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By Stuart Mann

For Kristy Weenen and St. Thomas, Brooklin, it was a new beginning.

Ms. Weenen, 17, was baptized during the consecration service for St. Thomas, Brooklin’s new worship space.

“It was like I was being baptized along with the church,” said Ms. Weenen afterwards. “I was being welcomed into the church, and at the same time I was welcoming the church into its new life. It was an amazing experience.”

About 400 people, including local MP Jim Flaherty, the federal finance minister, packed the new church on Nov. 1 for the consecration service, which began with the traditional knock on the door by Bishop Linda Nicholls, the area bishop of Trent-Durham.

During the course of the service, which included contemporary and traditional music, Bishop Nicholls anointed the walls and the altar, and dedicated the church’s unique cross-shaped font and the lectern (known at St. Thomas as the ambo). In a moment rich with tradition and symbolism, the altar was vested, the vessels were placed upon it and the candles were lit.

“It was a privilege and a thrill to do that because there will probably be very few occasions in my episcopate for me to consecrate a church,” said Bishop Nicholls. “We don’t build a lot of new churches, so to do it in such a wonderful space that has so many possibilities for creativity and liturgy was a delight.”

In addition to being the diocese’s newest church, St. Thomas is also the most environmentally friendly. It is the first church in the diocese to be heated and cooled using geothermal energy, which is generated by heat stored beneath the earth’s surface. The energy is safe and clean, because it reduces reliance on fossil fuels. The building also incorporates other green features such as energy-efficient lighting.

The new, flexible worship space seats 260, with room for another 80 in the overflow section. The lower level is designed for children’s programs such as the church-owned daycare centre and Sunday school. The building is connected to three other structures on the property – the former church, built in 1869, the parish hall, built in 1987, and the original 1879 rectory, which now houses the church offices.

The new worship space includes furnishings from other Anglican churches that have closed. The altar and lectern are from St. Clement, Riverdale; other items are from Holy Trinity, Ajax; St. Stephen, Maple; and Christ Church, Baileboro.

“We’re very grateful to the people of those congregations for their legacy,” said the Rev. David Harrison, incumbent.

Mr. Harrison said the congregation has traversed “hills and valleys” over the past seven years to build their new church. “There are times when I look at it and think, ‘Wow, I can’t believe that we’re here,’” he said. “There were many times when things clicked into place wonderfully, and other times when there seemed to be insurmountable barriers. I keep coming back to the strong sense of God’s guidance for us through this. We planted and watered and did all sorts of stuff, but God has given the growth.”

St. Thomas struck a task force in 2002 to explore ways to keep up with Brooklin’s rapid growth. Since the early 1990s, when it had less than 2,000 people, the town has grown to more than 15,000. After exploring several options, the task force decided that a larger, modern church was necessary.

The new church costs nearly $5 million. Mr. Harrison said the church’s child care program will help pay off the mortgage. Donations from parishioners and a grant of nearly $1.6 million from the diocese’s Ministry Alllocation Fund will pay off the rest. “This project would not have happened without that level of support from the diocese,” he said.

He said this is a new chapter in the life of the parish. “This isn’t the end. It’s actually the beginning. St. Thomas has always had good outreach, but now we can think about what else we can do locally, in the wider community and internationally. Also, we’ve got more room now in the worship space. We’re finding that new people are coming in to check us out.”

Bishop Nicholls commended the congregation for keeping up with the changes in the wider community. “They entered into a process of visioning, to say, ‘How can we be faithful to what we’re called to do and be in this community?’” She encouraged other parishes to ask that question. “Sometimes it may call us to close a building; sometimes it may call us to build a new building; sometimes it may call us to move to a new location; and sometimes it may call us just to retool what we’re doing with what we currently have. But it’s the courage to step out and do that, and that’s what St. Thomas did.”