Rev. Paul Carter of Vancouver, who heads up the national group, said he expects more congregations to follow suit.

"It's fair to say there are a number of other Anglican churches in Ontario considering their future," Carter said in a telephone interview from his Vancouver home.

"We have been approached quietly, almost secretly, by other clergy, asking questions."

Gord Woods, who left the church on Main Street that he attended for 24 years, said the issues go beyond same-sex blessings.

"There's this willingness to change scripture to meet their needs," said Woods, even to the point that bishops question the divinity of Christ.

"How can you continue to worship in a place that doesn't believe in the same things you do anymore?"

The new church in Waterford, known as St. Barnabas Anglican Mission, is holding services in the hall of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Trinity Anglican, meanwhile, is continuing to worship with a temporary priest and about 30 parishioners in its 100-year-old building.

Area Bishop Bob Bennett of the Anglican Church's Huron Diocese said he has met with the remaining congregation and is optimistic about their future.

"We're walking with them," Bennett said. "We'll bring some money in to help them."

He expects many parishioners will return: "Church communities are very resilient."

The breakaway group started in New Westminster, B.C., after an Anglican church there started blessing same-sex unions.

Bennett noted the issue of whether the church supports same-sex unions has not been decided.

"We're in the discussion stage. No priest in this diocese can bless same-sex couples and keep their jobs.

"They say we're much too liberal for them. We're pretty conservative."

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/CityandRegion/2006/12/11/2735947-sun.html

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