Hamiltons.church Churches across Hamilton, Ontario

Visiting a church in Hamilton

Cornerstone Canadian Reformed Church and Providence Canadian Reformed Church are glad to have visitors, whatever church you grew up in or none. Here is what a first Sunday looks like.

Cornerstone Canadian Reformed Church, a tan-brick church with a steep green roof and three tall pointed windows in its gable end, behind a lawn and flower beds
Photo: Canadian Reformed Churches website

Cornerstone Canadian Reformed Church

Cornerstone Canadian Reformed Church describes its members as ordinary people, saved by extraordinary grace. It holds to the five solas of the Reformation, summarizes its doctrine in the Three Forms of Unity (the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession and the Canons of Dort) and confesses the Apostles', Nicene and Athanasian creeds.

Cornerstone Canadian Reformed Church was instituted on 20 May 1951 and belongs to Classis Ontario West of the Canadian Reformed Churches, a federation it describes as more than sixty churches rooted in the Reformation of the sixteenth century. The congregation calls itself long established, with more than 500 members, young and old. In 2001, 157 of its members left to begin Trinity Canadian Reformed Church in Glanbrook.

Its church is on Hamilton Mountain, on Stone Church Road East between Upper Wentworth Street and Upper Wellington Street, a seven-minute walk from the HSR stop at Upper Wellington and Stone Church Road.

Two services are held every Sunday, at 9:30 in the morning and 3:00 in the afternoon, and both are livestreamed. On the last Sunday of each month a Christian Arabic service is held at 6:00 in the evening.

Providence Canadian Reformed Church, a red-brick church whose pale stone front frames a tall window and double doors at the top of a broad flight of steps, with a square brick bell tower at the left, under a clear blue sky
Photo: Providence Canadian Reformed Church website

Providence Canadian Reformed Church

Providence Canadian Reformed Church believes the Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God and its only final authority, and that salvation is by grace alone, received through faith alone in Jesus Christ. It confesses the Apostles', Nicene and Athanasian creeds and the Three Forms of Unity (the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of Dort) as faithful summaries of Scripture.

Providence Canadian Reformed Church held its first worship service on 24 June 2007 and belongs to Classis Ontario West of the Canadian Reformed Churches. Its motto is Genesis 22:14: “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

Since the autumn of 2010 it has worshipped at 582 Southcote Road in Ancaster, in a building that the federation’s notices of that year describe first as the Netherlands Reformed Church building and then as Providence’s new building.

Two services are held every Sunday, at 9:30 in the morning and 3:30 in the afternoon. The congregation explains that the Canadian Reformed Churches came into being with the Dutch immigrants who arrived after the Second World War, and that while most of its members are descended from them, it is thoroughly Canadian and has members from diverse cultural backgrounds.

What to expect

  1. Arriving

    Come ten minutes early. Someone at the door will say hello and can point you to a seat; there is no sign-in and nobody will single you out.

  2. Seating

    Sit anywhere. Families sit together, and children of all ages stay in the service. A nursery or cry room is usually available if you need it.

  3. The service

    A call to worship, singing (mostly Psalms, with hymns), the reading of Scripture, prayer and a sermon of about thirty minutes, then a closing song and blessing. A printed or projected order makes it easy to follow.

  4. How long

    Roughly seventy-five to ninety minutes. Most congregations meet twice on Sunday; the afternoon sermon usually works through the Heidelberg Catechism.

  5. Dress

    Come as you are. You will see suits and dresses and you will see sweaters and jeans.

  6. Afterwards

    People linger to talk. If you would like to meet the pastor or an elder, just ask the person who greeted you.

What Reformed churches believe

Reformed churches confess the historic Christian faith of the Apostles', Nicene and Athanasian Creeds, summarized in three confessions from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries: the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of Dort. The short version is that God saves sinners by grace alone, through faith alone, on account of Christ alone, as the Bible alone teaches, and that his promises are for believers and their children.

Read the fuller description of the Canadian Reformed churches, or the guide to the Reformed churches of Ontario.

Coming from another church?

What you might find familiar, and what might feel different.

Coming from a Mennonite church?

Mennonites and Reformed Christians have been neighbours in this part of Ontario for two centuries, and their stories go back to the same Reformation. The emphasis on discipleship and on community will feel familiar.

  • Discipleship Reformed churches expect faith to show in life; the whole third part of the Heidelberg Catechism is about gratitude lived out.
  • Community Membership is real: elders visit every home, deacons look after needs, and Sunday is a whole day spent together.
  • Where we differ Reformed churches baptize infants and hold that Christians may serve in government and the military. Both are explained without heat.
Coming from a Baptist church?

Reformed and Baptist churches agree on a great deal: the authority of Scripture, salvation by grace through faith, a serious view of membership. The visible difference is baptism, and it comes from a shared idea taken in two directions.

  • Covenant and family Reformed churches baptize the children of believers because they understand God's promise to be for believers and their children (Acts 2:39). a Reformed church would be glad to explain that, not to argue it.
  • Preaching and prayer Expect a substantial sermon, long congregational prayer, and singing that is mostly Psalms.
  • Membership matters Like Baptist churches, Reformed churches take membership, elders and pastoral care seriously; every household is visited.
Coming from a Catholic or Orthodox parish?

You may find more that is familiar at a Reformed church than you expect: a set liturgy, the creeds said together, the Lord's Prayer, and a reverence that takes worship seriously.

  • Liturgy and creeds The service follows a fixed order, and the congregation confesses the Apostles' or Nicene Creed together every week.
  • The sacraments Two rather than seven, and taken seriously: infants are baptized, and the Lord's Supper is celebrated with real preparation.
  • Where we differ Reformed churches hold that Scripture alone is the final authority and that we are justified by faith alone. That is a conversation worth having in person rather than in a slogan.
Coming from an Anglican, United, Presbyterian or Lutheran church?

Reformed churches grew from the same Reformation soil. If you value the creeds, a set order of service and a church that has held its confession steady since the 1500s, a Reformed church will feel familiar.

  • Shared roots Presbyterian, Lutheran and Reformed churches share the Reformation's teaching on grace and Scripture; the Heidelberg Catechism of 1563 is preached alongside the creeds.
  • Confessional stability The Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism and Canons of Dort have not been revised to follow the times. What the church confessed then, it confesses now.
  • Familiar forms A set order of service, the Lord's Prayer, the creed, infant baptism, and a sermon at the centre.
Used to a non-denominational or community church?

Reformed churches share your conviction that the Bible has to be at the centre. What they add is a written confession that says exactly what the church believes, and a structure that keeps its leaders accountable.

  • Expository preaching Sermons work through books of the Bible and through the Heidelberg Catechism, so over time you hear the whole of Scripture.
  • A confession you can read The Belgic Confession and Heidelberg Catechism put the church's beliefs in writing; nothing rests on one pastor's personality.
  • Simpler than it sounds No robes and no incense: a plain building, a lot of singing, a long sermon, and coffee afterwards.
Exploring what Christians have always believed?

If you are looking into the faith of the historic creeds, the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, salvation by grace, a Reformed church is a place where any question is welcome.

  • The creeds Reformed churches confess the Apostles', Nicene and Athanasian Creeds, the same statements the church has used since its early centuries.
  • Questions welcome The pastor and elders expect questions and enjoy them. No one will be surprised by yours.
  • Take your time Visit as often as you like without committing to anything.
Coming from a Pentecostal or charismatic church?

Reformed Christians believe the Holy Spirit is at work in every part of the Christian life. They expect to meet him first of all through the Word preached and the sacraments, and they pray for him to act.

  • Word and Spirit together The Spirit who inspired the Bible works through it, so the sermon is preached expecting God to do something.
  • Heartfelt, not hushed The singing is loud and congregational, mostly Psalms with organ or piano, and the prayers are long and specific.
  • Where we differ Reformed churches hold that the sign gifts belonged to the age of the apostles. That is a real difference, and one worth talking through in person.
Already Reformed?

If you come from a Christian Reformed, United Reformed or Free Reformed congregation, you will recognize nearly everything at a Reformed church: the same confessions, the same Psalms, much the same church order.

  • The same confessions The Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of Dort.
  • Sister churches The Canadian Reformed churches have formal relations with the United Reformed and Free Reformed churches. A letter from your consistory is welcome, but you do not need one to visit.
  • The differences Mostly matters of history and practice, set out honestly in our guide to the Reformed church names.

Read before you visit

Visiting a Reformed church: what to expect

A practical walk-through of a Reformed Sunday: arriving, seating, order of service, length, children, dress, collection, the Lord's Supper and coffee after.

, 4 min read

What do Reformed Christians believe?

Plain-language summary of Reformed belief: grace, the Bible, covenant, the Three Forms of Unity, sacraments, church life and common misunderstandings.

, 6 min read

How to choose a church: questions worth asking

Balanced questions for choosing a church, whatever your background: Bible, preaching, sacraments, community, children, distance, doctrine and membership.

, 4 min read

Come this Sunday

No need to let anyone know in advance. If you would rather ask a question first, send us a note.

Cornerstone Canadian Reformed Church: times and directions Providence Canadian Reformed Church: times and directions