Mission Statement

"We are called to be Christ`s witnesses by being a church which is welcoming, inclusive of everyone, and spiritually nurturing, reaching out in support and service to all people in our local and world-wide communities.”

Ministry Personnel and Staff

Minister:  Rev. Edward (Ted) Grady

Secretary:  Monica Schaefer

Organist:  Shaaryn Chambers

Senior Choir Director:  David Holborn

Finance Clerk:  Wendy King

Caretaker:  Cliff Dunthorne

Minister Emeritus:  Rev. W.E. Stanford

History

Mr. James Bourchier, an Anglican and founder of Sutton, donated land for St. James Anglican Church.  At the urging of his wife, a Presbyterian, he also donated the land for Knox Presbyterian Church.  Later becoming Knox United Church, the church was built in 1863 at its present location, at a total cost of $2,000.  In 1921 the Sunday School Hall was erected to the east of the original entrance of the church. Next to the Hall, a covered shed sheltered the horses during church functions. 

In 1925, the Congregation of Knox Presbyterian Church and the Sutton Methodist Church decided to unite. The amalgamation resulted in our present Knox United Church.

In 1953, the decision was made to build a new church.  A three-year fund-raising campaign was undertaken to meet the needs of a postwar growing congregation, and a building committee was formed.  Then, in 1956, a fire substantially damaged the interior of the church.  Shortly after the fire, ground was broken for the construction of the new church and the cornerstone was laid September 30, 1956.

On June 13, 1957, the Right Reverend James Thompson, Moderator, opened our new church, the present structure.  The initial church, which was incorporated with the new addition, is now the Fellowship Room, Nursery, and furnace room in the basement.

Governance

The structure and governance of Knox is defined in our constitution, and is based on the Church Council organizational model as defined in "The Manual" of the United Church of Canada.  The Church Council Ministries (Committees) are as follows: Administrative Ministry, Board of Trustees, Christian Development Ministry, Fellowship Ministry, Outreach and Social Justice Ministry, Property Ministry, Stewardship Ministry, Worship and Music Ministry, and Ministry and Personnel Ministry.

Membership

In 2010, there were 171 members and adherents at Knox, and 136 identifiable givers to local church expenses. 

The following information on becoming a member of a particular United Church congregation has been taken from the publication "Maintaining Church Membership Rolls" by Douglas L. Sanders. This article was located through the United Church web site.  If you are interested in becoming a member of Knox, please contact our church office to arrange an appointment with the Minister.  You can phone at 905-722-3742 or email knoxunitedchurch@bellnet.ca.

What Is A Member?

When a person is baptized in your congregation, usually as a child, the person becomes a baptized member of the church universal. A United Church person who affirms as a teen-ager or adult through a public profession of their faith their baptismal vows, becomes a confirmed member of your congregation and hence of The United Church of Canada. For the purposes of this article, the word "member" refers to confirmed member.

How Does One Become A Confirmed Member?

A person who has been previously baptized becomes a confirmed member of your congregation by making a public profession of faith (usually after a course of study) and being confirmed through a public service of worship called confirmation. The person's name is then added to the membership roll of your congregation. Adults who have never been baptized are received into membership through a service of adult baptism which, according to our denomination's polity, is concurrently a service of confirmation.

In our United Church tradition, if you move to another community and decide to attend a different congregation, you take or transfer your membership to a new congregation. This act of transfer is done at your request through the church office or your congregation's minister. Your congregation will issue a formal written certificate or a "letter of standing" to you personally, or will send it to your new church home. The certificate gives your name, verifies that you are a member in good standing and commends you to the new congregation. "Letters of transfer" are also known as "certificates of transfer" and less commonly referred to as "letters of demission," or "lines." To be "received by transfer," or "by certificate," or "by letter" are synonymous.

In United Church tradition, church membership is not a given for a lifetime. Once a member has been confirmed, they must continue an active interest in the life and work of the church. Otherwise, their membership is subject to review and possible termination by the governing body of the church.

If you were at one time a member of a local congregation and for some reason you let your membership lapse (probably because you moved away or became inactive), you may renew your membership vows and return to full membership through a process called reaffirmation of faith. Sometimes, reaffirmation involves taking a course of study. Reaffirmed members are usually received back as members during a worship service when other members are being received.

Occasionally, new members are received into the church through the action of the governing board of the congregation -- by Board or Session action. This procedure isn't used very often. It is usually invoked when the person concerned is not able to take formal classes in preparation for confirmation, or when record of one's membership within the church has proven impossible to obtain or verify.

In the United Church tradition, new members are received into the fellowship of a local congregation at specific services of worship, usually at or around the time the sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated. When new members are to be received, their names must be presented to the governing body of the congregation and formally recorded in the minute book of that governing body.

What Is An Adherent?

An adherent is a person who is known to your congregation and is affiliated in some way with your congregation, but is not a confirmed or professed member of the congregation. Hence the person is not on your congregation's membership roll of confirmed members and would not be considered a member of The United Church of Canada.

Are Adherents The Same As Inactive Members?

No. Some adherents can be very active in the life of your local congregation. However, for whatever reason, they choose not to make a profession of faith and become confirmed members of the church. Other adherents may be totally inactive and have only the most tenuous of relationships with the congregation, usually for the rites of passage such as marriages and funerals