St. Leonard's on the Hill Anglican Church

Reverend Chris Roth

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I was born and raised in Red Deer, and have fairly deep roots here. We have 3 fantastic boys and 1 amazing daughter who keep our lives adventure filled.  

Crystal and I were married in 2002 and moved from Red Deer to Lethbridge where we both attended the University there. I received a B.A. in Religious Studies from the U of L. 

It was in Lethbridge, while attending St. Augustine’s Church, that I became an Anglican. (I had become a dedicated Christian just a few years earlier when I was 19 and attended the First Christian Reformed Church in Red Deer- a church I am still very fond of.) After finishing my studies, I was working as a youth minister at St. Augustine’s.

 

In 2006 we went to Toronto where I studied at Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto and received a M.Div.. 

In 2009, I was called back to St. Augustine’s in Lethbridge where I served as assistant priest under the care of The Rev. Canon James Robinson (an amazing priest!). 

In 2012 I began serving a church in Edmonton, St. Timothy's- a lovely church with fantastic people! While in Edmonton I also served the diocese in a broader capacity in a position that was particularly concerned with connecting to those outside the church. It is no mystery that our culture has shifted quite dramatically and that the church is struggling to connect to people in the way that it has in the past.  I’m particularly interested in what obstacles might be in the road for people and how we might be able to remove those obstacles.  

 

Due to some personal family matters, we decided to make the decision to move back to Red Deer in August, 2015. Since then I have been serving St. Mark’s in Innisfail and St. Mary’s and St. Timothy’s in Sylvan Lake. Both of which are filled with lovely people. I made some very good friends while serving those churches and I learned some very valuable lessons about rural ministry.  

 

We are very happy to be invited to start a new adventure with our brothers and sisters at St. Leonard’s. 

 

Each priest has a particular way they manifest God’s call. I am particularly interested in communicating the message of Christ to those who are not part of the church. I also have an interest in Christian spiritual formation. I believe that as Christians we are called to grow and reflect the character of Christ. To be a disciple is to be an apprentice of Jesus in how to live life. This is a way of life marked by the Fruit of the Spirit- “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal 5:22-23).

 

I look forward to getting to know you. God bless you!

 

Peace,

Chris Roth