ABOUT US

Cornerstone Community Church was born out of the God-given vision given to Tony Hedrick. Tony  conducted tent meetings in the late 1980’s in Almonte and eventually inspired a few attendees of  Chapel Ridge Free Methodist in Kanata, who lived in the Almonte/Carleton Place area, to start a  fellowship in Almonte. In 1993, a bible study and kid’s program began on Sundays in Almonte, until the  first Sunday morning service began in January 1995.

On that cold January Sunday, two Monette families, the Priddle’s, Smithson’s, Jean MacFarlane, Wilma  Clark and a few others gathered in the old convent on Bridge Street next to Holy Name of Mary Church.  We gathered in a dark panelled room with a little electric piano.  Sunday school was held in a small  little room at the back of the building. For the first few years, we were known as “Grace Chapel Free  Methodist/ Community Church, Almonte Free Methodist Church or Chapel Ridge Free Methodist Church in Almonte”.  

We outgrew the convent and, in the spring of 1995, moved to the relatively new Ramsay Township Hall  on Old Perth Road. The main service was in the Council Chambers, and we used the kitchen and  basement for fellowship and Sunday School. Over the next few months and years, we moved around  Almonte until we had our own home at 1728 Ramsay Concession 11, near the roundabout (built before  the roundabout). We moved so frequently in the first 3-4 years, that we were known as the Rolling  Stone Church (not Cornerstone). Our motto could have been, “If you can find us, you can join us”. 

Much has happened in the life of Cornerstone Community Church over 30+ years in the community of  Almonte and surrounding areas: 

• Baptisms in pools, rivers and tubs at the church

• Salvation to many people, young and old

• Becoming a Society in 1998

• Trials and tribulation in the forms of church splits, pastors leaving, no pastors, sudden losses of  members and more… 

• Miraculous donation and delivery of a Grand Piano, before we had our own building  

• Outdoor services around town and on the church property 

• Work bees at the church and cleaning up around town 

• Volunteers throughout the life of the church, both inside and outside the church building

• Programs for the community (Divorce Care, Divorce Care for Kids, Grief Share, Bringing up Boys, The Truth Project, Alpha …)

• Activities in the community (Walk of the Cross, World Day of Prayer, Love Almonte, Puppets Up parking,  food drives, give-away days, free family days, A Meal for All,  Almonte Fair tent … and more)

• Weddings and funerals … 

Throughout our history we have had dedicated leaders for various periods of time:  

➢ Jamie and Lorraine Robertson (Youth Pastors for some of the time - Rob and Michelle Hay) from  January 1995 to December 1997 

 ➢ Glen and Mary-Louise Snider (Youth Pastors - Jim Snider, Mark Hardwick, Blair Richards, Andrew  Klinger) from January 1998 to 2011

  • No paid pastor from May 2011 to the summer of 2012 - In-house team of ministry leaders  providing preaching and pastoral support.  

➢ Gary and Margaret Landers from 2012-2015  

 ➢ Dave and Paula Moriarity from November 2015, until moving on the Chapel Ridge FMC in  January 2026

  • In-house team of ministry leaders again providing preaching and pastoral support from January  2026