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By Stuart Mann

Trinity, Streetsville’s church was consecrated on May 31. About 450 people attended the Sunday morning service, which included adult baptism and a reaffirmation of faith for about 20 people.

“It was a great day for the church,” said the Rev. Canon Harold Percy, incumbent. “Everyone got a big boost. There was a lot of excitement in the air.”

Trinity’s building was finished in 2000 and the mortgage was paid off two years later. Canon Percy said it took so long to get the church consecrated because the parish was so focused on doing mission. “To be honest, it never occurred to us (to consecrate the building). We were just doing ministry and the work of the church.”

He said he forgot about consecrating the church until Bishop Philip Poole, the area bishop of York-Credit Valley, reminded him. “We weren’t even thinking of it. Even when we were building the church, we were always focused on ministry. It was never all about the building.”

Trinity suffered a devastating fire in 1998 that destroyed their renovated church just as it was about to open. Undaunted, the congregation rallied and started to build again. They moved into their new building in 2000 and paid off the mortgage in 2002.

“By doing that, I think what the congregation is saying is that their faith means a lot to them and their church means a lot to them,” says Canon Percy.

He says the 1998 fire seems like a long-ago memory. “We got through it. We say that God is faithful, so we shouldn’t be surprised when he is.”

Bishop Poole paid tribute to Canon Percy and the congregation for rallying at a time of adversity. “Fire did not dissuade you. You have built something beautiful for God, and today we formally consecrate it, set it aside for the purpose of worshipping God and gathering this community together.”