On Sunday, November 3, 2019, All Saints Waterloo was pleased to welcome Archbishop Linda Nicholls as the parish celebrated its 60th anniversary. Joining Archbishop Nicholls were some of the past rectors, Rev. Canon Neil Carver, Rev. Canon David Morris, and Rev. Canon Robin Lyons.
All Saints’ began as a Sunday School Mission of Holy Saviour Church, Waterloo in 1958 at MacGregor School. In 1959, All Saints’ became a separate mission parish with Allan Barker, the first rector (1958-1964). Services originally alternated between Northdale School and the original Renison College at 193 Albert Street. The first church building at Hazel and Hickory Streets opened November 1961.
After years of planning and negotiation, a new ecumenical church building was created at Northfield Dr. West and Highpoint Ave to be shared by All Saints’ Anglican and Waterloo North Presbyterian Churches. The Service of Dedication took place in March 1982. An enhanced church centre was added in 1997.
At the time of its 60th anniversary, All Saints’ has had six distinct worship spaces, from Rev. Baker’s living room, Northdale School, Renison College, the building at Hickory and Hazel, the Laurel Church Centre and the new enhanced worship space. And All Saints’ continues its journey as they prepare to embark on the building a new church facility that will better meet the needs of the mission field of Lakeshore North and South and the congregation.
In many ways, the journey has kept the community’s focus on its mission. As a Tabernacle people constantly on the move, All Saints’ has never experienced what it is like to be a Temple community. On the move and going where God calls them All Saints’ has always been able to nimbly adapt to the changing landscape and mission field.
As the community looks forward to what the next 60 years will hold, the ethos of the community has not changed. It continues to put mission before building, people before artifacts, and the gospel as the guiding light for its continued journey throughout the world, boldly embodying its visions where All Are Saints, All are Loved and All are Welcome.
Rev. Marty Levesque