# St. John's United Church

United Church in Belwood, Ontario.

Source: https://fergus.church/churches/st-johns-united/
Last verified: 2026-09-16

## Service times
- Sunday 11:00 a.m. (Worship)

The sister congregation of the pastoral charge, St. Paul's United Church in Metz (8276 Side Road 25), worships at 9:30 a.m. The charge office is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. to noon.

## Address
28 Queen Street, Belwood, ON N0B 1J0

## Contact
- Phone: 519-843-1227
- Website: https://www.belwoodmetzuc.ca
- Email: belwoodmetz@gmail.com
- Affiliation: The United Church of Canada (Belwood-Metz Pastoral Charge, Western Ontario Waterways Regional Council)

## What they believe
St. John's describes itself as a caring, joyful church community, rich in musical and cultural heritage, that celebrates the call of the Holy Spirit to witness through meaningful worship and open fellowship, reaching out to others, sharing its faith and loving and supporting all people. It is a congregation of The United Church of Canada.

## What to expect
The congregation offers worship in both traditional and contemporary styles and wants visitors to feel at home and warmly welcomed. Music is a strength, with a Chancel Choir and 'John-Paul', a musical ensemble shared with St. Paul's, Metz, that brings together musicians of various ages; there is a church school for children, an annual Vacation Bible School and Friday-night coffee-house style musical gatherings.

## About this congregation
St. John's United Church stands in the heart of Belwood, and its bell tower can be seen from across the lake. The congregation dates its founding to 1856 (a parish history held by the Wellington County Museum and Archives covers 1855 to 1980). The stone church on Queen Street was built in 1872–73 as a Presbyterian church; in keeping with its tradition it at first allowed no musical instruments in worship, and when an organ was introduced in 1878 a number of members protested and left. The building survived the creation of Belwood Lake in 1939–42, which submerged about half of the village's houses and most of its business district.

Today St. John's forms the Belwood-Metz Pastoral Charge of The United Church of Canada together with St. Paul's United Church in the hamlet of Metz. The minister is Rev. Shelley Smith, and Kara Shaw directs music at St. John's. Congregational traditions include an annual Vacation Bible School, an active church school for children and a Spring Luncheon, and the two churches share a musical ensemble known as 'John-Paul'. Worship is in English.

## About this listing
Part of Fergus.church. These listings cover every congregation in Fergus and Belwood.
Checked against: belwoodmetzuc.ca (retrieved 2026-09-16); united-church.ca (retrieved 2026-09-16); wellington.ca (retrieved 2026-09-16); wcma.pastperfectonline.com (retrieved 2026-09-16); holmstromruddick.com (retrieved 2026-09-16); centrewellington.ca (retrieved 2026-09-16).
What United churches believe: https://fergus.church/denominations/united/