Church holds first French service

Posted Feb 9, 2012 By Brier Dodge

EMC news - Orlean's Queenswood United Church recently held its first ever French language Sunday service, and they will continue to run once a month.

'This had traditionally been a French-speaking area, so we did this to honour that in our community," said Rev. Ed Gratton.

While the regular English service runs at 10 a.m., the fourth Sunday of the month will also have a French service at noon.

"We're hoping we can appeal to members of the community who would appreciate a service in French," he said.

The services will be lead by Gratton and other congregation and community members who are functional in French.

While the first service was small, he said it was a good start to offering the service in the first language of many Orleans residents.

"Everyone there appreciated having the service in French," he said. "Especially if it's their maternal language, which is so important to people when they worship."

He said the church is a small congregation which keeps services informal, and usually about 60 people attend their English services.

Queenswood United Church is located at 360 Kennedy Ln. E. and will hold their next French service on Feb. 26.

Eglise Evangelique Baptiste d'Orleans also has a 2:30 p.m. Protestant Sunday service weekly at the Bilberry Creek Baptist Church at 480 Charlemagne Blvd.

brier.dodge@metroland.com