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The area's faith communities saw change, transition and fresh connections in the past year, and also some throwbacks to the past.

The biggest local story was a reflection of a global one, the growing division in the Anglican Communion.

That was manifested here when All Saints parish in Attleboro became two separate congregations after conservative members broke away from the national Episcopal Church and left the parish buildings on North Main Street.

Operating as All Saints Anglican, they at first worshipped in rented space, then bought the former Hebron United Methodist Church on South Main Street near the Seekonk line and began major renovations that is bringing fresh vitality to the building.

Meanwhile, the North Main Street church was revived by remaining and returning members as All Saints Episcopal. But as that story reflected division, the broader faith community came together this year in a newly formed interfaith group that continues to gather monthly at various locations to talk about beliefs and practices. The group has great diversity, with participants from Catholic, Protestant, evangelical Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Native American traditions.

Sadness also brought people of faith together in 2007.

In Norton, members of Trinitarian Congregational Church were supported in the loss of one of their members, Elizabeth Cann, who was shot by a former boyfriend, and whose daughters were critically wounded, but survived. The congregation's grief was worsened by the intense media attention given to the case for several weeks.

The LaSalette Shrine community also suffered a loss with the death of beloved artist Albert Lapierre of North Attleboro, who had volunteered countless hours over the years to create religious displays for the shrine's holiday exhibits.

But the shrine gained this year in the form of a new Welcome Center that opened during the Christmas season to host concerts and special events, and eventually the shrine's gift shop.

Another new building was brought into use when Plainville Baptist dedicated its newly-constructed church on Route 1A in early January.

Other churches received a facelift this year, including First Baptist in North Attleboro, where exterior work was done; St. Mark's Episcopal in Foxboro, which underwent extensive remodeling; Central Congregational in North Attleboro, whose historic clock tower was refurbished; and Centenary United Methodist in Attleboro, where a remodeling project included a new church kitchen.

Finally, Catholic parishes were offered the opportunity to bring back the Tridentine Rite, more commonly referred to as the Latin Mass, when Pope Benedict XVI lifted restrictions on its celebration.

A group of parishioners at St. Joseph's Parish in Attleboro responded to the opportunity and began preparations for eventually offering the Latin Mass, which has not been widely celebrated since the Second Vatican Council of the 1960s ushered in a modernized version. The parish expects to begin offering the Mass in the new year.

Other upcoming events of note will include the dedication of LaSalette Shrine's Welcome Center, the completion of renovations at the Anglican church in Hebronville, and the official reopening of the kitchen at Centenary. GLORIA LaBOUNTY can be reached at 508-236-0333 or at glabounty@thesunchronicle.com.