Hamilton churches share worship space as congregations adapt

Several Hamilton churches are renting space to other faith and community groups; St. Andrew's United Church has hosted Jummah prayers since 2007 and now draws about 300–400 worshippers on Fridays.

Several churches in Hamilton are renting space to other faith and community groups as congregations respond to changing neighbourhoods and building costs. At St. Andrew's United Church a Muslim congregation has used the building for Jummah prayers since 2007. That group now draws between 300 and 400 worshippers on Fridays and also uses the church during Ramadan and for Eid prayers. Other arrangements include a Tamil-language Pentecostal congregation meeting at Wesley United Church and newcomer education programs using church halls. Key details: - St. Andrew's arrangement began as a temporary solution in 2007 in a small room and expanded as attendance grew. - Volunteers from the Muslim congregation handle setup, cleanup and locking the building for weekly services, and the group has donated items such as air-conditioning units for the space. - Census data cited in the reporting shows Hamilton has become more diverse and more secular; the share of residents identifying as Muslim rose from about 3.7% in 2011 to 6.8% in 2021, racialized residents make up about one-quarter of the population, and nearly one-third report no religious affiliation. - A Tamil-language congregation that began in 2021 meets weekly at Wesley United and covers rental costs through member contributions. - Alamal Learning Centre, a Muslim-run program for refugee and newcomer children, previously operated out of St. Paul's Presbyterian before moving due to safety concerns around that building and now runs classes at MacNab Street Presbyterian Church. Summary: Shared use of church buildings is helping congregations accommodate growing and changing communities while making use of underused space, and some churches frame those arrangements as both practical and consistent with institutional commitments to interfaith cooperation. Undetermined at this time.