Same church, different denominations

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

It is likely not many Uxbridge residents are aware there is a Lutheran Church in town. That's probably because Pastor Richard Loppnow has only about 10 people in his congregation.

"That's part of why I'm here, to build up the congregation," Loppnow says.

Loppnow, who has a PhD in political science, said he moved to Canada from Wisconsin in January because "I'd had enough of the United States."

Since coming to Uxbridge 10 years ago, the Lutherans have been meeting where they can. In Goodwood, they shared space with the United Church but also met occasionally in a barn. For the last three years they have shared the Free Methodist Church on Reach Street.

Methodist pastor Blake Found said the church will be renamed “81 on Reach” and signage will indicate the church is a shared space.

Found said the two denominations "do church very differently." He said Methodists (he has a congregation of about 100) meet in the church once a month, but the rest of the month the congregation meet in homes.

"It forms a closer community," Found said, adding that the Methodists changed to this schedule following COVID-19. "The congregation prefers this arrangement."

Meanwhile, the Lutherans meet in the church every Sunday.

The two men also noted the difference in their approach to religion. Loppnow said the Lutherans concentrate "on what's ahead," while Found said his church is more about spreading Jesus' teachings. However, they said there is a lot of co-operation between the two denominations.

Loppnow said they are organizing a dementia choir, noting it has been found that hymns and other church music helps dementia patients. Found said it's a way of making the church more accessible.