Important Community Event
Welcome to Julian of Norwich Anglican Church
Who and Where We Are
Julian of Norwich Anglican Church is an inclusive and dynamic parish, located on Merivale Road just south of Baseline Road, in the western part of Ottawa formerly known as Nepean.
Our Way of Life
The Julian of Norwich Anglican Church Way of Life:
Julian of Norwich was a Christian Mystic whose spiritual journey was inspired by viewing the world God loves through a window into the community and a window into the sacred. Julian served God by serving neighbourhood.
In the same way, Julian of Norwich Anglican Church is a community that strives to follow Jesus with an active gaze through a window in to the sacred and a window in to the neighbourhood. We are guided by the commandments to love God with our heart, mind, and soul and to love our neighbour as ourself.
Julian of Norwich Anglican Church seeks, with God’s help, to:
- create a welcoming space where all can enter as they are.
- strengthen relationships with God through worship, prayer and sacrament.
- actively live out mission and ministry by serving and caring for people and the environment.
- nurture spiritual growth by creating opportunities for learning, questioning, and transforming.
- prioritize relationships, governance and action that elicit the creation, maintenance, and growth of community-based quality of life and wellness that is intergenerational and inclusive of diverse cultures and faith expressions.
Energized by God’s love for all of creation, participants in the community life of Julian of Norwich Anglican Church are invited to:
- recognize yourself as a gift of God’s creation with a spiritual life that seeks to be nurtured.
- embrace regular worship, prayer and sacrament.
- show Christ’s love to neighbour and other in your everyday life.
- strive to create peace, justice, compassion, inclusion and equality in the world.
- be open to the way in which God is expressed in diverse people, cultures, and religions.
- share in the mission and outreach ministry of the community with your gifts of time and talent.
- support the mission and outreach ministry of the community financially.
Finding Us
Our church faces Merivale Road, between Rossland and Withrow Avenue. Our main entrance is at 7 Rossland Avenue. Parking is free, easy, and right at the main entrance. On Sunday mornings, there is additional parking across the street from the church at Elizabeth Wyn Wood School, which they are kind enough to allow us to use on Sunday mornings.
The church is accessible with several designated parking spots, a ramp to the main door entrance, and automated doors.
There are bike racks outside the main door and you can also use OC Transpo (Line 80 and 86 Bus stop at Merivale and Rossland Avenue)
Do I need to get dressed up to come to Julian?
We are informal, so please wear whatever feels comfortable to you.
What do I do when I arrive?
Whether you come to either the 8:00 am, or the 10:00 am service you will be met by a friendly greeter who will pass along to you whatever you need for the service. Please feel free to ask your greeter any questions that you may have, and please do sit wherever you wish.
What about my children?
At Julian of Norwich the whole community worships together; from one year old to 100 years old. There is a child-friendly play space at the entrance of the sanctuary with toys and a book shelf for children to play with if they get restless at the pew or to take to the pew with them. Currently we also hold a bi-weekly Sunday School via Zoom that you can get information about by contacting Rev. Monique at
How long is the service?
Currently our 8:00 a.m. service is a quiet service of Morning Prayer. The 10:00 a.m. service is a Holy Eucharist Service. As of June 2022 both services are accessible in-person, Online, and over the phone. How to access the services online and by phone. To attend in-person just show up at Merivale and Rossland Avenue.
How will I know when to stand, sit, or kneel?
The truth is, sometimes you won’t until you get the hang of the flow of the service and have figured out what is comfortable for you. No worries; you can easily follow the community’s lead on whether to stand, sit, or kneel. In fact, throughout the service we often give the option of assuming whichever posture is most comfortable for you, and enables you to best participate in the service. For example, if kneeling during prayer is uncomfortable, then please either sit or stand during prayer because we don’t want posture to get in the way of your being able to worship enjoyably.
What about receiving Communion?
All who are baptized are welcome to receive communion. If you are not comfortable receiving communion then you are welcome to receive a blessing – just indicate that you do not wish to receive communion by folding your arms in front of you.
What about gluten and other food sensitivities?
At Julian we provide gluten-free communion wafers in addition to regular wafers. Please indicate your gluten sensitivity to the minister serving communion.
Do I need to bring anything?
No. As our guest you are under no obligation to contribute to the work of Julian. However, gifts are always gratefully received and those who continue to be part of the community are asked to prayerfully discern how they will contribute to the parish with their time, talent and treasure.
What happens after the service?
We currently do not have a ‘coffee hour’, but you can always find people gathered at the entrance to the sanctuary before and after the 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. service. Don’t hesitate to join in the conversation.
What is the ‘Anglican’ church?
The Anglican Church in Canada traces its roots back to the Church of England, and today it is an independent, self-governing church in communion with the other 44 churches of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Anglican Church in Canada includes more than 500,000 members in nearly 1,700 parishes, and like Canada, the church has become culturally diverse. On any given Sunday the tradition of common prayer is expressed across Canada in many languages, including Inuktitut, French, Spanish, and Cree. For more information, please see www.anglican.ca
Who is Julian of Norwich?
Our Church
Julian of Norwich Anglican Church Ottawa was established in 2015 in response to an amalgamation of two existing congregations coming together for ministry renewal.
Our Namesake
Julian of Norwich was an English Christian mystic, philosopher and theologian.
During her early life, the Black Death hit the city of Norwich three times. It is estimated that the plague killed about a third of England's population in one single epidemic. People died so quickly and in such numbers that "the dead could not receive proper burial and in the worst of times, lay stacked in carts like so much cordwood, or in hastily dug pits on the edge of town, or simply where they fell, in the streets". [Pelphrey, B (1989), Christ Our Mother: Julian of Norwich, Michael Glazier, p.65.] Seeing these images may have affected Julian, who was just six years old when the plague first hit Norwich. Although she does not speak of the plague directly, her book shows a deep sensitivity to suffering and dying.
Julian had a series of visions, which she wrote down, and spent her life elaborating upon. The photo on the home page depicts a statue of Julian of Norwich, holding the book, Revelations of Divine Love, at Norwich Cathedral.
Shortly after the shewings, Julian wrote what is known as the Short Text. The text is written from an autobiographical perspective, as Julian essentially narrates what she had just experienced.
Over the next 20 years, Julian reflected on her experience and the result was what is known as the Long Text.
Available PDF:
We have a tri-fold document that is available in printed format in our church office.
Click this link to download the PDF document
Words of Welcome
Welcome to Julian
For starters, may we suggest that you download our New Membership Information Package PDF
Note: The PDF is not accessible to screen readers.
The Screen Reader friendly version is available here.
Words of Welcome
We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, widowed, gay, confused, rich, comfortable, or dirt poor. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying newborns, skinny as a rake or could afford to lose a few pounds. You’re welcome if you are Old Ottawa, New Ottawa, not from Ottawa, or just passing by. We welcome you if you can sing like Pavarotti or can’t carry a note in a bucket. You’re welcome here if you’re just browsing, just woke up or just got out of prison. We don’t care if you’re more Christian than the Archbishop of Canterbury, or haven’t been in church since little Jack’s baptism. We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast.
We welcome keep-fit dads, hockey moms, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems or you’re down in the dumps or if you don’t like organized religion. We’ve been there too! If you blew all your money on the horses, you’re welcome here.
We offer a welcome to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, don’t work, can’t spell, or because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church. We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down their throat as a kid or got lost on the 417 and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts...and you!”
Julian of Norwich is part of the Anglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church of Canada define themselves as a people seeking to know, love, and follow Jesus in serving God’s mission. We invite you to join us. Canadian Anglicans are a diverse community. We worship in small chapels and large churches. Some of us worship with guitars and drums, while others prefer organs and choirs. We speak many languages.
The Eucharist (also known as the Lord’s Supper or Communion) is a central part of many Sunday services, but many Anglican congregations also meet for services throughout the week. Anglican services also follow a pattern that begins with the gathering of the community, then listening to and reflecting on the Scriptures. The community then brings the needs of the world and the community to God in prayer, and the group partakes in the holy meal of bread and wine, before being sent forth into the mission of daily life.
What is the ‘Anglican’ church?
The Anglican Church in Canada traces its roots back to the Church of England, and today it is an independent, self-governing church in communion with the other 44 churches of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Anglican Church in Canada includes more than 500,000 members in nearly 1,700 parishes, and like Canada, the church has become culturally diverse. On any given Sunday the tradition of common prayer is expressed across Canada in many languages, including Inuktitut, French, Spanish, and Cree.
From the Anglican Church of Canada: We invite you to read more about our beliefs, our organization, our history and what to expect by visiting our website at: www.anglican.ca
The Julian of Norwich Anglican Way of Life
Julian of Norwich was a Christian Mystic whose spiritual journey was inspired by viewing the world God loves through a window into the community and a window into the sacred. Julian served God by serving neighbourhood.
In the same way, Julian of Norwich Anglican Church is a community that strives to follow Jesus with an active gaze through a window in to the sacred and a window in to the neighbourhood. We are guided by the commandments to love God with our heart, mind, and soul and to love our neighbour as ourself.
For more information on our Way of Life and Guiding Principles, please download the
New Membership Information Package
Are There any Major Initiatives Under Development?
Indeed! There are many exciting changes coming. Please refer to the Community News for the most recent information.
Is There a Program for Children?
During the Pandemic we have been holding an Online Zoom Sunday School approximately twice a month. To register and find out more please contact The Reverend Monique Stone at revmoniquestone@gmail.com
What is the Music Program?
During the Pandemic we do not have a choir. Singers are asked to sing from their socially distanced pews and, when permitted, all are welcome to join in.
What about Accessibility?
Julian of Norwich Anglican Church is fully wheelchair accessible, via the main church entrance (7 Rossland Avenue), as well as via the hall entrance (located east of the main church entrance).
Audio headsets are available to assist the hearing impaired at every service. Our greeters can provide you with a headset and instructions. Alternatively, you can pick one up from the small table behind the last pew on the right side of the main sanctuary.
Parking?
Free parking is available in the parking lot near the main church entrance, at 7 Rossland Avenue and two handicap spots at the 9 Rossland entrance. Additional free parking is located on the opposite side of Rossland Avenue, at Elizabeth Wyn Wood Secondary Alternate School.