Anglican Church

                                                                                            September 29, 2013

579 5th Street

Saint John the Divine Anglican Church
Courtenay, B.C. Canada

"St. John The Divine which was built in 1915. This occurred under the direction of the then, Vicar, the Rev. E.P. Laycock, who was a trained architect.

This Church was one of the first churches in British Columbia built on the ancient basilican or apsidal plan, rather than in the shape of a cross, which characterizes the traditional gothic plan. The Church was dedicated by Bishop John Charles Roper. As the community of Courtenay expanded the parish also grew in size. In 1967 the building was enlarged under the inspiration of the Rector at the time, the Rev. W. J. Lunny, who reordered the sanctuary, enlarged the nave, and added a choir gallery. It was during this time of expansion that the stained glass windows were installed.

St. John Stained Glass Window

(Link 1.)

"The windows commemorate the Twelve Apostles in symbolic terms. They remind the congregation that as we worship we are supported and surrounded by the glorious company of God’s Saints in whose victory we are called to share.

Sanctuary and Altar (Google Images)

"On the exterior wall of the Church is a beautiful mosaic of St. John the Divine. The Mosaic itself was inspired by the great mosaics found in Ravenna, Italy and is made up of thousands of tiny pieces of tile which depict our heavenly patron in priestly garments. Over the Apostles’ head is a halo indicating his saintly status and his hand holds the Book of the Revelation which he wrote during his exile on the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea. Local artists conceived the design and installed the many individual pieces. In the years that followed a number of changes were made also to the interior of the Church.

St. John the Divine Mosaic

St. John the Divine Mosaic

"One of the most significant changes occurred between 1968 and 1981 when Canon Eric Scott was the Rector. During this time a stainless steel cross was added to the east wall of the sanctuary. The facets of the cross, which are grouped in threes, represent the Holy Trinity; catch the reflection of each person who enters the church, drawing them, their concerns, and their surroundings into the symbol of our Saviour’s redeeming sacrifice.

Stainless Steel Cross (Google Images)

"Under the Rev. John Lancaster, who was Rector from 1981 to 2003, the interior was painted with its unique colours reminiscent of Italian frescoes. It was also during this time that a two-manual Rodgers organ was added to support the choir and congregation. During Fr. Lancaster’s ministry an ambry was placed in the sanctuary in order to reserve the sacrament for the sick. The light above the ambry honours our Lord’s sacramental presence among us and invites us to kneel in reverence and prayer." (Link.)

Sanctuary Balcony (Google Images)

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Photos: Taken in June 2013 by SW.

Link: http://stjohnthedivinecourtenay.bc.anglican.ca/
Reference: The Comox Valley Echo, "50th anniversay of city's only mosaic",
                       Friday, November 16, 2012.

Prayer

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

                                                                                                          May 15, 2011

4778  Island Highway

St. Andrew's Pioneer Church
Courtenay, B.C.

St. Andrew's Pioneer Church is situated at 4778 Island Highway. It is one  mile north of downtown Courtenay, B.C. and 27  miles north of the Fanny Bay Inn (See October 2nd, 2010 blog post, http://www.demolitionmama.blogspot.com/ Saturday Travel Feature, the Fanny Bay Inn, Fanny Bay, B.C.) on the very same highway as the Inn.

Courtenay, B.C. on Vancouver Island (Mapquest)

"Used since 2002 by Living Word Reformed Episcopal Church, this building is also known as St. Andrew's Pioneer Church. It was constructed in 1876 after a group of local Presbyterians, who had been meeting  jointly with the people of St. Andrew's Anglican Church, chose to form their own congregation. The building was actively used by the original congregation until about 1950, at which time it was temporarily taken over by a Lutheran congregation in the process of building their own facilities. From approximately 1955 to 1977 the building was vacant and fell into disrepair. In the late 1970's the descendants of the original builders restored the building. It came back into use as a church in 1989 when Covenant Congregational Church began using it. They met there until late 2001. The main body of the church remains essentially unchanged. A small addition was made to the back of the church in the mid-1990's to house a kitchen and washrooms downstairs and office and Sunday School space upstairs.

                                                 Sanctuary with original pews
                                                                    (Link 2.)

"The pews are original and were made from local materials not long after the building was constructed....  In the late 1990's wooden crosses were made and affixed to the end of the pews. I believe this was done about the same time the cross was added to the front of the church.... The pulpit, judging from the style, dates from 1900-1925 or thereabouts, but as far as I know has always been with the building.  The Communion Table was donated to the St. Andrew's Heritage Society by Comox United Church, I believe at the time of the centennial restoration project in 1977..  Like the pulpit, it's made of quarter-saw oak and probably dates to the same time period. 

"Based on the photos I have and/or have seen, the lychgate was built by Covenant Congregational Church, which used the building between 1989 and 2001." (See Reference.)

 "The building is a great example of early Vancouver Island pioneer architecture, built from local materials. Of special interest is the portion of wall just inside the main doors. Preserved behind glass is a section of wall showing the original plaster made on-site from oyster shells and horsehair. The floors in the nave are still the original hand-cut timbers.

City Cemetery 2011

City Cemetery Gravestone 2011

The church is situated in the city cemetery which was originally the parish cemetery. Grave markers for some of the founders are just outside the north door of the building." (Link 1.)

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Reference:  E mail from Rev. William Klock of history of the church and
               sanctuary.
Photo: Taken in Courtenay B.C. in 2011 by SW.
               For other photos see Link 2.
Link 1:
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM3ZH1_Living_Word_Reformed_Episcopal_Church
Link 2: http://homepage.mac.com/klock/lwec/index.htm

Prayer

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