Doors locked at Trinity Bible Chapel after court order
Last week, Waterloo Regional Police issued fines outside the church
Doors were locked at Trinity Bible Chapel this weekend after a court order.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of the Attorney General said the province brought a motion on Friday seeking a civil contempt of court order in respect to church services held on April 25.
Waterloo Regional Police officers issued tickets to people leaving the Sunday service.
The court found the church, its pastors and elders in contempt of orders issued on January 22 and April 16 related to capacity limits.
"The court granted interim relief in the form of an order directing the sheriff to lock the doors of the church on a time limited basis. The doors are ordered to be locked, before midnight May 1, 2021, for one week," a spokesperson said in a statement.
The church posted an online statement saying the doors will be locked up until at least next Saturday, and may be closed for longer if they return to court again. Church officials said in a social media post it will move to an online service this weekend.
In the week ahead, the province and church officials are to go to court to address the order.
The church in Woolwich Township has been fined several times before for exceeding capacity limits.