Anglican Communion News Service

More than 95% of the population in the vast Anglican Diocese of Quebec is French-speaking, and yet for over 200 years there hasn't been a francophone Anglican parish in this part of Canada. The conventional wisdom was that French speakers were Roman Catholics, and attempts to evangelise among the French-speaking population were discouraged.

However, things are changing with the inauguration of the parish of Tous les Saints (All Saints), which has grown out of a group of francophone Christians from several denominations who have met together over the last 10 years. "It was more of a 'group' than a 'community'", says the new parish's first rector, Canon Pierre Voyer. The parish roll contains more than 70 names, and Tous les Saints may be Quebec City's only growing Christian community.

Since the 1970s English-speaking Anglicans have been leaving the province, and the Roman Catholic Church is experiencing a decline in its numbers. Tous les Saints has a number of Roman Catholics among its members. "They feel welcome in the Anglican church," says Canon Voyer. "It's a place where they're welcome and feel cared for. If the Anglican church is going to survive in the Diocese of Quebec, it's certain that it's going to have to become more open to the development of francophone parishes. Is that going to happen? I'm not sure."

Bishop of Quebec, Bruce Stavert, is keen to increase the number of French-speakers among his congregations. Currently there are only 8,000 Anglicans in the whole diocese.

"We lead a kind of double challenge in our life and ministry as Anglicans in Quebec," says Bishop Stavert, a bilingual native of the province. "First we want to be open to the French majority with whom we live. On the other hand, we have Anglicans for whom their church is the last English-speaking institution in their community, who don't want to see their churches change overnight into something different. We have to be sensitive to that."

Tous les Saints has been holding its services in the cathedral in Quebec City, but will soon move into All Saints chapel, a worship space adjacent to the cathedral that had fallen into disuse and disrepair. A complete refurbishment of the chapel is underway so that it can become the parish's permanent home.

Article from: Anglican Journal