ABOUT US

Our name is simply an old word for ‘English’ because our church’s roots are found in England. It is a bit of a misnomer today, since our church is made up of people of every race and colour and nationality. Many find us to be a 'middle way' between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. That is, our worship shares common ancestry with our Roman brothers and sisters, though much of our teaching has been influenced by Reformed theologians and liturgists. To be Anglican today generally means the following: Theology: We believe that God is the creator and sustainer of the world. We believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who both came to teach us how to live and to save us when we are unable to live to God's standards. We believe that God’s Spirit guides us, both individually and collectively when we welcome that Spirit into our hearts. Through the prompting of the Holy Spirit we seek to embody Christ's compassion for the world. Our theology is founded on Scripture, tradition, reason and experience. Worship: Our worship services are designed to be inspiring so that worshippers experience the loving presence of God. We emphasize Word and Sacrament; in other words, we experience the presence of God both in the reading of Scripture and in the sharing of communion. Church Structure: Our church "thinks globally and acts locally". St John the Divine is part of the Anglican Diocese of Niagara with our Bishop and Cathedral in Hamilton. We are part of the world-wide Anglican Communion with about 70 million members.

Before the Anglican congregation in Cayuga had a physical building, services were held in a schoolhouse. In 1837, when the Rev. Bold Cudmore Hill was present, the first church, probably of logs, was built. It was later destroyed by fire and in 1845, a second church, a frame building facing south towards the town, was built. By 1896 however, the congregation, wanting a better building, laid the cornerstone for the present structure. Only the walls and roof were constructed that year with the remaining building features finished in 1897. The first Service of Thanksgiving was held on July 2. The church, built of local stone, is a replica of one in England, the architectural design being chosen by the Rev. John Francis, the Rector at that time. The church tower is Norman and overlooks the town and the Grand River. Teh intereior is completely finished in oak and is graced with a rose window. The church has a beautiful Tracker organ that has been refurbished, although it is only used on occasion. In 2016, a new building addition was completed that added a Community Room, office space, accessible washrooms and elevator to the facility.