the knox paradox: 140 years of stubbornness & radicalism

This faith community has, for 140 years combined a kind of innate stubbornness/conservatism with inexplicably radical boldness. It began in 1868 as Scottish newcomers began a new life in Red River - so it was, by birth, a frontier church.   

By the 1880's we were offering our first ESL classes - to Chinese labourers building the railway. 

In the 1910's the big churches were already vacating Winnipeg's inner core following the moneyed class to the emerging suburbs.  There was pressure for Knox to do the same when it built this, our fourth building - but they were determined to build the most beautiful cathedral they could create specifically for the immigrants and poor in the heart of the city. 

In the 1920's Knox provided French language ministry to francophone newcomers [Swiss-French].  A radical act when you realize this was not that many years after the Manitoba Schools Act which sought to block french immigration to the west. 

In 1943 at the height of the xenophobia of the war, Knox began a Japanese language ministry.  [Some of the old-timers in the Japanese church talk about having to show their 'papers' to be allowed to enter the city at that time]. 

In the 1970's in response to the increasing numbers of refugees Knox build the adjoining International Centre [which originally provided housing as well as services for both refugees and immigrants]. 

Throughout the decades God has found us handy and for this we are profoundly thankful.  Knox is now a vital community hub of  ministries, groups and services in Central Park.  Their radicalism, however, was born out of their deep conservatism - it was that conservatism that gave them the courage of their convictions to take bold counter-cultural steps. This Fall we will celebrate our 140th Anniversary.  More details later.

Comments

[Norm]

Hey Bill,

Blessings to you and your congregation as you celebrate this milestone. I'm glad for the faithfulness of the folks at Knox over the years and the inspiration they offer through their faithfulness. May God continue to bless and multiply your witness as you embrace those we so often marginalize and alienate.

Peace,
Norm

[Jordon]

Reading that was great. Thanks for posting it.