St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church is a neighbourhood church rooted in Woodstock and welcoming to those from surrounding communities. We gather to worship God, to grow in faith, and to support one another in life’s joys and challenges.
We describe ourselves as a traditional Presbyterian congregation centred on Jesus Christ.
What does it mean to be Presbyterian? We invite you to read more in About Us – Presbyterian. You may also wish to explore what our faith means to us by checking out Living Faith or Today’s Catechism which can be found at PCC Downloads – Catechisms and Living Faith.
What does it mean for us to describe ourselves as “traditional”? For us, “traditional” isn’t about resisting change—it means drawing from the deep practices of our faith: Scripture, prayer, preaching, and hymns that have shaped generations. Worship is central to our life together. It’s where we remember God’s promises, listen for God’s Word, and respond in faith as a community. As part of the Reformed tradition, we hold that the church is reformed and always being reformed according to the Word of God, and with reliance on the Holy Spirit, we seek the application of God’s word for our time.
We value thoughtful preaching, music offered with care, and time set apart to be renewed by the Holy Spirit. Communion and baptism are celebrated as signs of God’s grace and held with reverence and joy.
Our mission reflects this identity and calling: We gather for worship through prayer, Scripture, traditional hymns, and preaching, supporting one another in faith and life. Our services are rooted in time-honoured practices of worship, with a focus on growing in faith and understanding as we seek to live as Christ’s disciples in today’s world.
That mission takes shape in many ways—through outreach ministries like St. Paul’s Pantry, St. Paul’s Closet, and St. Paul’s Coffee Room. It also takes shape through shared meals and hospitality, and through relationships built over time. We encourage and empower people to share their spiritual gifts and contribute to the life and ministry of the church as they are able—whether in person, in the community, or from home.
Pastoral care at St. Paul’s includes checking in, offering prayer, and being present in times of grief, illness, or transition. It also includes friendship, encouragement, and connection—through visits, phone calls, cards, or conversations over coffee hour following worship. We celebrate milestones together—birthdays, weddings, graduations, anniversaries—and we walk alongside one another through the harder seasons of life, including funerals and times of loss. In all these ways, we try to reflect the love and compassion of Christ.
We are also part of something larger. As a congregation of The Presbyterian Church in Canada, we participate in the wider church through Presbytery, Atlantic Synod, and General Assembly. We support national and international mission through Presbyterians Sharing, and global development and emergency response through Presbyterian World Service & Development.
St. Paul’s values its ecumenical ties—participating in the Woodstock and Area Ministerial, helping lead worship at Carleton Manor alongside other local churches, and opening our doors so that other communities of faith can worship here. These connections deepen our witness and remind us that we are part of the broader body of Christ.
The story of St. Paul’s continues to unfold—through worship, care, community, and faithfulness rooted in God’s love.
You are welcome here. Whether you’re new to the area, returning to church, or simply wondering where God might be leading you—there is space for you at St. Paul’s.