Gathered by God. Grounded in Christ. Growing Spiritually.
Office Administrator:
Donna Robillard
Donna has been with GSA since May 1999 and is our first point of contact for many members of the community. She handles all the information for our weekly announcements and e-newsletters, as well as all the bookings for GSA and the CEC. From Baptismal certificates to Annual Reports, if you need information about GSA, Donna can find it.
My life is rooted in my faith. John 13:34 says I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. I believe that GOd’s love extends to all people, animals, and plants. All of creation, including every single person, is loved by God and cherished for who they are. ALL of God’s creation is precious and we must ALL learn to live with Love in our hearts.
I love Arnprior and all the wonderful people I have met so far at GSA. I am so thrilled to have found such a wonderful community of faith to be a part of. I look forward to getting to know the people better and seeing all that we can build together.
Interim Music Director:
Tobi Dumoulin
Minister:
Rev. Tamara Connors
I grew up between the rural towns of Richmond and North Gower, on the western outskirts of Ottawa. Now I live in the Lanark Highlands, a little town called Hopetown where I live with my spouse, our children, two dogs, a cat, 2 snakes, 4 tiny frogs, 4 hens and a rooster. I love animals, plants, gardening and soapstone carving.
I first joined the UCC by becoming a member at Bells Corners United Church on June 8th of 2025. Previous to that I was a cradle Anglican and Ordained in the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa, September of 2019 and worked for 6 years as an Anglican Deacon. After discerning that the United Church was a better fit for my spiritual needs, I started to make my way through the candidacy process. Once I was found to be ready for ministry work I searched for a community of faith that would be a good fit for my skills and education. That was when I was introduced to Grace St. Andrews in Arnprior! I continue to study, working towards a Certificate in Diaconal Studies at the Centre for Christian Studies. I will graduate in the Spring of 2028.
Our Team
Grace St. Andrew's United Church (GSA) is a congregation with a welcoming, family feel. Members and adherents of GSA are encouraged to participate as much or as little as they want or need as they are called by God. The church and it's buildings have had a long, solid history in Arnprior. The "Stone Church," as St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church was known, was built in about 1890. The Wesleyan Methodists constructed the brick building called Grace Methodist next to that building in 1894. The two denominations were amalgamated into the United Church in 1925. As with any church, the most important history is about its people rather than its buildings. The fabric of Grace St. Andrew's historical past has been woven by people of all walks of life and has always been enriched by our youth. From Governor General visits to spaghetti suppers and spring clean-ups, our congregation has risen, and continues to rise to the challenges it faces in serving our community year after year. GSA's current congregation is building on that history, by taking our message out to God's people in ways that relate to them and suit their lifestyles right now. We have amenities for our members and guests, such as wheelchair access and pillows for our pews. Our services include a Nursery/Sunday School that benefits both parent and child. We outreach to community through our radio broadcast and live-streamed services. GSA also connects to others through participation with the Arnprior and District Food Bank, TAP, and NeighbourLink/The Fountain, and through our pastoral care team with monthly services at The Grove and Island View. No matter where you are in your life's journey, we welcome you to Grace St. Andrew's and hope that you will discover for yourself the meaning of your life through service to God and community at our Church. Our hours of operation can be found on our Contact Us page. We hope to see you soon!
United Church Women:
GSA has a very active UCW group with an average attendance of 16 members per meeting. The UCW meets the second Monday of every month in the Douglas Lounge. We start with a worship service, have offering, discuss activities and enjoy refreshments. Check the Events section on the Home Page for upcoming activities.
Christian Education Centre:
The CEC, located at 257 John St. N. has a large hall and kitchen where the UCW host fundraising dinners and other special activities. The hall is available to rent and is being utilized by several community groups for meetings and events and by individuals for birthday parties, family reunions, etc. Contact the church office for more information about availability and pricing.
About Us
- We believe God gathers us to be disciples of Jesus Christ.
- We believe that the Holy Spirit of God is an active presence in our lives, in our church and in the world. It compels and moves us to a deeper faith and a desire to witness and serve our community and the world.
- We believe that Jesus Christ can transform our lives and awaken our hearts through God’s grace and guidance. We believe the Bible is the divinely inspired witness to God working in our world.
- We believe the local church is the hope of Jesus Christ.
- We believe that we are grounded by the teachings of Jesus Christ.
- We believe that God gives each of us unique gifts and abilities that we can use to grow the ministry of our church.
- We believe our faith is shaped by Scripture, reason, experience and tradition. We encourage open discussion and diversity of theological beliefs as essential to spiritual growth.