It is difficult to comprehend that more than six decades have swiftly passed since the beginning of my worship at St. John the Evangelist Church in Topsail. For the first seventeen years, alongside long-time parishioners, we gathered in the original modest yet revered church—always welcomed by the familiar clanging of the proverbial bell.
Due to limited space at the time, a larger structure became necessary, and in 1974, the present building was constructed, consecrated, and opened for occupancy. As the years went by, I witnessed the arrival and departure of more than twenty priests—each leaving behind a legacy of unique and treasured memories.
Perhaps most significantly, I have observed various changes over the years, particularly in the past decade. These changes have not been so much in liturgy, but rather in communication. Social media has accelerated the way information is shared. Yet despite these advancements, we are witnessing a generational gap in church attendance—a trend not unique to our parish in Topsail, but evident across Canada. This shift has not gone unnoticed by our governing church body, which continues to reflect on the future of the Church—and the Church of the future.
We experienced a deep sense of disconnection during the COVID-19 pandemic—not only within our own congregation but also with neighbouring parishes—as online worship became the norm. It was during this period that the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador highlighted the importance of sustainability within the Church, leading to the creation of the Creation Care and Stewardship initiative. The Rev’d Jotie Noel was appointed as a Canon of this new mission, alongside three colleagues.
The congregation was informed of this fresh vision to broaden our Christian ministry, and a recovery plan was set in motion. Subsequent issues of Creation Care and Stewardship have reported encouraging progress. It appears that a welcome transformation is on the horizon for the Church—yet this in no way diminishes the depth and meaning of my personal spiritual journey at St. John the Evangelist over the past sixty years.
“He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.” Acts 15: 41
