiritual needs of the Anglican community but also their social needs. Many clubs and events were part of the church activities – Youth groups, Women’s groups, Over Twenty Club, Doubles Club, Men’s Club, Scouting and Guiding groups.

By 1965, the church was in need of a new organ. The new organ was purchased and installed by Casavant Freres. The three manual instrument is considered to be one of the finest organs in the Toronto area. The organ was dedicated in 1966 by the Bishop of Toronto, the Rt. Rev. F. H. Wilkinson.

Also in 1966, the mortgage for the Parish Hall was burned. Thanks were given to the Women’s Guild for once again raising the funds for the mortgage.

On Saturday, May 11, 1974 there was a celebration of the Holy Eucharist commemorating the Fiftieth Anniversary of St. George’s Memorial Church. On May 12, a service of thanksgiving was held. The Rt. Rev. L. S. Garnsworthy, Bishop of Toronto, was the preacher.

In 1978, Cowan House was restored and refurbished as a Parish House for offices and meeting rooms. It was rededicated by the former rector, the Ven. F. G. Ongley.

In 1984, an extensive history of St. George’s was written by Kathleen M. Rose entitled “St. George’s: Our Heritage”. This was a wonderful contribution to understanding the many people and events that formed our church community.

The church office which had been located in Cowan House was moved to the lower parish hall in 2021. Offices were provided here for the rector, treasurer and office administrator.

In 2022, Cowan House which had been used extensively for many church activities since 1923, was found to be beyond repair and so the house and surrounding land were sold. Rectors

Rev. R. J. Pentland (1843 – 1862)

Canon J. R. Worrell (1862 – 1869)

Canon W. Belt (1869 – 1876)

Rev. H. B. Owen (1876 – 1880)

Rev. J. Middleton (1880 – 1890)

Rev. J. H. Talbot (1890 – 1909)

Canon C. R. de Pencier (1910 – 1934)

Canon D. M. Rose (1935 – 1955)

Canon C. D. Cross (1955 – 1962)

Archdeacon F. G. Ongley (1962 – 1977)

Canon D. H. E. Peasgood (1977 – 1994)

Venerable H. Paul Fehley (1994 – 2004)

Canon A.G. E. Jemmott (2005 – 2015)

Canon Judy Herron-Graham (2016 – 2022)

 

Question: Where is St. George Memorial Church located?
Answer: St. George Memorial Church is located at 39 Athol Street West, Oshawa, Ontario.

Question: Who is St. George Memorial Church's pastor?
Answer: St. George Memorial Church's pastor is Reverend Canon Richard Miller.

Question: What time is service at St. George Memorial Church?
Answer: Sunday – 8:15am Holy Eucharist, ‘said’ service of worship Sunday – 10:00am Holy Eucharist, ‘sung’ service of worship

Question: What is St. George Memorial Church's dress code?
Answer: Wear whatever makes you comfortable. Don’t worry about what you look like – we’re happy to have you join us!

Question: What is St. George Memorial Church's Facebook page?
Answer: https://www.facebook.com/stgeorgesoshawa/

Question: What is St. George Memorial Church's live streaming page?
Answer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM4kEyvIzIo

Question: What is St. George Memorial Church's website?
Answer: https://stgeorgesoshawa.org/

Question: What denominaiton is St. George Memorial Church?
Answer: St. George Memorial Church belongs to Anglican Church denomination.

Question: Where is St. George’s?
Answer: We’re located on the north east corner of Centre and Bagot streets in Oshawa. We have parking behind the church off Bagot street, parking on Bagot and Green P parking lots on Athol and behind the Library.

Question: What are your Covid protocols?
Answer: All COVID restrictions have been lifted. Masks are no longer required, but we’re all at different comfort levels, so feel free to keep wearing your mask. And please stay home if you’re feeling unwell. You’ll find hand sanitizer in various places throughout the building.

Question: What should I wear?
Answer: Wear whatever makes you comfortable. Don’t worry about what you look like – we’re happy to have you join us!

Question: What happens when I get there?
Answer: If you arrive a few minutes before services begin, a sides person(greeter) will welcome you and give you a bulletin to help guide you through the service. They’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have. Find a seat where you feel most comfortable.

Question: How will I know what to do?
Answer: Just follow along! We usually stand to sing and sit to listen to the readings and the sermon. Your bulletin includes the words to the prayers and hymns at the 10:00 service. We say some of the prayers together (written in bold type), and some are said or sung by the priest or choir. Join in as you feel comfortable.

Question: Do I have to give money?
Answer: We take a collection every week to support the work we do in our church and in the wider community. It’s completely up to you whether you’d like to contribute. We’re grateful for anything you might choose to give, but don’t feel like you need to.

Question: Can I receive Communion?
Answer: All baptized Christians are invited to receive the bread and wine at Communion. Everybody can come forward for a blessing, indicated by crossing your arms over your chest. You can also choose to stay in your pew. When it’s time for Communion, the congregation goes to the front of the church, row by row, guided by our sides people. You’ll stand or kneel at the altar rail and either hold out your hands to receive the wafer, or cross your arms over your chest if you’d like a blessing instead. There is an accessible Communion station on the main floor as well. We drink the wine from a common cup, or chalice. If you’d prefer not to receive the wine, you can go straight back to your seat, or you can cross your arms over your chest when you approach the chalice bearer. Intinction (dipping the bread in the wine) isn’t permitted — it’s far less safe than the common cup. Anglican theology has always held that communion in one kind (just the bread) constitutes full participation in the Eucharist.

Question: What does Anglican mean?
Answer: The Anglican Church is one of the branches of Christianity. The whole Anglican family worldwide has more than 80 million members in 165 countries. We’re part of the Diocese of Toronto, which includes more than 200 church communities in the GTA and beyond. It is a great privilege to gather, share stories of faith and worship God on this beautiful territory, which we now know as Oshawa, but which has been the site of human activity – and therefore storytelling and worship – for many thousands of years. We wish to honour the ancestral guardians of this land and its waterways: the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. The treaties that were signed for this particular parcel of land are collectively referred to as the Williams Treaties of 1923. Today many Indigenous peoples, including the Metis Nation continue to call this land home and act as its stewards, and this responsibility extends to all peoples, to share and care for this land for generations to come.