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
The “Times” this Fall
Bishop’s Notes
As Editor, I wanted to make sure that all our readers are going to be aware of the Fall Schedule for the Caledonia Times. In terms of planning the issues, I thought it important to do a major Synod issue to give as much coverage to the events and decisions of our first Synod in three years as I can. So to help contacts and others out who wish to make submissions to the Caledonia Times, the schedule and submission deadline will look like the following:
Having Feet in the Real World
I
T IS, PERHAPS, a consequence of having spent most of my working career engaged in secular employment that I have always prided myself on keeping my feet planted firmly in the real world. You might be wondering what this has to do with any of our recent life in the church. After all, we just celebrated Pentecost and Trinity Sunday. Not that long ago we celebrated Easter. People came out for services, generally happy, because these are uplifting seasons, and spring has arrived with sunny and warm days. What’s not to like? Now this is where I can get into trouble with folks around the diocese. Folks want to be happy because it’s spring, and we have had these really positive services and we’re feeling quite good about ourselves because God loves us, warts and all so to speak. But let me be realistic. As your bishop, I am under ever increasing pressure to reduce services or close some smaller parishes across the diocese because we cannot afford them. It is that pesky issue that ministry costs money, and if people want buildings and good ministry, these things do cost money in a real world. While I see and give thanks for the many blessings God has given us in each of our parishes, I also see the unmet potential- the people who don’t actively share in the lives of our congregations in our many communities. These are the people who, with each passing day, drift farther and farther from a personal relationship with God. I see so much work to be done. The curse of having my feet planted in the real world is that it doesn’t allow me to let my head drift off into the clouds, thinking that God will solve all the challenges we face in this diocese. This curse keeps reminding me that He has already given us the resources we need to provide ministry- we just haven’t used them well in His service. God isn’t going to write cheques to cover our insurance or utilities bills. And He isn’t going to put food on the tables of our clergy. God isn’t going to bring new people into our parishes. He isn’t going to visit the sick, say prayers over the dying, or teach children the basics of the catechism. These are things God will be involved in- but they will only happen if we are involved and active. We are His hands and feet in the world. Now I know that many people will argue that they support the work of the church as best they can. This may be true for some, but it isn’t for all. However, my point isn’t about trying to guilt more money out of the people who are already coming to church regularly. My point is, however, about the need for anyone and everyone who call themselves Anglicans in our diocese to be serious and fight to keep their parish open and enabled to do the work God wants us to do in their communities. It is a hard reality that 96% of people who identify themselves as Anglicans do Page 2
September 2012 issue deadline is July 30th 2012. This will include coverage of the Centenary of the WA/ACW in Port Edward at the end of May.
Image by Brian Dunne
not go to church- except when they want a child baptised, to be married, or to bury someone in their family. The rest of the time they simply aren’t there. Yet they expect the church to be there when they want it. This is magical thinking, not reality. Equally frustrating are the people who do come, but give only a fraction of what they could afford, for the work of God through their parish, while expecting folks from away to pick up the bills. Part of being realistic is knowing that without people committed to being the Church at work, we have no future. Part of being realistic also understands that the individualist approach so common in our society does not lend itself well to the life of a Christian in the church. We, as Christians, do not have the right to assert, in word or action, that our personal interests are more important than those of the community of faithful amongst whom we live. Unlike secular society, where the argument is often (and I would suggest erroneously made) that, “ if it doesn’t hurt anyone, anything goes”, the whole history of our faith is a testament to the fact that everything we do has a consequence for the larger community. Granted, we may be unaware of the consequences of our actions on others, but if we take Jesus seriously, then we must accept that this perception is not reality, for our actions do impact others, often in ways we can neither anticipate or understand. And if everything we do has consequences, then we must understand that everything we do not do has consequences as well. Let me give you a simple, but practical example. Starting this year, our grant from the Council of the North (which makes up about 2/3’s of our operating budget, especially for grants to parishes), is largely going to be influenced by the number of people who come out for weekly worship services. Simply put, the more people attend services, the more money we will receive from the Council. So, every time a person who calls themselves an Anglican chooses to stay home for whatever reason, we lose money needed for ministry. In short, our actions will have consequences. It is a reality that folks don’t like me to talk about budgets and money. They often exhort me to have faith and to trust God. My problem isn’t that I do not trust God. I do trust Him. My problem is that I know we have too many people who do not, and will not, actively share in the life, work, and expense of being the Church in their community. That isn’t God’s fault - that is our fault. And we have to do something about it.
October-November issue deadline is October 10th 2012. October-November will be a double issue of eight pages to be published in early November with Synod coverage. December-Christmas 2012 issue’s deadline is Friday November 9th 2012. The January 2013 issue’s deadline will be December 10th 2012. So please note that there will not be an October 2012 issue of the Caledonia Times to allow for extensicve coverage of our Synod in mid Setpember. If you have any questions concerns and or submissions, please feel free to contact me at the address and the numbers below. Jason Haggstrom+ Editor, Cal Times
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 Submissions must be received by the 10th of each 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: Signal Star, Goderich, Ont.
+William: Caledonia Caledonia Times — June 2012
Editorial: A thought or two
Waiting for the tide to rise again
R
ECENTLY MY family and I went with another family out on their boat for the day. The weather was absolutely perfect: bright, sunny, with virtually no clouds on the horizon. We when out to find a beach on which the kids (there were four boys and a girl) could play while the adults made a fire, a meal and had some adult time to chat. And as one always does around here, we were keeping a watchful eye on the tide. The tide was rising fast. Soon concern grew that there was not going to be enough room on the beach for us to keep a fire going. So we moved to higher ground, allowing the ocean to claim our spot. Then we realized that the tide was still coming in. Quickly there were more worries about where to move next. Then it happened, suddenly and without warning. There was “slack” in the tide. The water had stopped rising. So, there was relief, joy and a bit of determination in that moment to make the most of the opportunity. We played and talked and hiked for hours, thankful we were not going to be flooded out. The thing about watching tides and the time of day is that you need to know more than that. You need to consider what phase the moon is in and what time of the year it is. We had picked one of the half a dozen days of the year when there is a spring tide and when
Canadian News Briefs CATHEDRAL GETS A NEW PIPE ORGAN Thanks to a generous gift from the estate of parishioner Janet Short in 2011, a new pipe organ will be installed mid-May at St. Luke’s Cathedral in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. The current one has been in place since 1942. A tracker organ, which has mechanical links between keys or pedals and the valves that allow air to flow into the pipes, was to be shipped from the Rudolf von Beckerath organ firm in Hamburg, Germany, in late April. The new organ will be a memorial to Captain Nichola Goddard, who was killed in Afghanistan and whose family has generational ties to the cathedral. —Algoma Anglican
ANGLICANS PREPARE FOR MISSION TO MEXICO 28 people from nine communities in the Diocese of Saskatoon will travel to the Baja Peninsula of Mexico from June 4 to 15 to build houses for two families. WestJet is permitting each traveller to bring a second piece of luggage at no charge for the purpose of carrying humanitarian items to the community where the houses will be built. —Saskatchewan Anglican
MINING STOCK DUMPED Church Society, which manages pooled funds for congregations in the Diocese of Quebec, has dropped a lucrative mining stock because of ethical concerns.
Caledonia Times — June 2012
Image by Zvonimir Atletic the tide is at its highest and lowest in a single day. As a result, we waited too long and suddenly found ourselves standing the middle of the beach alongside the boat, which only minutes before had been floating in lots of water, now resting on its keel, on the continuously expanding beach expanding beach. There was lots of fretting about what was going to happen: how long were we going to have to be on that beach before we could get home? What would we do until then? What would we eat? Were we going to be alright? It was during this time that I stopped to reflect on the life of the Church and the ways in which we work, pray and serve and discovered there are a lot of similarities between our day on the beach and the ongoing life of the Church. There are many reactions, adjustments and repositioning of people, their perspectives
The 3,500 shares in Barrick Gold were divested after reports surfaced that five intruders were shot dead by security patrols at one of the company’s gold mines in Tanzania. The Toronto-based mining firm has been facing mounting criticism over human rights and environmental issues in developing countries. —Quebec Gazette
WINDSOR YOUTH PREPARING FOR MISSION TO S. AFRICA Ten young members of Church of the Ascension in Windsor, Ont., will visit members of their sister church, also named Church of the Ascension, in the Hilton Valley of South Africa this spring. The travellers are aged 19 to 25, but much younger members got involved in fundraising for the trip, with a youth talent night that raised more than $750 toward the mission costs.The youth have been working on handcrafted rainbows, a symbol of hope, intended for children whose parents have died of AIDS. They will also bring school supplies for the children. If you are interested in helping in any way, please contact youth coordinator Amanda Gellman, 519-256-6764. —Huron Church News
ANGLICANS AND LUTHERANS TO GATHER IN OTTAWA The first joint Anglican-Lutheran national assembly in 2013 will be held in the new Ottawa Convention Centre. The centre was chosen as the site, says Dean Peter Wall, chair of the General Synod planning committee, because “we needed a place where two bodies of about 400 people could meet separately, and very
and opinions. Some struggle to keep the fire going in the face of the rising water, while others are just trying to avoid the deluge of the oncoming tide. There are also many who are genuinely afraid of what the immediate future holds when they discover they are high and dry. Such people may cry out in fear believing the end is near and the fall of the Church is imminent. One or two will boldly proclaim that death is a close companion, forsaking hope and assuming that all is lost, think that they are doing the community a favour, getting them ready for the grim reality. Some will call for change and relevancy to the modern age. Everything will seemingly be in a tumult. Maybe that is why we need a moment to consider that there is more to the story that just us. Perhaps we need to consider that this is God’s Church. Maybe we ought to ponder the fact that God occupies his creation and that he is aware of what the Church is experiencing... everything that the Church is going through: the highs and the lows, the struggles and the victories. God is in it all and through it all. As St. Paul would remind us, “and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8.28 NIV) So what did we do in the face of being high and dry? We unloaded, made fire, made supper and we played - all of us. We waited because we knew that the tide was going to rise again and we wanted to be ready. We could not know just when but we knew that it would. And maybe that is what we need to do as Church, too... Get ready, be glad, and then go and get wet, getting back into the boat again. “Have hope” God reminds us, “the tide will rise again.” The Very Rev. Jason Haggstrom+ Editor, Caledonia Times.
easily, meet together.” Plans for the event include a walk from the convention centre to Parliament Hill for a public gathering, which may include a joint mission-related statement. —Crosstalk (Ottawa)
REFUGEE ACTIVIST MOVES TO NEW JOB Glynis Williams, founding director of Action Réfugiés Montréal, is stepping down effective Aug. 1 to take a leadership post with the Presbyterian Church in Canada in Toronto. Her new job will be as associate secretary, international ministries. Williams has been advocating for refugees for more than two decades, with support from the Diocese of Montreal. —Montreal Anglican
MULTI-FAITH CHAPEL DEDICATED IN VICTORIA On April 3, more than 60 people attended the dedication of the new Multi-faith Chapel of Compassion at Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria. “As a part of our role as the city’s cathedral, we are a place for all faiths,” said Dean Logan McMenamie. The chapel, located in the narthex in the south tower of the cathedral, will be open to everyone for prayer and meditation. Members of the Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Christian and other faith communities gathered for the dedication. “At a time when our world is being intimidated by violence,” McMenamie said, “we are called to take back our humanity and work together.” —The Diocesan Post
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DEDICATIONS, continued from p. 1
Surfin’ for the Lord with Ruby Mc Beth
Help for Sunday schools Looking for a kid-centered approach to Christian education? The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd <http:// www.cgsusa.org> introduces you to a Montessori-based approach to teaching the faith. This program is addressed especially at religious education of children too young to read. A second web-site <http://www.thefeltsource.com/ BibleStories.html> gives materials for the Bible on felt boards. While these two websites may not be the answer to your daily Sunday school needs, they could stimulate your thinking and enable your program.
Stolen Innocence
Image by Nancy Bauer
On the Read
A story of one life and how that life changed should cause us all to stop and think
the diocese who have served Caledonia throughout the past century. For example, the high altar is dedicated to the memory of Bishop and Mrs. Rix while St. Peter’s Chapel is dedicated to the memory of Bishop George Munn. Many of the beautiful stain glass picture windows commemorating clergy and laity like the Rev. William Hogan, who served in the Queen Charlotte Islands for more than two decades to bookshelves given in memory of Beatrice Clayton. It should also be noted that the Chapel recognizes the life of the second congregation that was planted here in Prince Rupert. St. Peter’s Seal Cove was set up by Archbishop Du Vernet in 1906. The Church was opened and dedicated to St. Peter on December 18th, 1910. Seal Cove Circle was destined to be the headquarters of the fishermen. Archbishop Du Vernet was confident the Church would have a large mission to the local fisherman. However, by the mid 1960’s there was not enough financial support for two Anglican clergy in the city. So on February 23rd 1964, St. Peter’s was amalgamated with St. Andrew’s Cathedral. The Chapel’s altar and pews were brought to the cathedral and made a part of the building. The Cathedral looks now to its second century of worship on 4th Avenue West, and to the renewal of the vision and ministry which was brought to Prince Rupert for the congregation and the city which it inhabits.
In Canada with our multicultural policy we bend over backwards to protect the religious rights of individuals. Sometimes, however, individuals need protection within their own culture. We saw this with the so-called honour killings recently in Ontario. The rights of young people came up recently in news about the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) in Utah and Texas. This breakaway Mormon sect believes in polygamy and in absolute obedience to their leader (their prophet). Recommended generally. Wall, Elissa. Stolen Innocence. New York: Harper, 2008.
Elissa Wall in her book Stolen Innocence focuses on her arranged marriage at the age of 14, but also tells in detail about the FLDS. Elissa grew up in an FLDS family. She was conditioned to obey her father and the prophet Rulon Jeffs. Her marriage was mandated by the prophet, and although Elissa objected to the mate chosen for her, she was not given a choice. She was cornered - believing as she did that her only way to get to heaven was by obeying the prophet and her assigned husband unconditionally. Her heart was never in the marriage and eventually she found someone more suitable. At that point she was thrown out of the church. It is unlikely that Elissa's story would have been written down had it not been for the desire of law authorities to try to pin something on Warren Jeffs. Reluctantly she took Jeffs to court and because of her testimony the first of his several criminal trials began. In 2010 he was finally given a life sentence in Texas for sex crimes involving two other children in his church.
As his father's health failed Jeffs gradually took control. He manipulated the people, so that when his father died it was easy for him to announce that he was the prophet. His approach reminds the reviewer of the book Animal Farm where the rules are progressively changed to suit the purposes of the dictator.
Elissa Wall does an amazing job of drawing us into the strange life of this religious group. She was a true believer and tells us with childlike innocence of her fears and her trust in the men in charge. It is scary to see the power which her irrational beliefs had over her.
Stolen Innocence offers a wide selection of topics for discussion: bigamy, children's rights, the afterlife, cults, arranged marriage, apocalypticism and religious freedom to name just a few.
As well as being the story of a girl victimized by a religious system this is also the story of the system itself, and the story of Warren Jeffs' rise to power. Page 4
There’s No Life Like It Anglican Bishop and Chaplains serving Canadian forces personnel
Young Canadians serving our country in the field, in war zones, in peace-keeping missions
This story has a connection to the FLDS Community in British Columbia called Bountiful. One of Elissa's older sisters had married into that community. Elissa at one point fled to her sister to get away from her husband. Reading Elissa's story helps one to see why the British Columbia government is keeping close tabs on Bountiful.
There’s no life like it! It’s tough—it’s demanding—it requires physical, emotional and spiritual strength. 20,000 Anglicans form the Canadian Forces Family.
You can help as we ensure funding for: O
O
Recommended generally. Wall, Elissa. Stolen Innocence. New York: Harper, 2008
a bishop to give spiritual support to chaplains and troops in garrison, homes and the field chaplains to provide sacramental and pastoral care to service personnel and their families
Gifts may be made to
The Anglican Bishop Ordinary Trust
www.anglicanfoundation.org org
Caledonia Times — June 2012