January 19, 2014

Entrance

630 East 19th Street

Posthumous

Sutherland Bible Chapel (1970-1995 Building)

North Vancouver, B.C.

The origin of  Sutherland Church was in the early 1960's at  Hollyburn Gospel Chapel in West Vancouver, B.C.. Hollyburn Gospel Chapel was a Plymouth Brethren Church.  

"The various churches of the Christian Brethren movement are independent, conservative and evangelical....it is estimated that there are about one million people who identify themselves as Brethren.

"In the winter of 1827-1828 four men...gathered...in Dublin, Ireland.  Soon there were assemblies... in several locations.  The most well-known group was in Plymouth, and the name "Plymouth Brethren" has since become a default name for others.

"Brethren churches vary somewhat in their practices and beliefs due to their independent nature,...(There is an) absence of clergy/laity distinctions.  Brethren churches typically partake of the Lord's Supper weekly." (REF.)

The members of the Hollyburn Gospel Chapel that lived in North Vancouver, the city to the east of West Vancouver, decided that they wanted a church in their own area. " 'Hollyburn' formed a committee to look for property in North Vancouver...The ...location of 19th Street and Sutherland Avenue...was purchased from the City of North Vancouver in 1967." (REF.)

However, the lot on the north-west corner of East 19th Street and Sutherland Avenue was a swamp and needed to be built up before construction of a church could begin. (BG)

A very well attended Daily Vacation Bible School was held at Queensbury School, North Vancouver in the summer of 1968. "The success of that undertaking encouraged the leaders of the new venture and a Sunday School and adult Bible Study commenced that fall.  These were held Sunday morning in the cafeteria of Sutherland High School across the street from our property.

Rear of Building

"Work on the site clearing started by volunteers in the spring of 1968 and construction followed shortly afterward on the first phase of an intended church building." Painting was also done by the volunteers.

"In fall 1969 as the building's first phase (the foyer, lounge, kitchen washroom, nursery and basement of an eventual building) nearing completion, the leadership of the home church at Hollyburn chose the initial leaders (Elders) for Sutherland....On Feb. 2, 1970 twelve families met for communion for the first time in the new building and so formally launched Sutherland Bible Chapel. Over the next few years the number in the fellowship continued to grow to the point where the first phase of the building was overcrowded.  A decision was made to complete the auditorium portion of the building.  This was opened in 1974.

"In the initial years the ministry of the church was carried out in the tradition of the "Christian Brethren" in that there was no paid or full time ministry staff... the preaching was done either by a member of the congregation or by a visitor.

North Side of Building

"In the early 1980's the Elders decided that because of the practicalities of the times, a "full-time worker" would be a good idea.  Over the years...Pastors have each assisted us to grow spiritually..."

"The twenty fifth anniversary of Sutherland was celebrated in 1995 by demolishing  the building...and constructing the larger facility we have today."(REF.) The new church with its entrance of a bank of broad steps on East 19th Street was built.

For more information on Sutherland Church see Blog Post 1/19/14.

Thank you: To Bill Gillmartin for information and slides. 

Photos: Photos were taken of the slides and photoshopped by SW.

Reference: "History of Sutherland Church, 8/2013 from Bill Gillmartin.

Link 1: http://sutherlandchurch.ca/

Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Brethren

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen