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Service
Sunday at 10:30 am.
Church school for children ages 3 to high school. Nursery is available.
Come early to listen to our beautiful Hal Gober pipe organ.
Also Available Toddler Time Nursery,
Kuman Math, and Scout groups. Call to inquire!
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Our History
St. Giles Presbyterian Church evolved from
a Vacation Bible School held in a tent on the present Lakeshore Road property in
the summer of 1944 under the auspices of St. Andrew’s Church in downtown Sarnia.
In the fall of 1944, a small frame hall was built with the first service of
worship held on January 19, 1945 with 87 people in attendance. By the summer of
1945, the St. Andrew’s Lakeshore Mission was overcrowded, particularly in the
summer. In the fall of 1946, the Mission became St. Giles Presbyterian Church
with 44 charter members taking communion at the first service. Growth continued,
requiring the building of the present sanctuary in 1955 and the Education Wing
in 1960. Although no new space has been added since, the buildings and grounds
have been well maintained. Major projects in the 1990s saw the installation of a
14 stop tracker-action pipe organ, unique in the Sarnia area, a handicapped
access including an elevator and washroom, the complete revamping of the church
kitchen and the addition of a sound system complete with hearing aids. As well
as the pipe organ, the sanctuary also has a grand piano and a harpsichord.
Currently, there are a wide range of activities at St.
Giles. Sunday worship services are held at 10:30 a.m. each week throughout the
year with Sunday School for all ages from 4 to 19, plus a nursery for babies and
toddlers. The Rev. Terry Samuel, M.Div. has been the minister at St. Giles for
the past nine years. As well as being an excellent pastor, he is a great trumpet
player and on most Sundays will accompany the first and last hymns and often
plays duets with the organist. An adult choir under the direction of Ron Kingham,
M.Mus. practices Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. and Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m.
from September through June. This past year, St. Giles has hired Priscilla
Jenkins as the youth coordinator. Her main focus is working with youth in two
age groups: late public school (Grades 7 and 8) and secondary school. A Bible
study group called “A Question of Faith” meets each Tuesday evening from
September to May. Those attending, study the lectionary readings scheduled for
the next Sunday service. The “Women of St. Giles” is a ladies group, which meets
on the third Tuesday of each month from September through May. Their meetings
feature a meditation and a speaker or entertainment. Each year this group raises
between six and eight thousand dollars which is used for projects within St.
Giles (70%) and the balance goes to support various charities locally,
nationally and world-wide. Their next fund-raising event is a Strawberry Social
on June 21. In the fall, they will be preparing turkey pies for sale at their
Annual Food Fair and Bazaar which is held on the third Saturday of November.
Among the many outreach activities supported by the people of St. Giles are the
Inn of the Good Shepherd, NeighbourLink and Dr. Graham’s Homes in India. The
church also plays host to a several scouting-related groups, a chapter of
Alcoholics Anonymous, two music festivals, a number of music recitals especially
the concert each year in support of the Interprovincial Music Camp, and the
annual “Celebration of Courage” service sponsored by the Sarnia Organ Donors
Association in cooperation with the Kidney Foundation of Canada.
St. Giles is a warm and welcoming congregation where a special effort is made to
make everyone feel welcome. Call our church office at 542-2253 any morning,
Monday through Friday for more information. If you are looking for a church home
in Sarnia, come to St. Giles at 770 Lakeshore Road between Colborne and Indian
Roads.
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