Sunday Church Feature
St. John the Divine Historic Church
Yale, B.C.

"Located at the southern entrance to the spectacular Fraser Canyon, the town of Yale is one of southwestern British Columbia's oldest and most historic communities, having been the bustling steamship navigation capital during the Gold Rush. (Link 1.)

"Founded as a Hudson's Bay fort in 1848, Yale rose to prominence as the inland terminus of the Fraser River sternwheelers and a waystation for those travelling up and down the Fraser River.


"Like many towns in British Columbia, Yale's fortunes followed that of the Gold Rush. In 1858 gold was discovered on a gravel bar just 2 miles south of Yale on the Fraser River. This place was soon known as Hill's Bar named after the prospector who found gold there. The discovery of gold caused a massive influx of people to pour into the region from all over the world, the majority of which came from the California Gold Rush of 1849. At the height of Gold Fever in 1858, this town boasted 20,000 residents.
 
"During the period of railway construction in the 1880's Yale became the main supply centre for all the work in the Cascade Division of British Columbia. The railway that now passes right through the middle of Yale in front of the museum and church is the Canadian Pacific Railway.
 
"Today the residents of Yale number only 200. Though the gold ran out, Yale continued prospering, as it still does today as a forestry and service centre."(See Link 4.)

"St. John the Divine Anglican Church in Yale, BC. built in 1863 is one of the oldest churches in the province. Much of the church is still original, including the bell tower steeple and the pews. The Church was associated with the All Hallows Anglican girls school, which operated in Yale from 1884 to 1920. The Church is now de-sanctified and designated as a Provincial Heritage Site.
An exhibition entitled "Enduring Threads" was prepared by Jennifer Iredale  in 2003.  It included   handmade liturgical textiles from St. John the Divine Church  dating back to the time of its origins in the 1860s.   The catalogue is available from the Yale Museum." (See Link 1.)

"While it is still not possible to attribute each piece from the Enduring Threads exhibit to its individual creators, it is now clear that they were made by First Nations and European students together with the nuns at All Hallows Anglican girls' school, which operated in Yale from 1884-1920. Three nuns from All Hallows convent  in Ditchingham, England (an order known for its fine ecclesiastical embroidery) arrived in British Columbia in 1884 to establish a school for First Nations girls from Lytton, Spuzzum and Yale, with a stun of money First Nations people had earned on construction of the railway, which they turned over to the Anglican church, says Ms. Iredale, quoting from newspaper articles of the time. A school for European girls was soon established next door at the request of settlers." (See Link 2.)

For original architectural plans and details see Link 3.

 Photo: Taken in Yale, B.C. in 2005 by SW.
Link1:http://www.maltwood.uvic.ca/cura/projects/liturgical_textiles/home.html
Link2:http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Housekeeping+task+turns+up+treasures.-a0112244682
Link 3:http://www.bcheritage.ca/yale/tour/drstjhn.htm
Link 4: http://www.vancouverisland.com/regions/towns/?townID=3380

Tuesday, November 16, 2010
The Reverend's House

The house at 2895 Edgemont Boulevard is in the Capilano Highlands area of North Vancouver District.  It was built in 1950 for $10,500 by the Reverend J. G. Greig.  By 1955 the Venerable H. J. Greig (Note spelling and initials.) and his wife Caroline J. Greig owned the house.  The Venerable H. J. Greig was the Archdeacon and pastor of the newly established St. Catherine's Anglican Church.  The Reverend H. J. Greig served the St. Catherine's Anglican Church from 1951 to 1956. (See Reference and photo below.)

Reverend H. J. Greig

The house just a block from the Edgemont Village town center was typical for that area.  It included an underground garage, indicated by the driveway on the left leading to it.  As can be seen in the house photo that the garage was filled in to extend the living space.  This was also a typical conversion.

The 1960 owners of the house at 2895 Edgemont Blvd. were Chase H. and Flora Gowe.  Chase Gowe worked as a weighman at the Board of Grain.  In 1971 the owner was Mrs. M. L. Browne.

By 1980 Edward and Beryle Knight were the owners.  Edward Knight was a sales representative for Evergreen Press.  They continued to own the house at least until the publication of the 1995/1996 City Directory.  In 1991 and 1995/1996 Edward Knight reported that he was the sales representative for Ronald's.

The 2010 real estate ad (See Link.) describes the house of 2,400 square feet on a 8,050 square foot lot as having 4 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms.  It was advertised for sale for $849,000, and that was a reduced price.

Reference: Journey of a Family, St. Catherine's (Capilano), North Vancouver,
                      A Parish History.
Demolition: Permit applied for in November 2010.
Photos: Of house taken in November 2010 by SW.
                Of Reverend H. J. Greig, see Reference.

Link: http://www.mikegiesbrecht.com/Properties.php/Details/205

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Sunday Church Feature

St. Catherine's Anglican Church,
North Vancouver, B.C.

St. John's Anglican Church  in North Vancouver  sponsored the building of 5 other Anglican Churches in North Vancouver: St. Clement's in  1908, St. Agnes' in 1909, St. Thomas in 1910 that changed its name to St. Martin's in 1919, St. Catherine's in 1948, and St. Richard's in 1950. (Reference 1.)

Sanctuary

In 1948 St. John's Anglican Church acquired new property in Capilano Highlands that would become that of the new St. Catherine's Anglican Church at 1958 Ridgewood Drive.  Architect Paul Hollingworth presented sketches of a proposed parish hall.  On June 13th fifty people sat on logs in front of the rough-hewn outdoor altar with St. John's loaned pump organ and choir for an open-air service on the grounds of the planned church.  Construction of a temporary structure called the "tar paper shack" began on Sept 18, 1948.  It was 24x48 feet and accommodated roughly 40 people and a wood stove.  The church met there for 3 years.  In 1949 the congregation decided to name the church "Church of The Holy Cross". (Reference 2.)

Memorial Window on east side of sanctuary

The second building, the permanent Hollingsworth designed structure,  to accommodate a larger congregation cost more than $30,000 and was completed in 1951.  A third building was designed by the architectural firm Sharp and Anderson and built in 1962.  The cost of this building was $175,000. To build it necessitated demolishing  the Hollingsworth church since the same land was to be used.  Some of the items in the Hollingsworth church were installed in the new 1962 building: the pews, altar and rail, and cross in the chapel and  some pews in the sanctuary.  The new church sanctuary featured giant laminated beams and a balcony.  Other church features of today's church are the stained glass window on the east side of the sanctuary, three  tapestries at the back of the sanctuary, and exposed organ pipes in the balcony. (Reference 2.) (See photos below.) 

Rear of sanctuary, tapestries,  and organ pipes

North of the present church sanctuary is a hall leading to the chapel, church
office, and church hall. 

The congregation of St. Catherine's Anglican Church has recently welcomed the members of St. Richard's Anglican Church that was decommissioned early in 2010. (See Blog Post, Sunday Church Feature, St. Richard's of Norgate, January 3, 2010.)

Thank you: To the Rev. Christine Rowe for * and additional information.

References: 1. Faithful People of God, 1999 by Beth Lawrence.

                         2. *Journey of a Family, 1993 by Janet Morris.

Demolition: Of the 1951 building to make way for construction of 1962
                         building.

Photos: Taken in October 2010 by SW.

Sunday Church Feature
St. Columba Church
Tofino, British Columbia

"St. Columba Anglican Church sits at the corner of Second and Main Streets tucked behind trees and rhododendrons. The property, consisting of two lots, was purchased for $100, with money that came from people in the community. Records of these pledges are shown in the minutes from a meeting of the Westcoast Mission, dated March 16, 1911.

"The church was built in 1913 with funds sent from England and the instructions to build a church “on the most beautiful spot on Vancouver Island” in the memory of Francis Beresford Wright.

"Rev. George Aitkens was appointed to design and build the church in the style of one he had previously built at Shawnigan Lake. The church was built on cedar posts, a style common to the coast. In 1967 a cement block foundation was put in.

"The rhododendrons were planted in 1925.

"Some of the earliest weddings at the church, performed by the first minister, Rev. L. A. Todd, were those of Nancy Shanker to Sofus Arnet (Dec. 30th, 1913) and Jack MacLeod to Jennie Grice.

"The Church is open to the public for viewing on certain days of the week, check the sign." (See Link.)

In 1970 Laura (Wilson) Misner was Christened in St. Columba Church in Tofino, B. C.  She wore the white dimity Christening gown made in 1938 by her mother's great aunt, Gusty.  Laura's mother, uncle, sister, and brother had also worn the gown at their Christenings.  Laura's daughter Holly wore the same gown in 2007 for her Christening at St. Richard's Anglican Church in North Vancouver.

Photo: Taken in Tofino, B.C. in 2005 by SW.
Link: http://www.tofinotime.com/articles/A-T702-09frm.htm

Sunday Church Feature
Saint Mary the Virgin
Metchosin, B.C.

"St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church of Canada, Enter Rest and Pray" is on the sign outside the church at 4354 Metchosin Road in Metchosin, B.C. Metchosin is on the south west coast of Vancouver Island and about half way between Victoria, B.C.'s capital, and Sooke. It is about a 30 minutes drive from Victoria to this small town of 5,000 people on the Juan de Fuca Strait.

"The name Metchosin is the anglicised version of the native "Smets-Schosen", which means "place of stinking fish". Local legend maintains that many years prior to the Europeans' arrival, an orca beached and died, and that everywhere that could smell it rotting became part of Metchosin. The town's museum, which was once its one-room school before an increasing population necessitated a larger building, claims to have vertebrae from the animal on display. Metchosin's community symbol is, perhaps unsurprisingly, an orca." See Link 2.

"St. Mary The Virgin Anglican Church was consecrated on October 22, 1873. It is the third oldest Anglican Church in continuous use on Vancouver Island. This small church is still used as a place of worship, but only for special services, funerals, and a Christmas Eve service. Two acres of land was donated for churchyard by Metchosin resident John Witty, sadly, was also the first to be buried on these grounds." See Link 1.

A white picket fence with its wrought iron gate surround the small white clapboard church with its steeple and triple chancel window. Scattered through the grassy church yard of spring flowers are grave stones of parishioners. One of these is a memorial to John Witty.

Photo: Taken in 2006 by SW.
Link 1: http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM37RX_St_Mary_The_Virgin_Metchosin_BC
Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metchosin,_British_Columbia

Sunday, February 14, 2010
Sunday Church Feature
Valentine's Day
Happy 100th Birthday

2010 is the 100th birthday year of St. Agnes Anglican Church at 530 East 12th Street in the City of North Vancouver.  This "country church in the city" was started as the second mission church of St. John's Anglican Church. The name St. Agnes was chosen December 8, 1909. The church was built in 1910 by contractor H. W. Young.  In 1927 the church hall on the lane behind the church was built by the H. W. Young as well. 

The original entrance to the church sanctuary was through a door on the south west face of the building.  The altar was in the alcove on the east wall and the dark wood pews lined a center aisle in a traditional manner.  Beautiful stained glass windows decorated  the north, south and east  walls of the sanctuary.  The church hall was only accessible by going outside and entering through the hall's west facing door.  In the 1970's the alter was moved into the body of the church and the alcove was fitted with pews for the choir.  In the 1990's the entrance door to the church and sanctuary was changed to the south east side of the building.  The altar was moved to the west side of the sanctuary with a middle aisle and traditional pew placement. The new south east door made possible an entrance hall not only to the sanctuary, but also to the church office and church hall.  It was no longer necessary to go outside to go to the church hall for "coffee hour".  Around 2002 the configuration of the sanctuary changed again.  Now the altar was placed on the north wall of the sanctuary, between two of the stained glass windows.  The pews were arranged around the altar in a  horseshoe pattern.  The average Sunday Worship attendance is 54 and the number of households that are members is 72. The priest is the Rev. Keith Gilbert.

St. Agnes was a 13 year old girl of  Rome who was put to death because she refused to renounce her Christian faith. There is a church built over the spot where she was buried in Rome.  It can still be seen today.  Keats wrote a poem about her life "The Eve of St. Agnes". 


On Sunday mornings  a rope hanging on the south wall of the  sanctuary is pulled, and the church bell signals to the community that it is time for worship.  The congregation of the "country church in the city" is ready to greet its neighbors.

Thank You: To Shirley Marcino for confirming my memories of the 
              church sanctuary.
Photo: Taken January 2010 by SW.  (Note the peaked roof of the church hall
              can be seen behind the church.)
Resources: City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994.
             Sunday January 24th St. Agnes Anglican Church bulletin.

Sunday, January 10, 2010Sunday Church Feature

Jehovah Witness's on Philips

Around the corner from St. Richard's Anglican Church (see Blog January 3, 2010) is the Tomahawk Restaurant. But this building qualifies for the Blog Sunday Church Feature because it was built as a Jehovah's Witness Church. It was built in 1956 for $6500. If you sit at one of the tables at the Tomahawk and look at the bones of the building, you can imagine a church congregation sitting there. The room is a long rectangle which would facilitate a center aisle bordered by rows of seating.The ceiling is pointed and there are lines of small windows at the tops of the side walls. The partition at one end, blocking off part of the kitchen even looks like it could have been the backdrop for an alter. However, the native wall mural, paddles and artifacts remind you that you are indeed in the Tomahawk Restaurant.


Before the Jehovah Witness Church moved into the 1550 Philip Ave. building, services were held across the street in one of the store fronts in the Norgate Shopping Center. The Tomahawk BBQ started in 1926 on the north side of Marine Drive at Mackay Road.  Then it moved to the shopping center.  At this time it was a drive-in. It was in 1962 that the Jehovah Witness congregation moved out and Chick Chamberlain brought his Tomahawk Restaurant to the building on Philips Ave. He modified the building with a $1000 addition.


Photo: Taken in 2009 by SW.
Books: City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994.

Sunday, January 3, 2010
Sunday Church Feature
St. Richard's of Norgate

St. Richard's Anglican Church at 1398 West 15th St. in the District of North Vancouver is on the corner of Philips Avenue and West 15th Street. It was the sixth mission of St. John's Anglican Church and started to provide a Sunday School in the new housing development in the Norgate Park area. Sixty families were contacted and the diocese granted a loan of $1,075 to the parish for the lot purchase and construction costs. The church hall cost $2,200 and was dedicated in 1950. The actual St. Richard's Anglican Church cost $47,000 and was dedicated on February 1, 1955, It became a separate mission parish in 1957.


Norgate Park is an area south of Marine Drive, north of , east of the Native Lands, and west of Pemberton Avenue It consisted of mainly one story ranch homes built on cement slabs for veterans from WWII. Some of these veterans brought their war brides from England here to their new home in Canada. Today the area is simply called  Norgate. Except for renovations like making rooms out of the garage areas, most of the homes remain the same. A few two story homes have been built, mainly versions of the 'Vancouver Special".


The original 1950 Sunday school church building was a rectangular hall positioned with the narrow end facing Philips Avenue. It sat at the location of the present St. Richard's. In 1955 to facilitate the building of a new larger church the hall was moved to the east side of the lot and turned to face 15th Street. The building is now called the St. Richard's Church Hall and serves the community as the Acorn Early Education Centre, Norgate. The present church building has its entrance on 15th Street, but is positioned with the narrow end on Philips Avenue.


This church that hummed with the children from 60 families in 1955 no longer has a Sunday School. In fact, the total church congregation on a Sunday morning is about 20. The Korean Stump Presbyterian Church congregation worships in the sanctuary on Sunday afternoons.  St. Richard's Anglican Church is the only Christian church building in the Norgate area, and at 10:00am every Sunday morning the rope is pulled to ring the bell to tell the community the Sunday church service is starting..


The year 2010 may bring an end to the ringing of this bell, since St. Richard's is in the throes of closing.


Photo: Taken 2007 by SW.
Closed: As an Anglican Church in 2011. Congregation welcomed by St.
                Catherine's Anglican Church.

Note: Suzanne Marie Wilson attended this church until its closing. Her
               granddaughter Holly Marie Misner was baptized here in
               September 2007.
Update: A June 10, 2011 North Shore News article reports that the church
               is for sale.
More information: See blog http://www.churchesonsundays.blogspot.com/