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Our Background

Our Mission

Achieving our Objectives

Black History Celebration 2001

Black History Celebration 2002

Black Anglicans In Toronto

Who are we....?

We are Anglicans whose heritage is either African or Caribbean and who desire to minister in our diocese by serving God and all God's people. We desire to serve the needs of our community and to help the diocese in its work among us. How we function in the church or society is, to a large extent, fashioned and nurtured by the experiences of our heritage.

Black History Ecumenical Choir
Black History Ecumenical Choir

We believe that the model developed by the Early Church in Acts 6 is a useful way of fulfilling this ministry, serving the needs of a particular people within the context of the whole.

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Black History Celebrations

Since 1996 our committee has been organizing events as part of our Black History Month celebrations. These celebrations are organized in collaboration with The No Longer Strangers Project of the Diocese (the multicultural project of the Diocese of Toronto). The highlight of these events has been a Eucharistic Celebration on the last Sunday in the month.

The first celebration was held in St. James' Cathedral. On that occasion, it is reported that about 300 persons were unable to get into the church. The attendance was estimated at 1100. A decision was made to move the service to St. Paul's Church, Bloor Street. This church can accommodate 2000 persons. At every celebration since 1997, the church was packed to capacity.

In the first year the theme was 'Celebrating Our Black Heritage'. In subsequent years, the main theme has been "Celebrating The Black Heritage of Our Church. The preachers were invited to reflect on a sub-theme.

The liturgy is a journey into the creative minds of the planning committee. It is characterize not only by spirit-filled, dynamic preaching but also by music, dance, story telling and prayers which reflect the core of Black spirituality and faith.

Though an Anglican celebration, persons of every ethnic background and christian denomination make the last Sunday in February a "red letter" day on their calendar. 
YEAR THEME PREACHER
1996 Celebrating Our Black Heritage The Rev’d Dr. Kortright Davis (Professor, Howard University School of Divinity, The Church of The Holy Comforter, Washington, D.C.)
1997 Building On Past Faith & Courage The. Rt. Rev'd. E. Don Taylor (Vicar Bishop of New York)
1998 The Strength, Faith & Commitment of The Black Woman The Rev'd. Dr. Kelly Brown-Douglas (Howard Divinity School)
1999 Our Youth: The Silence, The Noise, The Praise, The Hope The Rev'd. Michael Curry (St. James, Baltimore)
2000 Jubilee: Restoration! Affirmation! Hope! Pastor Cecil Fletcher (Grant A.M.E. Church, Toronto).
2001 Ministry In the Black Community, Ministry By the Black Community Fr. Stephen Fields (The Church of St. Stephen, Downsview)
2002 Looking to the Future: Embracing Our Diversity Under the Banner of Christ The Most Rev'd Terence Finlay (Archbishop of Toronto)
2003 Our Black Men: Their Struggles, Hopes and Dreams Fr. Peter Fenty (The Church of St. Joseph of Nazareth, Brampton)
2004 The Black Family: Source of Strength, Pillar of Faith The Rev'd. Dr. Anthony Bailey (Parkdale United Church, Ottawa)
2005 Faithful Through The Years: God And God’s People The Rev’d. Dr. Lynn Collins (Staff Officer, Black and Urban Episcopal Ministries, The Episcopal Church of The U.S.A.)
2006 Caribbean Linkages To Our Heritage: Discovering Our Roots, Nurturing Our Branches The Rev’d. Sydney Jacob (The Church in the Province of the West Indies, Diocese of The Northeast Caribbean and Aruba)
2007 Ghanaian Linkages To Our Heritage: We Are One The Very Rev’d Jacob William French (Ghana Methodist Church)
2008 Linkages To Our Canadian Heritage: The Journey Continues The Rev’d. Donald Butler (The Church of The Nativity, Scarborough)
2009 Beneath The Banner Of God’s Love The Rev’d Dr. Kortright Davis (Professor, Howard University School of Divinity, The Church of The Holy Comforter, Washington, D.C.)
2010 Higher Ground The Rev’d Milton Edwards (Firm Faith Community Church)

 

Our Background

Our Mission

Achieving our Objectives

Black History Celebration 2001

Black History Celebration 2002

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