Article from the October, 2012 Rupert's Land News - published by the Diocese of Rupert's Land - a section of the Anglican Journal
St Paul’s and St Andrew’s - Middle church and lower church share a priest
By Debbie Pansky
On September 1, 2012, the Parishes of St. Andrew, St. Andrew’s and St. Paul, Middlechurch began a new chapter when they began sharing the services of a new Priest. The Rev. Karen Laldin has moved from Newfoundland to serve these two congregations. Though the two parishes will remain distinctly separate, they will come together to share events and the occasional service to grow the Anglican presence in the communities of St. Andrews and West St. Paul. The two parishes have much in common and therefore working together seems like a natural fit. Both share a long history of ministry along the Red River Corridor. In addition to St. John’s Cathedral or the Upper Church as it was known in the 1820s, the Parishes of St. Paul at Image Plains or the Middlechurch and St. Andrew at Grand Rapids or the Lower Church were established to meet the growing needs of the Red River Settlers. Both churches have been given historic designation and both are surrounded by a cemetery where many of the early residents of Red River are buried. The current goal of the two parishes is to work together to meet the needs of families within their communities and to be a welcoming place for people to worship in the Anglican tradition. Both churches will continue to have a service every Sunday. St. Paul’s service will begin at 9:15 a.m. and St. Andrew’s will begin at 11:15 a.m. One benefit already realized is that the organist from St. Paul’s, Shirley Ratzlaff, has already begun as organist at St. Andrew’s, a position that had been vacant for a couple of years. Through the joint efforts of these parishes and with the direction of the Reverend Karen Laldin, it is hoped that this is only the start of many good things to come.