St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Knowlton has introduced a third screen displaying Spanish alongside its existing English and French liturgy, part of a broader effort to make services more accessible and inclusive for a diverse congregation. Courtesy St. Paul’s.
Pulse Newsroom
St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Knowlton is preparing for a busy and innovative Easter season, combining long-standing traditions with new technology aimed at making its services more accessible and inclusive to a growing and diverse congregation.
Founded in 1843 and now in its third building, the church has recently seen renewed momentum, with increasing participation and a sense of forward-looking energy among parishioners. Rev. Tim Wiebe says that spirit of growth is shaping both the church’s worship and its outreach efforts this spring.
“We’re looking forward to a very exciting Easter season,” Wiebe said in a March 19 interview, pointing to a series of Holy Week services and new initiatives designed to engage both longtime members and newcomers.
Upgrading sound and technology
Among the most notable updates is a recent upgrade to the church’s Casavant/Hauptwerk organ system, originally installed in 2012. The update includes a new computer and sound system to replace outdated software.
“Windows 7… is antique in the computer world,” Wiebe said. “So, you know, it was time to change that.”
The improved system enhances sound quality while ensuring compatibility with modern technology—an important step for a church that has embraced digital tools, particularly since the pandemic. St. Paul’s is also marking 10 years of livestreaming its services on Facebook.
Expanding access through language
Technology is also playing a key role in making services more inclusive. The church currently uses large screens to display the liturgy in both English and French. This Easter, it will add a third screen in Spanish.
“We know that there are Latino people in the area, and we want to make them feel welcome,” Wiebe said.
The multilingual approach reflects the church’s broader effort to create an accessible worship environment, whether for families with young children, newcomers unfamiliar with Anglican traditions, or those more comfortable in another language.
This Sunday, March 22, the 10 a.m. service will feature a liturgy from the Anglican Church in Nigeria, delivered in all three languages, continuing St. Paul’s tradition of incorporating global Anglican practices.
Holy week traditions and symbolism
Holy Week at St. Paul’s will include several distinctive services, each designed to reflect key moments in the Christian story. A Maundy Thursday service on April 2 at 7 p.m. will feature the symbolic stripping of the altar.
“We get rid of anything sort of shiny and glittery in preparation for Good Friday,” Wiebe explained.
The Good Friday service at 11 a.m. will include a dramatic retelling of the Passion, along with a participatory element.
“Everybody is invited to acknowledge the fact that we were responsible for the death of Jesus, so we pound nails into the cross,” he said.
On Easter Sunday, that same cross will be transformed as parishioners place flowers into it, creating a visual symbol of renewal and resurrection.
“We see sort of a physical representation of the resurrection… and it’s really a dramatic, beautiful moment,” Wiebe said.
A message of renewal
Beyond the seasonal programming, Wiebe sees Easter as resonating with a broader human experience—particularly as winter gives way to spring.
“I guess we can all share… the sense of new life and new hope,” he said. “The significance of Easter in the church is ultimately… that we have the possibility and the hope of… a new kind of life that is fuller and better and richer.”
That message appears to be connecting. In recent months, the church has reported growing attendance and increased engagement, particularly among younger people, alongside a rise in baptisms and weddings.
Building on renewed momentum
For Wiebe, the combination of tradition, community involvement, and thoughtful use of technology is helping St. Paul’s move beyond simply maintaining its legacy.
“I’ve been here 21 years… and never had quite the excitement and momentum before,” he said in an earlier interview.
As Easter approaches, that momentum is on full display—rooted in nearly two centuries of history, but clearly focused on what comes next.