Celebrating over 150 years
Enriching people’s spiritual life through worship, discipleship, community and service.
Celebrating over 150 years
Enriching people’s spiritual life through worship, discipleship, community and service.
About St. James
About St. James
St. James the Apostle Anglican Church has been a worshiping community in Sharon/East Gwillimbury for over 150 years (est. 1869). The church retains its charm from the original white clapboard building of 1869 and provides an intimate yet familiar worship space just south of the historic Sharon Temple on Leslie Street.
We've been honoured to serve God and the people of Sharon within a relatively small community that is about to see enormous growth. We are continually adapting to the changing needs of our community and are always looking for new ways that we can join in God's good work.
We are a gathering of God's beloved children who seek to do God's will by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and welcoming the stranger. We are an open and inclusive community that upholds the dignity of every human being, and we strive to be good stewards of creation.
Our Team
Our Team
The people who make things happen!
The people who make things happen!
The Reverend Daniel Graves, Priest-in-Charge
Fr. Dan is the Priest-in-Charge, with responsibility for Christian education and faith formation. He served previously as the incumbent of Trinity, Bradford and St. Paul’s, Newmarket. He is also currently the Associate Priest of Trinity Church, Aurora. He also writes and publishes on Anglican history and theology, inclusive of the work of the sixteenth century theologian, Richard Hooker.
He is married to Athena, and they have two children, Leighton and Ana.
The Reverend Wendy Lywood
Wendy began in parish ministry in 1989 in a three point rural parish in the Diocese of Brandon. She moved from there to L’Arche Daybreak in Richmond Hill where she worked and has been a member of the community since that time. She was also an Honorary Assistant at St Mary’s, Richmond Hill.
In 2012 Wendy moved to Newmarket and became a member of St James The Apostle, Sharon. She is grateful to be part of such a loving and welcoming parish family. Wendy loves to preside at the Eucharist and preach.
St James is very happy to have Wendy Lywood leading our services.
Janice Hodgson
Janice Hodgson
Rector's Warden
After serving for many years as our treasurer, Janice became the Rector's Warden, adding to her already vast list of roles at St. James. Janice administers our clothing depot/food closet and Community Meal. She also coordinates outreach, serves on the stewardship committee, ACW, and chancel guild. If you need to know something, ask Janice!
Roy McConnell
Roy McConnell
People's Warden
Roy is a long-standing member of the community who, on top of his duties as People's Warden, leads our Servers Guild. We're thankful to Roy for sharing his gifts with us!
Connie Scriver
Connie Scriver
Music Director
Connie has been the musician at St. James for 26 years and still finds the time to tour with her various bands ( yes- she's that cool). She's committed to "praying twice", as she says, with the music at St. James. She's written many sacred pieces of music for the liturgy at St. James and our worship has been greatly enhanced by her contributions!