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The facts about St Chad’s Anglican parish
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11 March 2008
A response to the misleading story posted on the Diocese of Toronto’s website on 6 March 2008
The story written by Stuart Mann and posted to the Diocese of Toronto website March 6 contains inaccuracies and innuendo that demand a response.
The historical context
First, we need to put the St Chad’s saga in context. It is a matter of public record that the Diocese of Toronto has been attempting to close down the parish of St Chad’s for several years. This can be verified by media coverage in 2003 (National Post, Nov. 1, 2003, Sue Careless, St. Chad’s fate hangs in the balance). And yet this unique, inner-city parish has soldiered on offering a home to faithful parishioners and community organizations such as Narcotics Anonymous and a special-needs troop of Rover Scouts.
The simple facts
Membership (those eligible to vote in vestry): 51
Average Sunday attendance: 30-40
Monthly community supper & service attendance: 30-50 (depending on weather)
Number who attend one or more services in a year (including children): 100-110
The vestry vote
“…half of the parishioners were not at the church…”
Stuart Mann story, Diocese of Toronto website
This is true! Of the 51 members on the vestry role, 25 were present February 17th to vote. (A number of others attended but were not registered to vote.) The rest were prevented by freezing rain, illness or work demands. Had all been able to attend, we are confident the majority vote in favour of seeking the care and protection of an alternative bishop would have been much stronger.
The information prior to vestry
“…the majority of parishioners were not given clear information prior to the vote…”
Stuart Mann story, Diocese of Toronto website
Prior to February 17, three well-attended pre-vestry information sessions were held to explore the issues and opportunities, with significant time devoted to questions and answers. Considerable effort went into ensuring everyone had the opportunity to be informed. Members were called and encouraged to study the information. A parishioner even took it upon herself to develop and distribute information packets and fact sheets written specifically for the people of St Chad’s and designed to address their questions and circumstances.
In addition, significant amounts of information had been provided in July 2007, when the parish voted to join the Anglican Network in Canada. Speaking of the available information, St Chad’s parishioner Sandra Tone says, “I received all kinds of information from St Chad’s before our vestry vote. There was written material, meetings, guest speakers, videos and verbal information at services.”
The service of February 24, 2008
“On Sunday Feb. 24, the doors were locked and guarded by some of those who had decided to leave the Anglican Church of Canada.”
Stuart Mann story, Diocese of Toronto website
For Sunday services on February 24, church doors were open on Dufferin Street and from the parking lot. Bishop Colin Johnson and Archdeacon Paul Feheley (principal secretary to the Primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz) were among the approximately 35 people gathered for Morning Prayer that day. Archdeacon Feheley took it upon himself to welcome people as they entered the building and Bishop Johnson interrupted the worship service to read a statement.
This statement announced a meeting in the building on Monday evening – at a time normally reserved for a meeting of the special-needs Rover Scout troop.
“The church wasn’t locked on February 24th,” confirms St Chad’s parishioner Ena Francis. “In fact, any parishioner who wanted was able to come to programs at the church until the diocese locked us out on February 29th”
The stalwart Rover Scouts provided the only humour in this entire saga. It seems they used their powers of persuasion Monday evening to convince the diocesan officials that it would be better if the diocesan bureaucracy conducted its business at a time and in a place that didn’t disrupt the parish’s community ministries.
The locks
“They, along with approximately 45 other parishioners, had been locked out of their church by a small group…. ‘Starting on Monday (Feb. 25), some people were holed up in the church and were not allowing anybody in.’”
Stuart Mann story, Diocese of Toronto website
In the context of diocesan intimidation and knowing the diocese had access to the keys, the priest-in-charge changed the locks on February 26, fearing the building would be commandeered by the diocese – a fear that proved well-founded. Some time between 10:30pm Thursday (February 28) when the Narcotics Anonymous group left the building and 8:30am Friday morning when parishioner Sandra Tone tried to access the church building, the diocese had changed the locks and posted a security guard.
The wardens
Earlier this year, both wardens – the people’s warden who is elected by vestry and the rector’s warden who is appointed by the priest-in-charge – indicated verbally that they did not wish to stand for another term.
The annual vestry meeting to elect a new people’s warden was planned for February 24, the Sunday Archdeacon Feheley and Bishop Johnson chose to involve themselves in the affairs of the parish. As a result of this disruption, the vestry meeting was not held that day and has been rescheduled for March 30, following Holy Week and Easter. In the interim, given the confusing circumstances, the previous wardens were sent letters of appreciation for their service of the past year and told that their term was ended. The priest then appointed a new rector’s warden, as is her prerogative, and an interim people’s warden was put in place on an emergency basis until the election of March 30.
Requested meeting with diocese
On February 29, a letter was sent to Bishop Colin Johnson requesting he meet with representatives of St Chad’s to discuss an amicable resolution of outstanding issues. The people of St Chad’s are still hoping for such a meeting.
St Chad’s services continue
While they are displaced from their own building, the parishioners of St Chad’s are being graciously hosted by Patterson Presbyterian Church, 109 Harvie Ave, Toronto. Parishioners gather to worship at 2pm each Sunday.
St Chad’s parishioner Gary English responds to an earlier Diocese of Toronto statement dated February 29, 2008
“I read with considerable surprise the Toronto Diocesan statement, dated February 29, regarding the Parish of St. Chad’s. It was full of innuendo and falsehoods. For example, it described our special Vestry as simply a “meeting” and the results of that meeting as something less than a majority ruling (“some parishioners voted to place themselves under the authority of the Southern Cone.”). It also said that we voted “to leave the Anglican Church of Canada” when in fact it was the Anglican Church of Canada which is, by its actions, choosing to walk away from the worldwide Anglican Communion.
“You state that on February 20th the Bishop of Toronto put our priest, the Rev. Barbara Richardson on paid leave. Is this the same as “being Inhibited”, as the bishop stated at Sunday service on the 24th of February? If so, then why not say so? To state that Rev. Richardson voluntarily resigned shortly after this is another misleading statement. Her resignation – which was clearly offered under duress – was announced at the February 24th service. I believe she did this to restore a measure of calm in the midst of a very stressful, intimidating situation and in order to receive a new licence so she could continue her ministry.
“The statement went on to describe the Sunday service thus, “the doors were locked and guarded’. Absolutely not true! I arrived precisely at 11:00am and found no such thing. When I took my seat, I was surprised to see the Bishop of Toronto sitting in a pew. Part way through the service he (without invitation) interrupted the service to read a proclamation telling us of his action to inhibit our priest. He informed us that “this was his church.” When asked by me for permission to ask a question he refused. It was at this time that Rev. Richardson instructed our lay minister to retrieve and read her letter of resignation. The bishop then left, allowing us to continue our service, which by then was under considerable stress. It was at this point that decisions were made to secure the church until legal advice could be obtained.
“Finally if a cooling off period was really desired, as the diocese’s statement stated, why lock out the majority?
“I pray that your apparent confusion is accidental, perhaps caused by fear of economic loss. I rejoice that I am able to continue to worship our High Priest with the faithful of my birthplace parish, the Community of St. Chad’s. May God have mercy on us all.”
Gary English, March 8, 2008
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