St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church

In the middle of a town that grew around a canal and a railway, a parish church has been a gathering place for generations. St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church stands at 2 George Street South in Smiths Falls, Ontario, and it is part of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa. The church sits on the traditional and unceded territory of the Omàmiwininì, or Algonquin, people, a fact the congregation acknowledges as part of its life, and it serves a parish that draws from the town and the surrounding countryside.

Smiths Falls developed in the 19th century, when the Rideau Canal brought locks, mills and workers to the falls on the Rideau River and the arrival of railways turned the town into a transport junction. Churches followed the growth of the population, and Anglican worship has been part of the town's life for well over a century. St. John's is one of several churches in the downtown, and its position near the main streets makes it easy to find on a walk between the canal locks and the town centre.

The church is a working parish rather than a museum, which means the main way to see it is to attend a service. Worship on Sundays follows the Anglican tradition, with a quiet Holy Eucharist early in the morning and a sung service later in the morning, and there is a midweek service on Wednesdays as well, in addition to Sundays. Hours and details change, and the congregation publishes current times on its website and social media, which also carry streamed services for people who cannot attend. Sunday School runs for children during the school year. The atmosphere is welcoming to visitors, and there is no charge to attend.

Music plays an important part in the church's life. The interior contains a three-manual digital organ, a modern instrument with dozens of stops, which accompanies the choir and congregation and which the parish describes as a recent addition. Concerts and special services are sometimes held in the church, particularly around Christmas and Easter.

The parish is also active in the community, with food ministries, volunteer groups and charitable activities, and a guild looks after the altar and church furnishings. The clergy lead the congregation in prayer, teaching and outreach.

Visitors who want to see the interior outside services should contact the parish office in advance, as the building is not generally open as a tourist attraction. As in much of small-town Canada, it makes a quiet addition to a walk through the town, and the Rideau Canal locks and Smiths Falls Museum are close by.