Caledonia Times
June 2012 A Diocesan Section of the Anglican Journal
Cathedral to celebrate 100 years on 4th Ave. T
HIS FALL WILL see an important milestone passed for St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Prince Rupert. It will be 100 years ago this December that the first serviced was held in St. Andrew’s Cathedral on 4th Avenue West in Prince Rupert. The idea that there be a cathedral church in this area had its inception in the life of the cathedral church in Montreal in the 1870’s. The reality of the vision did not come to fruition however, until the second Bishop of Caledonia, Archbishop Frederick Du Vernet, came to the Prince Rupert area very early in the 1900’s. Bishop William Ridley in founding the work on the Northern BC coast in the 1880s made his headquarters in Metlakatla. Archbishop Du Vernet made his headquarters in Metlakatla, continuing the tradition in the first few years of his episcopacy. In 1906, plans were made for a new railroad with the terminus to be on the Northern coast of British Columbia. In May, 1906, an advance party of engineers from the Grand Trunk Railway set up a camp on Kaien Island. Facilitated by Mr. RL McIntosh, Archbishop Du Vernet would row over in a small boat to do Sunday services in the Camp’s Mess Tent. Mr. McIntosh later served as People’s warden in the Cathedral congregation for 30 years. As things progressed, Mr. BJ Bacon, a friend of Mr. McIntosh’s, obtained a piece of land on Second Avenue West (where Rupert Square is now) and St. Andrew’s hall was built. A ship’s bell and a harmonium were brought from Metlakatla to help furnish the hall for services. This was a place of meeting not only for worship but also for the rest of “Prince Rupert” as well. This building was in use for almost five years. Prior to a general auction of land, the Church was afforded the opportunity to choose lots. Land on a rock bluff above the city was chosen and $4,000 was made as a down payment with another $10,000 loans to be paid off.
Caledonia Times - June 2012
The Cathedral Church of St. Andrew, Prince Rupert, B.C., circa 1950 Gordon and Helliwell Ecclesiastical Architects from Toronto were engaged to produce plans for a two level building with the lower level being completed in 1912 with help from the BC-Yukon Church Aid Society. Archbishop Du Vernet celebrated the first Eucharist on Fourth Avenue West on December 23rd, 1912 – 100 years ago this fall. In an article written in a newspaper, The Prince Rupert Daily News, early in 1912, Archbishop Du Vernet noted, “As the Anglican Church was first in Prince Rupert by over a year, and as our congregation has been worshipping in a temporary Church hall since Easter 1907, it is imperative that we should build this Spring upon our splendid site on Fourth Avenue a church building large enough to accommodate the congregation of two years hence, which will be gathered from all parts of the British Empire, but or present little congregation is not able, unaided, to bear
this financial burden. Many church people both in England and Canada, have invested money in Prince Rupert lots whose value is increasing. Surely it is not unreasonable to appeal to such and others Anglicans interested in this city of the West for some assistance to enable us to complete our $30,000 church which we are beginning in faith. This is the most pressing need in the diocese at the moment. A little financial aid at this crisis would be a splendid investment for the up-building in righteousness of a city destined to become one of the strategic points of the world.” Over the next several years work was done and money was raised to finish the building. Temporary roofing was placed on the hall until the congregation was able to take the next step. After the First World War, electricity was brought to the building. Various permanent fixtures were placed, like the font, the pulpit, the brass lectern and the Cassavant pipe organ. In 1924, it was decided to finish the building and the upper level was done the following year. Unfortunately Archbishop Du Vernet would not to live to see the building completed, Archbishop Du Vernet dies from heart problems in October, 1924. At the first service in the freshly completed building, large stain glass windows were dedicated in memory of the late Archbishop, and in particular the centre one which depicts Jesus calling the disciples from their boats, to follow him. The Archbishop’s family also donated a Library for use in the diocese which remains with the Archives to this day. Since its completion, the Cathedral has become a link to both the ministry of the diocese and to the military history of our country. There are a number of memorials throughout the cathedral which commemorate the lives of those who have served in our army, especially the field cross for the 102nd Field Infantry that records the names of the Canadians who died in the battle of Vimy Ridge in April, 1917. The Regimental Colours of the 102nd Battalion, which fought at Vimy Ridge were retired and deposited with the cathedral when the Battalion was disbanded in 1937. The cathedral has also kept memorials to many of the Bishops, clergy and lay workers of See Dedications on p. 3