Clayton ON Saint Porphyrios Orthodox Church 2020

Clayton ON Saint Porphyrios Orthodox Church 2020

Clayton, Ontario : Saint Porphyrios Orthodox Church, 2020

Prehistory of the parish

The prehistory of the parish is found in the development of the various Orthodox Christian parishes in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, from the time of World War I. The farthest west that parishes were thus far established was in Kanata. In particular, the Christ the Saviour Carpatho-Russian Parish in Ottawa may be considered to be the direct ancestor.

By 2020, it became evident that there were already Orthodox Christians living in suburban areas, and small towns, to the west of Ottawa, and for whom travel to one of the Orthodox churches in the City of Ottawa required a long drive. In this context, Peter Craig Bowers was ordained to the Holy Diaconate and to the Holy Priesthood in Christ the Saviour Church, Ottawa, with a view to developing a missionary venture in the Carleton Place region west of Ottawa.

Prehistory of the building

The current site of worship for the Saint Porphyrios Orthodox Church is the former Saint George’s Anglican Church in Clayton, Ontario. This Anglican community had been established in 1901, and it had continued to function in the village for more than a century. However, because of various societal and other factors, the parish population dwindled.

Establishment of the Orthodox parish

With the blessing of Metropolitan Gregory (Tatsis) of Nyssa, the bishop of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese, and with the advice of the Dean of Canada, Protopresbyter Maxym Lysack, the mission began to operate with its first service on Christmas Eve, 24 December, 2020.

The parish was incorporated and registered on 19 February, 2021.

The original site of the community was at 481, McCann Road Carleton Place, K7C 0C5, which is not far to the west of Carleton Place.

Later, the community found new rental quarters in Saint George’s Anglican Church on Tatlock Road, in Clayton, Ontario. This is about 20 km west of Carleton Place (via Highways #7 and #9).

Particular parish information

This parish is part of the Canadian Deanery of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of North America (ACROD). The dean is Protopresbyter Maxym Lysack. The bishop is Metropolitan Gregory (Tatsis) of Nyssa.

This parish follows the New (Revised Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of the parish is Saint Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvia (Mount Athos), 2 December.

In 2026, the pastor of the parish was Priest Peter Bowers.

Address :

Saint Porphyrios Orthodox Church

2786, Tatlock Road

Clayton, Ontario

K0A 1P0

Telephone : (613) 253-6760

Web-site

Facebook

E-mail : st.porphyrios@gmail.com

Directions :

Clayton, Ontario, is situated to the west of Ottawa, Ontario. It is found northwest of Carleton Place, and north of Perth.

By car :

From Ottawa, drive west on Highway #417. Take exit #155 for Ottawa Regional Rd #49 /March Road towards Carp/Almonte. Turn left onto March Road/Ottawa Regional Road #49. At the junction with Highway #17, continue straight on through the round-about, and remain on Highway #49. Continue straight on into Mississippi Mills and Almont on Ottawa Street, and Main Street, and then on Almonte Street. Continue straight on onto Wolf Grove Road/Lanark County Road #16. At the junction with Highway #9, turn right onto Highway #9/Tatlock Road. The Temple is on the right, before the Clayton Community Centre.

Priest Peter (Craig) Bowers

Telephone : (613) 253-6760

E-mail : father.cpbowers@gmail.com