Our Clergy at Christ Church

Our dedicated Christ Church Clergy oversee all aspects of parish community life and provide encouragement, and spiritual support to the members of the parish and accross the wider community of Stouffville.

Christ Church's Clergy are at the spititual heart of the parish, leading the various liturgical events throughout the week, including the celebration of Eucharist. They lead dynamic Christian education programs and officiate at key milestone ceremonies such as baptisms, confirmations, weddings and funerals.

Our Clergy work closely with the members of the parish with a view to fostering a strong spiritual, scriptural and sacramental base within the parish and broader community so that all may encounter the transforming presence of God in Jesus Christ. 

The Reverend Canon Lisa Newland

incumbent

Lisa grew up southeast of Stouffville in Ajax, Ontario. A B.A. from Trinity College (University of Toronto) and a M.Div. from Wycliffe College (University of Toronto) took her to Toronto. Lisa was ordained as a transitional deacon in May 2005 and priest in December of the same year. She served her curacy at St. James in Orillia and from there became the incumbent at St. Matthew’s, Oshawa where she served for 6 ½ years until March 2014 when she was appointed incumbent at St. Matthew the Apostle, Oriole. After another 6 ½ years at St. Matthew the Apostle, Oriole, Lisa discerned a call to Christ Church, Stouffville.

In addition to her parish responsibilities, Lisa currently serves as the Honorary Clerical Secretary of Synod for the Diocese of Toronto and member of Synod Council. She is also a member and Co-Chair of the Postulancy Committee for the diocese (2015-present) and has served on Diocesan Council (2017-2021), both appointments by the former Archbishop of Toronto. From December 2018-2021 she was appointed by the current diocesan bishop to serve on the Executive Board of the diocese. In March 2019 Lisa was also appointed by the area bishop of York-Scarborough as Regional Dean of York Mills until her move to Christ Church in September 2020. She was named an Honorary Canon of St. James Cathedral in November 2023.

Away from Christ Church, Lisa enjoys travelling, gardening, cooking, reading, cross-stitching, photography, and spending quality time with her family and friends. Despite being appointed to two parishes named after St. Matthew, Lisa readily confesses that of the four gospels, St. John’s is her favourite. Lisa has been married to her husband Geoff for 23 years and they have two children, as well as a Dalmatian. Lisa and her family are delighted to be a part of the Stouffville community.

You can contact Canon Lisa at lisanewland@stouffvilleanglican.ca or by calling the parish office at (905) 640-1461.

Captain, The Reverend Greg Bailey

Honorary Assistant

Capt, the Reverend Greg Bailey KStG graduated from S. John’s College, University of Manitoba in 1982, and was ordained to the Priesthood at Pentecost 1983. His work has included parish, hospital and institutional ministry that has taken him to 25 countries worldwide. Prior to its publication in 1985, he served as a minor editor of the Book of Alternative Services.

For almost nine years he served as a Chaplain with the Canadian Forces, first at CFB Petawawa (CSOR and 1RCR), then at LFTC Meaford and CFB Borden. He was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan (2007) and Paphos, Cyprus (2009). For his work he twice received the John Weir Foote VC Award, the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service’s highest recognition.

In 2017 he served as a Chaplain to the Invictus Games in Toronto.

Now retired from the Army, he serves as Lead Chaplain to the York Regional Police Service, advocating collaboration between the caring professions and encouraging wounded personnel to access all possible means to recovery, for which, in 2022 he was awarded the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pin.

His hobbies include gardening, Egyptian archaeology, all things aviation, astronomy, and linguistics.

Greg lives with his wife, Rosemary, and their daughter, Elizabeth, in Markham.

To schedule an appointment with our
clergy please contact the parish office.