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Christ Church Windermere in Muskoka may be small in size but it's big in character. Your fellow parishioners are comprised of many denominations who sincerely hope that you will enjoy your time with us. After every service all are welcome to join us in our beautiful garden, or in Mockridge Hall for refreshments and delicious treats. 

We welcome permanent and seasonal residents and visitors of all faiths. We are an open Church with a focus on outreach, music and liturgy steeped in more than a century of stewardship of the faith here in Windermere. Christ Church and its congregation was built and remains strong today due to the determination and hard work of the founding families, the Village of Windermere and all who have cared for her over the past century.  

The first recorded Anglican services of worship in Windermere were held on a nearby cottage verandah in 1894.  By 1904 the congregation had purchased land adjacent to Windermere House for $25.00 and built Christ Church Windermere as we know it today.  

Christ Church is considered one of Muskoka's most charming churches, noted for its welcoming congregation, exceptional stained glass commemorative decorative windows, basswood and cedar interior and unique burnt wood (pyrographic) designs and symbols throughout.  The original oak pews accommodate about 100 people. Available folding chairs can be used to seat more people inside the building or outside in an adjoining, picturesque, garden patio 

Winter is the most intimate of seasons at Christ Church because, starting in January, we gather in Mockridge Hall every Sunday at 10:30a.m. Built in 1921 and situated adjacent to our Church, this modest little building has buttressed life at Christ Church for almost a century. For decades, it has provided accommodation for clergy and musicians in residence along with their families.  It has always been the centre of congregational social gatherings.

Until a few years ago, the Church was heated on Sunday mornings for winter services but left unheated for the balance of the week. Recognizing that this practice was hard on the church building, the congregation decided to worship during the winter by zoom weekly services (following Christmas) in Mockridge Hall.

We gather in the living room, a fine oak table serving as the altar in front of the granite stone fireplace and a wooden cross on the mantle above. To the right of the fireplace is the reed organ. Chairs accommodate about 16 people, with ample room for more in the adjoining dining room. 

Every Sunday morning at about 10:00am, early bird angels arrive to ready coffee and most delicious after service snacks. The rest of us drift in to the aroma of freshly brewing coffee. Lighting of the Epistle and Gospel candles on the alter signals the beginning of the service. The Director of Music Sherisse Stevens plays beautifully and we sing quite lustily, familiar hymns led by strong voices. Our Minister Judie Cooper leads the service with an informality appropriate to the setting, yet he leaves us with a nugget of the Christian message every time. 

Somehow the service is more intimate than in our beautiful church building, maybe because the elements of our experience - words, music and message - are closer to us. It's warm and welcoming and that is as it should be in winter.