St. Clair church lauds 100 years of service

[attach]2779[/attach]During the depression, they sent 250 gallons of milk per month to the Yonge Street Mission.

During the drought in the west, they sent money for relief.

During the Second World War, they opened their doors to people as a place to pray.

They are a place that encourages interfaith dialogue.

And now, Timothy Eaton Memorial Church and its congregation are celebrating 100 years of being a part of the community — and are looking forward to the future.

“It’s a celebration of our roots and for people to know and to appreciate where we’ve come from,” said Reverend Dr. Andrew Stirling, senior minister at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church. “We’ve been a presence for people to come to in times of need.”

The celebration on Oct. 24 involved two services with receptions, musical compositions and guest speakers as well as the unveiling of a large stone plaque.

[attach]2780[/attach]Stirling says the plaque is engraved with key words that define the role the church has played.

“There was very much a recognition of the glorious past that Timothy Eaton Memorial Church has had, but also a strong conviction about its future,” he said. “One of the comments made on the plaque is that we’re celebrating ‘the first 100 years’, which implies the ongoing vibrant ministry that we have.”

Stirling says over the past 100 years, the church has been a major spiritual home for people in different circumstances of their lives, and they’re trying to build on that to continue attracting parishioners.

“We’re looking at innovative ways to continue reaching out to the city,” he said. “For example, a podcast of services and sermons. And now we’re broadcast in four Maritime Provinces, so we’re becoming even more of a national congregation as well. These are all exciting things.”

And it’s all those things that keep the congregation growing. Stirling mentioned that he thinks the church is becoming a cathedral of sorts, because it is attracting people from outside of the city as well.

“It’s very much a gathering place for all ages and stages of life,” he said.

Back in the spring, Stirling said the church opened an old time capsule, and now they’re planning to put away another one this coming spring.

“We’re now putting together the contents,” he said, adding it will include a replica of the 2010 Olympic torch, newspaper articles about Toronto, and letters written by children who attend the church. “We hope that it will be opened by the generation in 100 years time and they see what young people were thinking about the state of our church in their era.”