Mapleton Church of Christ (Disciples)

Mapleton Church's worship services are in English. You can easily follow the order of service on a printed bulletin. As well, you can read scripture and sing along to hymns as words are projected onto a large screen in the sanctuary, which is also visible for those who are worshiping online through Facebook Live.

Musical leadership is provided by the organist and band. Worship leaders include youth, young adults, and adults. 

Communion is celebrated every week and, more often than not, its the elders and deacons who preside at the table. From their diverse life and faith experiences, the congregation hears a personal story and a reminder to live and love like Jesus - generously.

Mapleton Church hosts a Sunday School once a month for school-aged children. During Sunday School, lay leaders teach and lead engaging activities and fun crafts.

• Sunday School and crafternoons - children
• Bible Studies - adults
• Women's Group - fundraising (making and selling pies and Christmas planters)

Throughout the year, the congregation participates in several outreach programs and supports various local organizations:

• Grace Cafe & Inn Out of the Cold (coats, scarves, hats, gloves, and sweaters are collected and donated to those accessing emergency shelters during the winter)
• Corner Cupboard (food bank)
• Eco-Ministry (recycling program)
• Friends to Cuba Partnership (funds are raised to support an orphanage in Cuba)
• Benevolent Fund  (financial support is given to low-income community members)

The church was founded on Epiphany, January 6, 1850.  In 2020, Mapleton Church celebrated 170 years of faith and fellowship. One of its ministers, Pastor Edmund Sheppard, was instrumental in planting Disciple churches all along Talbot Road from Aylmer to Windsor.

Today, Mapleton is a vibrant, multigenerational church with active youth and adult ministries.

The church is located between Belmont Road and Imperial Road in Malahide Township, Elgin County, and it is mostly surrounded by farmland. It's often described as "the prettiest little country church." The current building was built in the early 1900s. The sanctuary features curved wooden pews and beautiful stained glass windows.

Right beside the church is the Necropolis - a cemetery with gravestones dating back to 1784.

Rev. Janet Anstead

After a career as a Family Law Lawyer in Ontario in the 1990s, Janet discerned a call to Ministry. She completed her Master of Divinity at Huron College, University of Western Ontario, and later returned to complete her Master of Arts (Theology).

Janet has been the minister at Mapleton Church since 2005. Janet’s commitment to the Disciples of Christ extends beyond the congregation as she serves in leadership roles with both the Ontario Assembly of the Christian Church and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada.

In addition, Janet has been the Coordinator of Non-Degree Programs and Continuing Education at Huron University College since 2013. In this capacity, Janet coordinates the Licentiate in Theology Program in which she is an instructor for Systematics, Church History, World Religions, and Ethics courses.