New to St. Nick’s?

Welcome! We're a friendly neighbourhood church in Birch Cliff, serving and praying with our neighbours and inviting people into relationship with God's love and joy, known in Jesus Christ.

Trying a church for the first time can be a bit daunting, so we hope you'll find these notes helpful. You can also ask our sidespeople (greeters), our priest or anyone you meet here about our services and our life together. Or feel free to get in touch if you have any questions!

See our service times

  • You can find St. Nick’s in the heart of Birch Cliff at 1512 Kingston Road. We’re on the north side of Kingston Road at Manderley (just east of Warden). We have plenty of free parking. Get more detailed directions.

  • Wear whatever makes you comfortable. Don’t worry about what you look like – we’ll be happy to see you no matter what!

  • You may want to arrive a few minutes before worship begins. A greeter will say hi and give you a bulletin to help guide you through the service. They’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have. Find a seat wherever you feel comfortable.

  • We usually stand to sing, kneel to pray and sit to listen to the readings and the sermon. You can follow what others are doing. Your bulletin includes the words to the prayers and, at 10:30, the hymns. We say some of the prayers together (written in bold type), and some are said or sung by the priest. If you don’t know the tune for a hymn or don’t feel comfortable joining in, don’t worry – you won’t be the only one not singing.

    If you feel lost, you can always ask someone. We’re happy to help!

  • We love to have kids join us in worship! We’ve got a Nick’s Nook kids’ area set up with books and activities, or you can take an activity bag with you to your pew.

  • We take a collection during the service to support the work we do in our church and in the wider community. It’s completely up to you whether you’d like to contribute. You can use one of the envelopes for visitors in your pew, or put something straight into the collection plate. We’re grateful for anything you might choose to give.

  • All baptized Christians are invited to receive the bread and wine at Communion. Everybody can come forward for a blessing, indicated by crossing your arms over your chest. You can also choose to stay in your pew.

    When it's time for Communion, the congregation goes to the front of the church, row by row. You'll step toward the priest and either hold out your hands to receive the wafer, or cross your arms over your chest if you'd like a blessing instead.

    We drink the wine from a common cup, or chalice. If you'd prefer not to receive the wine, you can go straight back to your seat, or you can cross your arms over your chest when you approach the chalice bearer. Intinction (dipping the bread in the wine) isn't permitted — it's far less safe than the common cup.

    Anglican theology has always held that communion in one kind (just the bread) constitutes full participation in the Eucharist.

  • The Anglican Church is one of the branches of Christianity. The whole Anglican family worldwide has more than 80 million members in 165 countries. We’re part of the Diocese of Toronto, which includes more than 200 church communities in the GTA and beyond. Learn more about who we are and what we believe.