CANADA: Niagara Network churches celebrate Easter in their buildings
Anglican realignment in Niagara, Ottawa and Toronto
By Sue Careless
The Anglican Planet
On Maundy Thursday a judge in the Ontario Superior Court in Hamilton, decided to allow three Ontario parishes belonging to the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) to continue worshipping in their buildings for Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.
On March 20 Madame Justice Jane Milanetti reserved her decision on whether the parishes of St George’s Lowville in Milton, St Hilda’s in Oakville and Church of the Good Shepherd in St Catharines will retain exclusive use of their church facilities while the bigger legal issues of who owns the buildings are sorted out. The Diocese of Niagara is contesting the property.
The earlier decision of Mr Justice James Ramsay from Feb. 29, in which two of the ANiC parishes were given exclusive use of their properties until this motion was heard, will remain in effect until this decision is issued. The third parish, Good Shepherd in St. Catharines, was not part of the initial litigation but has since been added to the proceedings.
“We are very thankful that we are able to maintain our ministries in the buildings through Easter as there was much uncertainty,” said the Rev Canon Charlie Masters, rector of St George’s Lowville. “We look forward to continued worship there as long as the courts permit us to do so. He acknowledged the prayers offered from across the country. “We are deeply grateful for the prayer support and trust God no matter the outcome.”
The small minority of parishioners from the three churches who wish to remain with the ACC are currently attending Anglican churches within a six-minute drive of their original churches.
Madam Justice Milanetti needs to examine the evidence presented by lawyers John Page for the Diocese and Peter Jervis for ANiC. Her ruling could come down as early as the Tuesday after Easter. No exact date was indicted.

virtueonline.org