Pamela was born in Norfolk England and immigrated to Canada in the late 1950s.  She and her girlfriend “came to see the world”. Shortly after arriving in Niagara Falls where she got a job in the tourist industry, she met Joe Nemeth and they were married here at Christ Church in 1959.  They raised their 4 children as part of the parish.  They are the proud parents of two boys and two girls who have given them a total of 7 grandchildren. 

Pamela joined the Altar Guild over 30 years ago and began looking after the job as flower coordinator more than 20 years ago.  She makes sure that there are flowers each week in the church. Each week she calls the person who has promised to put flowers in the church and reminds them. She keeps a schedule with each person’s wording on it and makes sure that the information is given to the secretary so that it can be printed in the bulletin.  When a person tells her that they no longer wish to put flowers in the church, it is her responsibility to find someone who might like to put flowers in the church.  It is the responsibility of the person putting the flowers in the church to pick up the vases and deliver them to the florist for filling or to bring in the flowers for the Altar Guild to arrange. 

Pamela has also been a member of the Informals since they began over 25 years ago.  The Informals help with the bazaar, take on hosting a coffee hour once a month, have an annual Christmas cookie sale, a bread sale each Palm Sunday for the PWRDF and a plant, bake and craft sale each spring.  Each year they donate money to the church for different projects.  Most recently they donated $2000 to help offset the $3000 increase in our insurance premiums.   As chair of the Informals it is Pamela’s job to make sure that everyone keeps all these functions on their agenda and to insure that the proper licenses are obtained for the raffles.  The Informals send our used eyeglasses to the Warehouse of Hope.  They also make pneumonia vests and blankets which they donate to the Warehouse of Hope. These items are then distributed to needy people in third world countries.

Outside of the church Pamela volunteers with the Hospital Auxiliary and helped out at the Community Soup kitchen for many years.

In her spare time Pamela enjoys reading, travelling and gardening.

The bells at Christ Church have been silent for 5 years.  Work is presently underway to renovate the chiming mechanism to allow manual and computer-controlled chiming of our ten bell chime.  The chime stand was dismantled September 24, loaded on a truck and taken to Ohio to be rebuilt. The project is underway.

The 100th anniversary of the bells coincides with the Bicentennial of the War of 1812. Christ Church is the garrison church in Niagara Falls for the Lincoln & Welland Regiment directly descended from militia units that fought the War of 1812.

We will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the bells on June 16, 2012 when we host an event “Chime the Bells for 1812” on the lawns and gardens of Christ Church. City officials and the public will be invited to join us for the event. Bishop Michael Bird has been invited to attend as well.

We will have two guest chimers from St. George’s Anglican in Guelph with us for the day. One of the highlights of the afternoon will be a chiming duet with Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Niagara Falls, NY. This will celebrate almost 200 years of peace between our two countries.

The bells are a community instrument and will be chimed 3 times a day every day.

 “Chime the Bells for 1812” is the lead-off event for the 1812 celebrations in the city.

Richard Watson, Jack Whalen and Tom Ridgway dismantled the chime stand on the weekend of September 24^th.  

  Close to 150 years ago your parish, Christ Church, was established in the then community of Clifton. (Your 150th Anniversary will take place in 2015)  Over the years this church has served many generations of Anglicans in Niagara Falls.  Many of those early parishioners were of British stock who brought with them the fine Anglican traditions that were familiar to them in the ‘old country’.  In those early years numerous structural changes were made to the first church as well as enhancements made to the worship ministry. Many people proffered their time, talent and treasure to the glory of God and the overall welfare of the parish.  It is the dedication of those early congregants that has allowed the parish to thrive over the intervening years.

  In those days (some would call the “good old days”) the parish played a significant role in the lives of the people.  It was not just a place of worship, it provided the social life for what was often a close knit homogeneous community.   People came because of their simple faith in God, or, for some, because it was the thing to do.   Whatever the motivation the church was full, the Sunday School was alive with children and the parish was a well respected institution in the larger community.  The realities of life were far different than they are today.

  Today the once thriving church is struggling.  Not just here, but, throughout the diocese, and, indeed all of Canada.  Many churches struggle with low attendance, a more senior demographic and lower income.  Add to this expense numbers that challenge even the most conservative of budgets.  What we have is a ‘perfect storm’.  It is a storm that some parishes will not survive.  Short term measures can fend off the inevitable for the short term.  It is only through long term, pro-active planning that the ongoing life of a parish can be assured.  Failing to do this will have a devastating impact on a parish, and sadly, could lead to closure.

  Presently your parish is not facing a ‘perfect storm’, but, the long term possibilities are there.  On a good Sunday there are between 110 and 120 worshippers between the two services.  Although the number could always be larger Sunday attendance is fair and relatively stable.  Most of your worshippers are, if I can put it delicately, seniors.  When I say ‘senior’ I am suggesting an age reflective of those over 75 years of age.  And finally, the weekly collection is not paying the bills.  When the offering, or fund-raising, does not accumulate enough revenue then funds are taken from available capital money.   Those funds are limited.

  Consider the situation 10 years from now.  Barring some significant change in the overall situation, one can see, that the ‘perfect storm’ is on the horizon.  The congregation will get older.  Some will not, for many reasons, be able to worship on Sunday.  The ability of the parishioners to maintain the present levels of giving will be challenged.   As revenue declines and expenses inflate the powers that be ten years from now will be challenged to pay the bills.  It may be a time for tough decisions to be made. 

Lent/Easter Services
22 February, Ash Wednesday Services at 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.
01 Apr, Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday
05 Apr - Maundy Thursday
06 Apr - Good Friday
07 Apr - Holy Saturday
08 Apr - Easter Day