November 2, 2014

1384 Deep Cove Road

The Bridge 
North Vancouver, B.C. Canada

"The beginning of our church go back to post World War II when the Mount Pleasant Baptist church in Vancouver first established a Sunday School on the North Shore.  The original chapel at 515 West Windsor Road and Sunday School rooms were constructed in 1955...and Delbrook Baptist Church was established. (REF.) The Building Permit book at the North Vancouver Archives indicates that a$27,000 permit was issued to Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in 1956.

Original 1956 Chapel-2013

The Building Permit book at the North Vancouver Archives lists a 1962 church addition at Delbrook Baptist church.  This larger building with its distinctive roof shape (seen in the photo at the top) includes the new sanctuary with a large rear balcony and center peaked roof outlined in a circular fan of beams. Windows march around the top of the walls where they meet the ceiling, emphasizing its octagon shape.

1962 Addition The Bridge bought St. Clara-in-the-Cove Anglican Church (See blog post 4/3/11.) in 2014. The church is used for office space as Sunday services continue to be held at Capilano University Centre for the Performing Arts. Sign at 2014 Church

Photos: Taken by Suzanne Wilson.
See Blog Posts 3/17/13 and 4/3/11.

Prayer

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

                                                                                                                        September 7, 2014

4544 Cove Cliff Road

Deep Cove Gospel Hall
North Vancouver, B.C. Canada


"The Deep Cove Gospel Hall had its early beginnings in 1952.  That was when a group of people from the south Main Street area in Vancouver came out to Deep Cove to find a possible site to set up a Sunday School.  Dave Jones Sr. and Bill Hague were two of the original founders of this church. The Deep Cove Gospel Hall was not a denomination or a branch of any other church as members thought that every church should have its own identity.  They received permission to use the community hall for their Sunday School.

Community Hall/Fire Hall 

Deep Cove Gospel Hall Parishioners

(REF 4.)

"When their membership increased rapidly, they soon outgrew the small hall and it was decided that a building of their own was needed. The church bought property on Cove Cliff Road.  The Gospel Hall congregation firmly believed that the church should be funded by donations from within its own group, rather than by fundraising events.  The church's mottoes were:  "A Christian should be a cheerful giver" and "The Lord has prospered man so that he may give."

Deep Cove Gospel Hall sign

"The church was total funded by donations from the members and the building was begun in 1954.  Then it officially opened in January, 1956, many of the congregation were still coming from Vancouver as well as the Deep Cove area."(REF 2.)

Sanctuary (REF 3.)

A November 1985 Vancouver Sun newspaper article describes the features of the remodeled sanctuary that led to the presentation of a special merit design award. "If you could choose one word to describe...(an) interior that won (a) design award... this November, that word would be elegant. Deep Cove Gospel Hall, winner of the special merit award...is an elegant solution.  Here, architect David Weiser has used a simple and direct approach to the perennial problem of refurbishing-on a limited budget-a place of worship....

"In Deep Cove Gospel Hall, architect David Weiser relies on simple material, bold ideas and the labor of the congregation to achieve a serene  and dignified space within a constrained budget. 

"The hall, says Weiser, had serious problems.  Built in the '50's, it was a warehouse-like space with a lightly vaulted ceiling of cedar decking supported by laminated beams.  Asbestos-tile floors and plastered concrete-block walls were an acoustical disaster, and clerestory windows caused glare during the day.

"Weiser took three materials-cedar, drywall and carpeting-and worked them hard to create the spiritual qualities the congregation wanted.

"He raised the pulpit above floor level and built a cedar-lined niche around it.  then to reduce the height of the hall, he used strong horizontal lines to catch the eye.

"One of the horizontals is a massive frame of cedar over the pulpit.  Another is an equally massive shelf-like projection that runs along either side of the building, about five feet below the ceiling.  This projection (which has openings in it to allow light) modulates the light coming in through the clerestory windows.

"Beige tweed carpeting, which covers the floor and goes half way up the walls, also cuts the  height of the space and radically improves its acoustics.

"The strong textures and tones along with the horizontal elements and simple detailing give a restful quality to the space....

"In the Gospel Hall, the newly quietly incorporates the old; dated lighting fixtures and stacking chairs seem to belong in the new space as if they had been chosen for it." (REF 1.)

Kitchen (REF 3.)

Lower Hall (REF 3.)

The described Sanctuary is on the upper floor of the two story  Deep Cove Gospel Hall.  On the lower floor of the building is the kitchen and adjoining  lower hall.

 *****

Photos: Taken in July 2014 by SW.

Reference 1: The Vancouver Sun, November 16, 1985, 'Architecture' Barbara 

                          Pettit.
Reference 2: Echoes Across the Inlet, page 117.
Reference 3: July e mail with photos  from George of the Deep Cove Gospel
                          Hall. 
Reference 4: Echoes Across Seymour, by Janet Pavlik, Desmond Smith, and
                          Eileen Smith,  photo of Fire Hall and Gospel Hall 
                          parishioners.

Prayer

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

                                                                                                                           November 6, 2011

1150 Mount Seymour Road

St. Pius X Catholic Church
North Vancouver, B.C.

St. Pius X Catholic church started as a mission of St. Edmund's Catholic Church (See Blog Post  6/26/11) in 1944.  It was started to serve the sizable Catholic population revealed in the census report of Deep Cove, the most western section of the District of North Vancouver.  The first mass was offered in a storage room, then across the street at the Deep Cove Community Hall.

"In 1960 six acres of land were purchased near the intersection of Mount Seymour Parkway and Mount Seymour Rd.," up the mountain and west of the community of Deep Cove.  "In 1961 a multi-purpose facility, including a pastor's residence (at the left end of the building in the photo below) and a hall seating six hundred, was built." (REF.) This building is now the gymnasium for the 1997 St. Pius X School. The caretaker's living quarters and the music room were added on to the front of the building. (Photo bottom photo.)

In 1981 part of the original property was sold and in 1984 a new church was built at 1150 Mt. Seymour Rd. (See top photo.) The sanctuary of the new church is partially lit by the banks of windows lining the sides of the wood grid ceiling and supported by simple grey concrete pillars. Outside the pillars are additional galleries of pews.The double arch of the apse is also sided by smaller matching pillars.  The acoustics of the sanctuary magnify even a single voice.  "A Sanctuary of the Holy Eucharist "including a relic of the cross and two life-size angel adoring the Eucharist" was blessed in 2001." (REF) It is placed to the left of the chancel.

Sanctuary

                   A Sanctuary of the Holy Eucharist "including a relic of the cross
                and two life-size angel adoring the Eucharist" was blessed in 2001."

The rear of the church is also inspiring. On the back wall of the balcony exposed organ pipes are centered under the red cross on a sunny yellow glass circular window. The cross in a circle is repeated in the clear glass of the doors between the nave and the foyer.  More light is let into the nave through the glass grid of the back wall.

Rear Wall of the Nave

As can be seen in the top photo a baptismal apse was built to the left of the foyer.  Light from the rectangular windows accents the angles of the walls and shines on the marble baptismal font placed in the center.

                                                                   Baptismal Font

In the year 2011 a Social Hall was added to the back of the hall between the rectory and the church.  The Social Hall includes a kitchen and meeting rooms.

"St. Pius X School began in 1996 in a trailer as an annex of Holly Trinity School; (Located on  Lonsdale Ave. in the City of North Vancouver.) it moved into a new building a year later." (REF) The Elementary School teaches students from Kindergarten to Grade 7.

                                                       St. Pius X Catholic School

                                      The original 1961 Multi-Purpose Building
                                                  (Now used as a gymnasium)
                (With living space and music room addition added to the front)

The St. Pius X Catholic Church complex now consists of the church, the rectory, the hall between with a social hall, the school, and gymnasium/music room/living quarters. 

Copied from the St. Pius X Parish October 2, 2011 Sunday Bulletin

(Rectory to the right, Social Hall between Rectory and

Church, Church on the left.) 

Photos: Taken in 2011 by SW.

                 Black and white year 2004 photos are available at the North 

                 Vancouver

                 Archives in the "Demolition and Construction" series by SW.

Reference:Traditions of Faith and Service, Archdiocese of

                      Vancouver 1908-2008.

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Pius_X

*************

Prayer

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

                                                                                                                                  4/10/11

1890 Deep Cove Road

Posthumous
Deep Cove United Church
Deep Cove, North Vancouver, B.C. Canada

The history of Deep Cove United Church was reported in the August 16, 1987 North Shore News,  "Church in Transition" and the Deep Cove Heritage Society pamphlet,  "Deep Cove United Church 1937-1976".

"The United Church began in Deep Cove in 1937 when a young bride by the name of Doris Smith and her husband moved to Deep Cove. She started a Sunday School on Main Street (...in the Dance Pavilion...) and a student minister, R. M. Warne, held church services.

"After a period of time, the school and services moved to the Legion Hall (...at the corner of Caledonia and Gallant)...Both the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches also held services at the community hall during the same period.

"In 1943 services were moved to the fire hall, which later became the community hall. The Rev. Cameron served as the first full-time minister from 1942 to 1947. Eighteen ministers in all have served the church over its first 50 year period.  The little white church at 1890 Deep Cove Road has been home to a church community of approximately 150 families since a dedication of the church was conducted by Rev. H. Vessey, May 25, 1952.

                     The original corner stone of the Deep Cove United Church

"...the church congregation closed the last day of service July 26 (1987) with a celebration and re-dedication.  The congregation has moved to a temporary location at 971 Berkley Rd.  Plans are underway to construct a new church at the ecumenical centre planned, by the District of North Vancouver in conjunction with the Parkgate Centre, for the corner of Mount Seymour Parkway and Indian River Road."

The church actually moved to 1200 Parkgate Ave. and became Mount Seymour United Church.  It opened its doors April 30, 1989. 

North facing original window

Beamed ceiling of original sanctuary

Original sanctuary pew

(Made by  congregation member Gustave Muri, 

as told to SW by his daughter 4/2015.)

Today the original church building on Deep Cove Road is "My Little School" Montessori School offering full time daycare and out of school care.  Some of the features of the original United Church can still be seen: the original corner stone, the large north facing window, the beamed ceiling of the sanctuary, and two of the original pews.

The original wooden cross from the  was refinished by James Fulton and put up for a Lenten service in 2005 in the Sanctuary at Mount Seymour United Church. (See Blog Post 8/17/14.)   As the story goes, after Lent Dermott McInnes said, "It looks good" and so it stayed."(REFS. d.)



Note: For more information on Deep Cove see April 3, 2011 Blog Post.

Photos: Taken at My Little School in March 2011 by Suzanne Wilson.
Reference 1: North Shore News, August 16, 1987, "Church in Transition".
Reference 2: Deep Cover Heritage Society pamphlet, "Deep Cove United Church
                        1937-1976".
References: Received from Mount Seymour United Church files:
                                   a."Seymour Heights United Church-Service of Dedication- 
                                                         Sunday, September 13th, 1959."
                                    b."History of Seymour Heights/Mount Seymour 
                                                         United Church"
                                    c."Mount Seymour United Church, North Vancouver, B.C. 
                                                         10th Anniversary Sunday, April 18, 1999"
                                    d."Mount Seymour United Church 25th Anniversary
                                                         Celebration May 4, 2014 From 1989: To 2014

(Note: These references are on file at the North Vancouver Archives.)

                                                                                                                      4/3/11

1384 Deep Cove Road

Posthumous

St. Clare-in-the-Cove/St. Simon's Anglican Church
Deep Cove, North Vancouver, B.C. Canada

"Deep Cove refers to both the community in the eastern most part of the District of North Vancouver, in British Columbia, Canada, and also the geographic name of the small bay beside the town. It is affectionately referred to as "The Cove" by local residents. Located at the foot of Mount Seymour, Deep Cove faces due east, fronting onto Indian Arm, a branch of the Burrard Inlet.

                                                       Panorama Park, Deep Cove

"Deep Cove became a popular summer resort for Vancouver residents in the 1910s, with cabins, logging and granite quarrying featuring in the local history. For many years, the focal point of the community included a yacht club, dance hall and general store.

"The population slowly grew in the 1960s and 1970s, when access to the area improved following the completion of the Second Narrows Bridge to Vancouver in 1960. However, Deep Cove held on to its rural feel, and a large, open horse paddock sat adjacent to Gallant Avenue (the main street) in this period. Today, the Cove remains a popular attraction in the District..." (See Link 1.)

"The first group of Anglicans met in 1940 in the back of a grocery store on Gallant Avenue." (Reference.)  This store later became the Bike Shop and most recently Deep Cove Outdoors. The property is now being proposed for development.  "This evening service consisted of 12 people, seven of them belonging to the Rawlings family.  When the community hall was built in 1940, the congregation moved there... Mr. Naughton, a real estate agent in the Cove, donated the property on Deep Cove Rd. (1384) for St. Simon's Anglican Church... The congregation members literally got out and dug the foundations for their building.  This consisted of one floor... But the building was too small, so the congregation once again got busy and dug out a basement so a lower floor could be added." (Reference.) The people of Deep Cove worshiped in this Anglican Church named St. Simon's until the year 2004.

"The parish was formerly named St. Simon’s Deep Cove. Its priest and several members of the congregation left the Anglican Church of Canada in 2004 over the issue of same sex blessings. The next year they turned the building over to diocesan officials and have set up shop in a school outside the Deep Cove neighbourhood. However they kept the name “St. Simon’s,” which caused a great deal of confusion in the local community.

 "St. Clare-in-the-Cove is now the official name of the Anglican Church of Canada parish in the Deep Cove neighbourhood at the eastern end of North Vancouver.


"The Rev. Carla McGhie, priest in charge of St. Clare-in-the-Cove, said her parish explored the possibility of a more descriptive name, and many suggestions were advanced. However none felt right, she said.

                                                     St. Clare-in-the-Cove, Sanctuary

"In consultation with the Diocesan Ministry and Congregational Development Committee, Bishop Michael Ingham approved the name change... The parish is now named after St. Clare of Assisi (1193-1253), who with the assistance of fellow Assisian St. Francis founded an order of nuns which came to be known as the “Poor Clares.

"The 58-year-old parish decided on the name after a retreat in April, and decided to take the name because it valued “Clare’s utter and joyful identification with the poor and needy; her dedication to the contemplative life; her capacities for friendship and relationality as shown in her ardent friendship with St Francis.”

“By selecting a saint’s name we made the clear statement we would like to have a name that links us specifically with our Christian heritage and tradition.”

"The place name, “in-the-Cove” was included to affirm that the church values its location. “It’s such a special and incredibly beautiful setting.

                                                  The Labyrinth (See Link 3.)

"In our own parish visioning we give high priority to living in meaningful community,” said McGhie, “offering service and care to those in need, developing as a strong spiritual center, and being creative and innovative within our time.” (See Link 2.) The Labyrinth reaches out to members of the surrounding community. (See Link 3.)

Note: Suzanne Wilson attended the 11:30 am Sunday Service March 27th, 2011.  The intimate congregation of 20, including 4 children met on the semi circle of chairs at the front of the narthex. Some chair backs were draped with liturgical purple fabric. The cross was draped for the Lenten season. The service led by the Rev. McGhie was reverently casual with joyous hymn singing. Everyone entering in the easy discussion which was part of the sermon based on the day's scripture led by the Rev. McGhie seated as part of the congregation. To receive communion the congregation formed a circle around the altar, joining hands for the final prayer. Thank you to the Rev. McGhie and the congregation of St. Clara-in-the-Cove for this inspiring worship experience.  God bless them all.

Note: For Sale sign observed by SW October 2012.
             As of February 2014 bought by The Bridge (See Blog Post 3/17/13.) for 
             office space at this time.

Photos: Taken of St. Clare-in-the-Cove and Panorama Park taken March 2011 
                 and June 2014. 
                by  Suzanne Wilson
Reference: Echoes Across the Inlet, page 116.
Link 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Cove,_North_Vancouver
Link 2: http://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/News/tabid/27/Mode/ViewArticle/ArticleId/485/Default.aspx
Link 3: http://www.stclareinthecove.org/Welcome.html

Prayer

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