Holy Trinity Clearview, Duntroon reopens for in-person worship

Sunday marks the first in-person worship service since the suspension of public worship in March, and utilized new audio video equipment and technology.
Holy Trinity Clearview Anglican Church opened its doors this week for Sunday worship after six months of closure. Under the direction of the Anglican Diocese of Toronto, in-person worship services, in-person group studies, and fundraising dinners were all cancelled since March. During this time, instead of physical gathering, Incumbent Father Ray Dobson facilitated worship by offering virtual video conferencing, starting a website blog, and for those with limited internet access, presenting pre-recorded sermons by dialing phone number 705-999-0092.
For Sunday’s reopening of the church, Holy Trinity Clearview followed Public Health guidelines for physical distancing and social gathering as well as the “Amber Phase” directives issued by the Diocese. These included markings and signage for movement in the building and seating in the pews; the removal of shared hymnals, bibles, and prayer books; mandatory face coverings and hand sanitizer; and refraining from any singing. New audio-video equipment was also used to promote physical distancing, allowing live video to be broadcast from the church to the adjacent church hall, onto a 75” screen and amplified sound system. Recently installed high speed internet also allowed the church service to be transmitted live to parishioners at home, via video conferencing software ZOOM, which also offers telephone dial-in for those with limited internet.
York-Simcoe area Bishop Peter Fenty approved Holy Trinity Clearview’s reopening, saying “Our re-opening … is both a time of giving thanks for the return to church and a time of lament as we continue to pray for those afflicted with the virus, for health care workers, first responders, care givers, those persons experiencing isolation, those persons unable to return because of health concerns, and for the scientific and medical teams working on a vaccine. Please continue to keep safe by doing what reflects love of neighbour.”
Holy Trinity Clearview established itself as a newly formed Anglican Parish in September 2017, comprised of the former Anglican Parishes of Christ Church, Batteaux (founded in 1865), Church of the Redeemer, Duntroon (founded in 1875) and St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Singhampton (founded in 1875).
Holy Trinity Clearview worships at the former Church of the Redeemer, Duntroon, and continues to serve the villages of Singhampton, Batteaux, and Duntroon, and the surrounding rural area.
Regular worship times at Holy Trinity Clearview, Duntroon are Sundays at 10 a.m. The church is located at 4 St. Clair Street, Duntroon, just south of the Duntroon Daycare.
Visit www.holytrinityclearview.com.