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". . . to equip the saints for works of service,

so that the body of Christ may be built up . . ."

Ephesians 4:12

Our Vision

The church, like John the Baptizer, is most true to its calling when it points away from itself. Pieter Bruegel (the Elder), a Dutch Renaissance painter, portrayed this vision of witness to Jesus Christ in a 1566 painting entitled "The Sermon of Saint John the Baptist." A detail of that painting (portrayed here) also captures the way we understand the role of the church in contemporary society. Growing ever more united (globally) "in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God" (Eph. 4:13), his one church exists to point to him. Owning the  inadequacy of all our intuitive attempts to find God, Jesus Christ stoops to become for us "the way, the truth, and the life." Not only forgiveness, but also the full restoration of our humanity has been accomplished in him. Ascended to the right hand of God, he summons repentant believers through his word and his Spirit. First-hand engagement with him is the life-blood of his church.

Our Approach

Following the example of the early church, our intention is to devote our meeting times "to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer" (Acts 2:42). These four priorities provide a balanced and complete framework for the counter-cultural lifestyle that the Apostles associated with following Christ (2 Peter 3:17,18).

Our History and Doctrinal Tradition

In 1897, Bethany Tabernacle was built at 459 George St. N., in Peterborough. At that time it was only the second Christian and Missionary Alliance congregation in Canada. In the 1940s the congregation became independent and assumed its present name. A decade later Church of the Open Bible affiliated with the Associated Gospel Churches of Canada. In 2009, the George Street property was sold and Church of the Open Bible was welcomed to share the facilities of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church. In March of 2019 the congregation of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church moved from its historic location at Murray and Water Street to The Mount Community Centre, and invited us to continue sharing their facilities.  You can read more about the AGC and our doctrinal tradition on the Association's website.

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