Caledonia Times
March, 2014 The Diocesan Section of the Anglican Journal
St. John the Divine turns 100 in 2014 At a cross-roads about seven miles east of Telkwa lies the tiny and much-loved church of St. John the Divine. The church may be small in size, but it is big in history! It’s a fascinating tale of how it originally came to be built in the now non-existent town of Hubert.
and 2 children, of his plans, they were much pleased. Du Vernet designed the new church himself and gone over the plans with a local contractor endeavouring to keep the cost within bounds, but still get the effect of a very neat little church. The cost of building materials would be high as all the fine lumber would have to come up from the coast. He had engaged Mr. Bonnyman, a local resident, to blow out the stumps on the two lots, and signed a contract with Mr. Neil Svenson to build the church for $650. Inside finishing, painting and pews would cost an additional $325, for a total of $975.
On November 11th, 1911 Mrs. Mary L. Lombe, a clergy widow living in Torquay, England, began correspondence with Archbishop FH Du Vernet, concerning a $500 gift she wished to make to the diocese for the construction of a new church. This church was to be a memorial to her late husband, the Rev Edward Lombe, former Rector of St. John the Divine, Swanton Morley, Norfolk, who died in 1909. Originally Mrs. Lombe had approached the Diocese of Qu’Appelle with her donation, but once she found out that this diocese would soon be independent of the Colonial and Continental Church Society, and therefore they would no longer be able to control the appointment of minister there, she switched her allegiance to Caledonia. Her late husband had been an ardent Protestant and she dare not risk even a distant possibility of erroneous (i.e. ritualistic) doctrine being taught in his memorial church. Qu’Appelle’s loss was Caledonia’s gain. Mr. and Mrs. Lombe had also been good friends of Bishop Ridley, Caledonia’s first Bishop and this perhaps played a part too. The first site chosen for the new church was New Hazelton. because the railway contractors, had made this town their headquarters and much was expected of it. However, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR)themselves were favouring South Hazelton as their town site and, if the Railway Commission agreed with them, there was a fear that New Hazelton would die after the contractor pulled out. Clearly nothing could be done until the Commission gave their decision. There was a long agonizing delay and some rather frustrated correspondence arriving on the Archbishop’s desk from an increasingly impatient Mrs. Lombe, who could not possibly understand the politics and high-stakes real estate dealings which were being played out in the layout of these new towns. She had embarked on an around-theworld cruise and would arrive on the west coast in the fall of 1913. She would be visiting Hazelton and hoped to worship in the new church. But on no account was the Archbishop to delay its consecration by one day. Sadly, construction had not even begun as the Archbishop weighed up the pros and cons of the two communities. Even Smithers was considered as a possible site for this memorial church, to get this delightful response from the irrepressible benefactor: on a
card to the Archbishop’s wife, postmarked Tokyo, Japan, June 27th, 1913: “Tell the Archbishop that if he thinks it better to build the church at any other place, even one rejoicing in such a very plebeian and ridiculous name as “Smithers”!! I am quite agreeable”. By July, 1914 Archbishop Du Vernet had made his decision. Rejecting New Hazelton, South Hazelton and Smithers, he had settled on Hubert, located on the west side of the Bulkley River, 4 miles from Telkwa. The Archbishop had had his eye on Hubert for some time and, looking to the future, had secured two lots there on 4th Avenue. It was the centre of a good farming district, and the firm gravel soils there made it the logical choice for GTPR’s new divisional point, the second after Prince Rupert. In anticipation of this decision a hotel had been built and a small community had developed. The government had also built a fine new road bridge across the Bulkley (later taken out by ice) so that farmers could drive into Hubert to ship their produce by rail. The next logical step was the building of a church. Archbishop Du Vernet himself held the first service in Hubert, on Thursday July 2nd, 1914, in the dining room of the new hotel. Coincidentally this was the day the first mail bag arrived for the new Post Office. Again the Archbishop was not allowing the grass to grow under his feet! When he told his small congregation, of 12 men, 2 women
All this he conveyed to Mrs. Lombe in a letter dated July 9th, 1914, with the appeal that, if she would allow her $500 donation to go to this church, he would be only too thankful to have it dedicated “St. John the Divine” as a memorial for her late husband. Then, leaning on her rather heavily, he suggested that if she could raise another $500, he could have the church finished right away, as presently, with the Great War effort, funds were lacking. The new church would be very conspicuous from the train, (due to start a regular transcontinental railway service on August 15th) after which a stream of people “never to cease” would begin to pour across the continent both ways. He closed his letter with the hope that she would approve his suggestion and adopt Hubert instead of New Hazelton, which was “half dead”. Having waited 3 years for her memorial church, and when presented in such glowing terms, how could the good lady refuse? She agreed by return cable, including the additional funds. Mr. Svenson, completed the church building in a month, topping it off with Red-cedar shingles brought up from the coast. Jimmy Graham, a young Scottish carpenter, did a splendid job of finishing the inside with narrow, tongue-in-groove, Douglas-fir panelling. Archbishop DuVernet personally went up to supervise the installation of the beautifully carved Communion rail which had been shipped out from England in 1912 and had lain in storage in Prince Rupert ever since. This was the memorial gift of Rev. Lombe’s son and daughter. It bore the inscription, in brass, “St. Math. XXV, 21”, a reference to: “Well done thou good and faithful servant”. Also from England, a magnificent lectern, with a great eagle carved in relief. This was carved from English oak by Father Lombe’s old curate, Rev E. D. Poole, out of love of his former Rector. In addition to the eagle, Rev Poole had carved the Coat-of-arms of the County of Norfolk on one side and the Crest of the Diocese of Caledonia on the other. See Divine Church History on p. 4
Jesus addressed them, using this story: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. Some of it fell on the road; it was tramped down and the birds ate it. Other seed fell in the gravel; it sprouted, but withered because it didn’t have good roots. Other seed fell in the weeds; the weeds grew with it and strangled it. Other seed fell in rich earth and produced a bumper crop. “Are you listening to this? Really listening?” His disciples asked, “Why did you tell this story?”
He said, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom—you know how it works. There are others who need stories. But even with stories some of them aren’t going to get it:
Their eyes are open but don’t see a thing, Their ears are open but don’t hear a thing. “This story is about some of those people. The seed is the Word of God. The seeds on the road are those who hear the Word, but no sooner do they hear it than the Devil snatches it from them so they won’t believe and be saved.
“The seeds in the gravel are those who hear with enthusiasm, but the enthusiasm doesn’t go very deep. It’s only another fad, and the moment there’s trouble it’s gone. “And the seed that fell in the weeds—well, these are the ones who hear, but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun. “But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there’s a harvest. Luke 8:4-15 (The Message) Throughout this winter life in our diocese has continued with its usual ups and downs. Some parishes are doing well, with folks meeting with enthusiasm and a sense of purpose. Other parishes are struggling to make ends meet financially, and there the feeling is often one of despair and hopelessness. Some look at the data indicating that church is becoming less and less relevant in our culture, and feel that there is no future. Others look at the greying of our congregations and wonder who will carry on our work.As I heard such reports from across the diocese throughout the month of January, my mind went to the Parable of the Sower, which is at the beginning of this column. I thought of this parable because it is one that I have always believed teaches us something about how we are to live out the Great Commission in the real world. It seems to me that if we are really concerned about the future of our local parish our responsibility before God is to sow the seeds He has given us. We are not, and cannot be, responsible for the soil conditions on which the seed falls. Our duty, just like the ancient farmers of Jesus’ day, is to simply
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Bishop’s Notes
The Story of the Seeds plant the seeds. The rest is in the hands of God. If we choose not to sow the seeds God has given us, then we can’t really blame anyone else if there is no crop – we can’t blame anyone else if our parish fails. The importance of understanding this is twofold. First, we need to keep the right perspective that it is God who takes our work and creates growthBUT God expects us to be involved in growing the next crop, the next generation of Christians. Our obedience to His command to sow the seed is what enables His will to be accomplished. Second, understanding the lesson in this parable can help us understand that the vagaries and sometime opposition of cultures throughout history and across the world are not what determine the future of God’s church. Where the seed is sown, God can grow a crop. But if no seed is sown, then there for sure is no growth. Yes, the news from our culture is often of antagonism or apathy towards the Christian faith and this can be disheartening. But a quick look at the history of Christianity shows that cultural popularity has never been essential to the growth of the Church. The Christians of the New Testament were barely tolerated in their communities, especially within the Roman Empire. It was not until the early 4th century that Christianity became not only legal, but relatively free from persecution within the Empire. This incredible period of growth between the ministry of Jesus, and the Edict of Milan (313 A.D.) took place in spite of persecution and cultural indifference. Ordinary people like you and I simply kept on sowing the seed wherever they went. And some of it always returned a crop such that Christ’s Church never died out. For a modern example, in our own lifetimes Christianity was illegal and Christians subject to persecution in both the Soviet Union and China through much of the 20th century. Only in recent years has there been a relaxing of the laws against being a Christian. When the laws banning the Church were lifted it was discovered that, through the years of persecution, ordinary people kept sowing the seed wherever they went. And some of it always returned a crop such that Christ’s Church never died out in those countries. Curiously many of us do not seem to understand the importance of sowing the seeds. A recent Church Times survey found that in the Church of England, only one quarter of Anglicans who responded are in the habit of inviting people to church. (And yes, historically, ordinary people inviting friends, neighbours and others they met to go with them to Church was the primary means by which the Church grew!) Just 27 per cent of laypeople responding to a questionnaire agreed with the proposition: “I often in-
vite other people to come to my church”; 56 per cent disagreed. Six per cent agreed with the proposition: “I would never invite anyone to come to my church.” One is left wondering, if the people who do go to Church don’t care enough about their faith to invite others, why would new people come? Yes, we face challenges, and some of them may be personally painful. But we face no greater challenge than deciding whether we love God enough that we are prepared to share that love with other people. If we truly care deeply about having our parish churches, about having an Anglican congregation in our community, then we need to stop lamenting what we don’t have (and sometimes criticizing what we do have), and celebrate with thanksgiving the gifts God has given us. And if we are serious about this, then we will invite others to share in something we find meaningful. So let us not despair, and let us not give up hope and pronounce the church as dead. The resurrection of Our Lord is the source of our hope and the cause of our joy. That is the seed that we are called to sow, day in and day out, wherever we may be. Some will fall on rocky ground and some will wither and perish. This is the way it has always been. But some of it will take root and will grow and flourish. +William Caledonia Bishop Anderson is the 9th Bishop of Caledonia and he celebrated the 13th Anniversay of his concreation on February 2nd 2014 at the Cathedral with a Eucharist.
Caledonia Times
Publication of the Anglican Diocese of Caledonia Editor: The Dean of Caledonia Published monthly, except July and August by: Diocese of Caledonia, 200 – 4th Avenue West Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1P3 (250) 627-1143 or (250) 600-7143 Address correspondence and copy to the address above. Or to caledoniatimes@gmail.com (jpegs, docs and docx file types only please!) Submissions must be received by the 1st of the month for the following month’s issue. Send subscription orders, address changes Diocese of Caledonia c/o Anglican Journal 80 Hayden St. Toronto, Ontario M4Y 3G2 Printed and mailed by: Webnews Inc., North York, Ontario
Caledonia Times — March 2014
As we dive into Lent, I thought it might be a good time to talk about the priesthood and prayer. There many Anglicans who will, when pressed, sheepishly say that they don’t know how to pray. They aren’t like the clergy who can stand up and read prayers in Church. Most Anglicans think you have to pray correctly just to pray never mind having those prayers heard. What they don’t consider is the prayers that they can and do pray most often are those prayers that are built in. Teaching children table to say grace at the dinner before a meal or how to pray at bed time each night before falling asleep. My late father taught me how to pray at bedtime. I can remember being little, not more than four or maybe five years old and my dad would sit at the foot of my bed. We would pray together: “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. God bless Mommy, sister Kristen, Grandma and Grandpa, Gram and Gramps, all my aunts, uncles...” and you get the idea. Funny thing is, those bed time prayers taught me at least two important things. First that blessing people is a powerful thing and we need to do it and the second, where prayer and blessing are focused, power falls. As a pastor and a caregiver, I love to pray with people. I love to enter into times of prayer at the hospital bedside and to reach out not just for the divine grace and blessing that is there for each person. I anticipate and appreciate the things that get shared with me – both the hard and the good. I
Hey, wait a minute...
The “P”s of the Priesthood: Prayer find it a joyful thing to be able to pray with and for people, for all sorts and conditions of men. Then as the parish priest, I have always made it my habit to not only offer prayer and thanksgiving, but also to depart with a blessing. So for example, when I would go in to visit the Rev. Canon John Martinson, I would always greet him with Dominus vobiscum! (The Lord be with you.) And he would reply, et cum spiritu tuo (and with your spirit.) One of the most powerful night prayers I have done in a long time was a few nights before this good friend died. There were many gathered in his room family and friends and we did Compline together at the end of the day. One could sense the presence of God in that place and it was a deep privilege to be there with all of them, leading in prayer. There was blessing and then there was power to move into all the things that were to happen next. When it comes to the priesthood and prayer keep something in mind: priestly people are consecrated and set aside for prayer, both corporately (for the whole Church body) and personally (for the needs of the priest and the particular parts of the body which are being served). I have been very blessed over the years to have people pray for me. I have made friends all over the country because they have first heard my name in prayer in a church or in a meeting or even through a publication. But this does not mean that my prayers get answered faster,
Surfin’ for the Lord ~ Ruby McBeth by Ruby McBeth The term “trophy wife” brings to mind a woman chosen by a politician to enhance his image. This woman often replaces an older wife whom the man divorces. While the trophy wife is valued by the man for making him look good, she is not valued as a full person. Society may see these women as winners, but not everyone would agree. Jacqueline Jakes in her book God’s Trophy Women argues that God values all women whether they appear successful or not. Furthermore she teaches that when women have troubles in their lives it means that God is refining them. Self pity, denial and quick fixes are not a part of this author’s agenda. God’s Trophy Women begins with the concept of women as God’s trophies. By twisting the term “trophy woman” to her own purposes Jacqueline Jakes connects to the modern woman and challenges her to have a better self image. In her second chapter “The Work of an Artist” Jakes pictures Jesus as the sculptor and women as his works of art. Chapters three through nine look at different aspects of the challenges women can experience. Firstly, she looks at abuse in childhood. She then moves on to tell us that trials can put us on our knees before Caledonia Times — March 2014
God. In a chapter called “When God’s Best is Bitter” she addresses persistence in the face of problems along with avoiding self blame. She goes on to emphasize that it is inner beauty that God wants in his trophies. Her final chapter addresses using our hard earned wisdom to help others. Most Biblical references used to back up the author’s ideas involve women of the Bible. Jacqueline Jakes is a gifted writer. She keeps the reader engaged by introducing us in each chapter to a trophy woman. The first one is Joni Eareckson Tada a well known paraplegic Christian. At the end of each chapter she treats us to a poem she has written to summarize the meaning of the chapter, gives questions for reflection, and a prayer.
better, more. Clergy spend more time in prayer because they need it. The Church needs them to pray and it sustains them in their calls. And there is another truth in all this. Prayer is not just the words we speak and the silences we keep. It is the attitudes that we hold and use as we move forward in life. Maybe I can sum it up this way. When a priest is ordained, the following question is asked and I ask it of you in this Lent: Will you preserve in prayer, both in Public and in private, asking God’s grace both for yourself and for others and offering all of your labours to God thorough the mediation of Jesus Christ and the sanctification of the Holy Spirit? Take time this Lent to learn how to pray and to deepen your prayer life so that you might join with your brothers and sisters and we can help to build the kingdom. God is waiting and listen for you. Jason+
This a picture taken at an ordination at St. John the Divine, Burns Lake in the early 1980’s: Left to right: Jason Haggstrom, Bishop John Hannen and the Rev. David Walford of Houston Topley and Granisle. - Ed.
“Of my two handicaps, being female put more obstacles in my path than being black.” It is noteworthy that while the author makes only passing references to race, the book in its entirety is for and about women. A quote from Jacqueline Jakes’ last poem sums up her approach to the trials of life: “Like stepping off a precipice without notice to /Highways paved with /radiant solidity/Unequaled acceptance/ and/Unimagined grace.” This is her vision of life in the faith. Recommended for women’s groups and for individual women living through hard times. Jakes, Jacqueline. God’s Trophy Women: You Are Blessed and Highly Favored. New York: Warner, 2006.
Jacqueline Jakes knows what she is talking about. She has lived through difficult times and wants to help other women. As a divorced single mother she was discovered to have a brain tumor. The tumor was successfully removed, but it took her ten years to fully recover. All the while she was looking after her daughter. The author does not consider it critical to her self-esteem that she is African-American. She quotes America’s first African-American congresswoman, the late Shirley Chisholm saying Page 3
Diocesan Life - Across Caledonia
Surfin’ for the Lord By Ruby McBeth
On January 19th the Rev. Enid Pow was inducted as rector of the Parish of the North Peace by Bishop William Anderson. Enid comes to us from London, England where she was the minister at St. George’s Harold Hill. She arrived here on January 9th to Chinook weather and icy roads. This was not, however, her first time in Canada. She lived previously in Ontario for a few years. Enid’s vocation to Christian ministry came after experience in nursing, day care, and sales for pharmaceutical companies. She has a son living in Manitoba. The move to Fort St. John will make it easier for her to see her grandchildren more often. Enid is meeting the challenge of driving on the “right” side of the road with good humour. The first female rector of the parish she has been warmly welcomed. Enid is looking forward to uniting the Anglicans in the North Peace under her leadership. In the picture: front row right to left: Karen Myhre, Diana Glover, Ruby Mcbeth, Chelsey Farquhar, Juanita Rohim. Back row l-r: Julia Kowalsky, Darlene Thomas, the Rev. Enid Pow, Bishop William Anderson, Archdeacon Tim Johnson, Elizabeth Hunt, Chris Broad, Rene Geisbrecht. Pictures and video of the induction are available on the Diocesan facebook page. Photo credits to Murray Farquher.
You may have heard of megachurches in the United States. To look inside the operation of one go to <www.thepottershouse.org>. The website grabs our attention right away with changing messages at the top of the home page. From the home page click on MegaCare to read about their public service projects. “Text Message Updates” connects you to their inspirational messages. “Watch Now” takes you to “Internet Church”. The center of the home page has a greeting from the leader of this church Bishop T.D. Jakes (brother to Jacqueline Jakes). At the bottom of the page in smaller print you can choose from their self help section and smaller print still at the very bottom links to most sections of the website. So if you want the info but don’t need the hype go to the bottom. An interesting peak into one aspect of Christianity in the American south. Happy surfing!
imagine
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It is with saddness that we report the death of the Rev. Daphne Moser of Smithers after a 2 year battle with Cancer. She died at home on January 14, 2014 and was buried by the Bishop from St. James’ Church on January 17th. Following her wishes, the Bishop returned to celebrate the Eucharist on January 26th. She will be greatly missed and fondly remembered. May she rest in peace and rise in glory. Rev. Daphne is pictured here (2nd from Left) at recent ordination with clergy and lay readers in the diocese. - Ed.
From Page 1: Divine Church History These gifts were complemented by a silver Communion set, the gift of the congregation of Holy Trinity Church, Torquay, Mrs. Lombe’s church, and a
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Comic Life
Bible, Prayer Book and two service books, the gift of other friends. Indeed, this little gem of a church, consecrated by the Archbishop on 9th August, 1914, was the best appointed in the whole diocese. Unfortunately the occurrence that Archbishop DuVernet had so desperately tried to avoid in New Hazelton was about to happen to Hubert. In fact of the four communities considered for this memorial church, as we shall see in Hubert was exactly the wrong choice. The picture (right) is of the sanctuary of St. John the Divine, Quick. Please watch for next month’s paper and the compeltion of this history - Ed.
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Caledonia Times — March 2014