Our History

Our Church Calendar

Forty-two years ago, the first steps were taken to organise a Lutheran congregation in Richmond Hill. The Lutheran Church in America (LCA) called Pastor Richard Tubbe to pursue the possibilities of this. He called an “interest meeting” on March 20, 1960, and about thirty people attended. It was decided to begin holding worship services. Facilities were rented at Sir Walter Scott School, and the first service was held on April 3, 1960, with 101 people attending. Three weeks later, the first Sunday School class was held for 25 pupils.

Pastor Tubbe resigned that fall, and recommended we buy a parsonage, which we did, at 110 Rockport Crescent. We called Pastor Al Myers to fill our vacancy. He and his family arrived from Wyoming. Under his guidance, St. Paul’s was formally organised on January 21, 1962, with 63 adults and 43 children signing the charter. As the congregation grew, property was purchased in 1964 on Bayview Avenue, with the ground-breaking ceremony held on June 14. The architect was Karl H. Kruschen and the builder, William Wolfe. The building was completed in record time, and on October 4, the first service was held in the new congregational home. By this time, the congregation numbered 225 baptised members, with 115 children attending Sunday School. The dedication service on November 29, 1964 saw over 400 people attending two worship services.

Pastor Myers returned to the USA in May, 1966, and in September, Pastor Jim Dauphinee arrived with his family; he remained for 15 years. Many notable events occurred during this time, including communion of 10-year-olds, a Parish Life Development project, formation of a Beaver colony, first annual Sunday Church School Pancake Breakfast, an active Youth program, introduction of the new Lutheran Book of Worship, start of the Strength for Mission program for debt reduction, regular after-service coffee hour, church organ re-building, and the highlight in 1981 when we became an entirely self-supporting congregation. Pastor Dauphinee conducted his last service on July 6, 1981, and retired to Nova Scotia.

On September 20, 1981, Pastor Bob Shantz was ordained and installed. He introduced several changes in our worship services, including the free-standing altar and the use of assisting ministers. During this time, through “Operation Miracle”, we were able to raise $16,000, which, with the Synod’s assistance, paid off the debt on our properties. On January 22, 1983, we celebrated our 21^st anniversary with a mortgage-burning ceremony. Also that year, a Confirmands’ reunion was held and both Pastor Myers and Pastor Dauphinee paid return visits.

In 1984, we had another pastoral change, as Pastor Shantz resigned to assume duties as Chaplain at the University of Toronto. Pastor Alan Cook arrived in August. He was noted for his particular gift in pastoral visiting. Pastor Cook resigned in January 1987 due to ill health. This was a difficult time for St, Paul’s, but in Christian fashion the congregation worked together and showed the strength of their faith. Also in 1987, with the formation of the new Lutheran church body, we approved a new constitution and joined the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

Pastor Tom Doherty became our pastor in September 1987. He made an impact on our congregation, especially with his singing, but also with other ideas, such as trying out different seating arrangements for worship services, and adding a second worship service. He also made us more aware of our community with outreach initiatives such as refugee sponsorship (in partnership with St. Gabriel’s Anglican), supporting the Food Bank, establishing the Community Garden, and setting up a Shepherding program within the congregation.

Pastor Tom left us in 1994 to pursue a career in opera, and so Pastor Patricia Giannelia, our first woman pastor, came to us in May 1995 from Montréal. She too, had lots of new ideas and energy. Through her leadership, we have seen the addition of annual healing services, outdoor services in summer, annual Vacation Bible School in partnership with neighbourhood churches, and involvement with Out of the Cold. Week after week, her personable nature welcomes us to worship, and she is noted for her special presence at baptisms, weddings, and funerals.

Like Pastor Tom, Pastor Giannelia decided to buy her own home, so the parsonage was sold in 1999. In 2000, the Town of Richmond Hill expropriated part of our parking lot to facilitate widening Bayview Avenue, and changes were made to our parking facility.

Our membership remains constant at approximately 230 members, but we have begun to see approaches from the new development around the church. Since May of 1999, we have shared our church with Lord Love Lutheran Church, a Chinese mission church under the leadership of Pastor Kay-Wai Hon.

St. Paul’s is a congregation that continues to grow and change in many ways. In the fall of 2005 we called Pastor Claudine Carlson after saying goodbye to Pastor Patricia who has moved to Kelowna to continue her ministry. Pastor Claudine brings many wonderful qualities to assist us in caring for and encouraging one another as we strive to be part of the living Body of Christ in Richmond Hill. God has blessed us with a bequest and we are currently trying to determine what we can do with this wonderful gift

May God continue to bless and guide us!