Anglican Foundation of Canada supports Summer Fruit for Souls

Ontario Lay Readers to Deepen Roots of Ministry—and Welcome a Wider Circle

This July, Lay Readers from the Diocese of Ontario—and beyond—will gather at Queen’s University for a week of renewal, education, and spiritual formation through a long-standing ministry development initiative: Summer Fruit for Souls. Now in its third decade, this year’s event is being scaled up with help from a $10,000 grant from the Anglican Foundation of Canada (AFC).

Organized by the Lay Readers Association of the Diocese of Ontario, the conference is built on the conviction that lay leaders need ongoing education and spiritual refreshment to faithfully serve today’s Church. The Diocese supports more than 130 Lay Readers across its four deaneries. These volunteers assist with preaching and prayer leadership and are increasingly taking on catechist and other pastoral roles in their communities.

The Rt. Rev. William Cliff, Bishop of Ontario, at the 2024 Summer Fruit for Souls event. Photo courtesy of Mark Hauser.
But the impact of Summer Fruit for Souls extends far beyond diocesan boundaries. “We’re growing into something more provincial,” says Dr. Laurel Dempsey, co-chair of the Lay Readers Association. “We had participants from five dioceses last year. There’s a real hunger among Lay Readers across the Province of Ontario for this kind of formation—and a real shortage of comparable opportunities.”

This year’s conference, to be held July 22–25 at Queen’s University, will feature Bishop William Cliff leading daily sessions on preaching and Dr. Grayhame Bowcott offering workshops on parish development and community leadership. The program will welcome up to 50 in-person attendees, as well as a broader online audience through livestreamed and recorded sessions.

Organizers say relocating the event to Queen’s has helped make it more accessible and central to participants from across the province, but the move has also added to logistical and financial costs. AFC’s grant will help keep registration fees manageable for participants—many of whom serve in rural or resource-constrained contexts.

“This grant gives us breathing room,” says Dempsey. “It allows us to keep the doors open for people who might not otherwise be able to attend. That’s critical to our goal of creating a truly inclusive, accessible space for lay formation.”

To register for Summer Fruit For Souls visit: Summer Fruit for Souls | Lay Readers | Anglican Diocese of Ontario.
To learn more about upcoming funding opportunities visit anglicanfoundation.org/apply.

Every AFC grant is made possible through the generosity of our donor family. By becoming a member of the Anglican Foundation of Canada, you are investing in the Church of tomorrow—today, helping to fund creative, compassionate, and courageous ministry in your diocese and across the country. Membership starts at just $100/year. Learn more and join us at www.anglicanfoundation.org/membership.