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Deconsecration of a Sacred Space

The Deconsecration of a Sacred Space is an authorized liturgy of the Anglican Church of Canada that supports communities marking the closure of a church building. Rooted in prayer, thanksgiving and pastoral care, the rite honours the history of a worshipping community, acknowledges grief and transition, and affirms that God’s presence accompanies the congregation beyond the walls of any single place. Authorized by Resolution A121 of the 43rd General Synod (2023), it may be used within the Eucharist or adapted for a Service of the Word.

Suggested uses

  • Planning a diocesan or parish liturgy for deconsecration or secularization of a church building
  • Supporting parish leaders, wardens and liturgy planners preparing for building closure
  • Guiding pastoral conversations around grief, memory and transition within a faith community
  • Informing diocesan staff or committees with oversight of property, congregational transitions or building stewardship

Key themes

  • Christian hope and continuity in times of congregational change
  • Thanksgiving for the ministry, sacraments and community life shared in a sacred space
  • Pastoral sensitivity to grief, memory and communal identity
  • Symbolic actions that honour the past and support faithful movement into new ministry contexts
  • Diocesan leadership and shared responsibility within the wider body of Christ

Best suited for: diocesan leaders, clergy, liturgy planners, parish wardens, transition teams and congregations preparing for the closure of a church building.

Acknowledging the land and God’s creation

This acknowledgement is crafted in light of the Principles of Reconciliation by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, as we seek to live faithfully in Christ and in right relationship with all. 

We give thanks to the Creator for this land, its waters, forests and all living beings, and for the abiding presence of Christ among us. From coast to coast to coast, these have been cared for and nurtured by First Nations, Inuit and Métis through countless generations. 

We honour the enduring relationship Indigenous Peoples have cultivated with these lands and waters, and the treaties and agreements that reflect these sacred bonds. We acknowledge the harms caused by colonial expansion, through frameworks like the Doctrine of Discovery and structures like the residential school system. We recognize our past failures as a Church, including disruption of connections to the land and suppression of Indigenous spiritualities. 

Guided by the gospel of Jesus Christ, we confess our need for healing. We commit ourselves to seeking truth, pursuing reconciliation and nurturing harmony with all creation. We place our trust in Christ, through whom all things are reconciled to God. 

May God strengthen us to live faithfully as stewards of the Earth. Let us walk in love, justice and reconciliation, joining in God’s work to restore all creation.