St. Hilda's Anglican Church has been an integral part of the Sechelt community for 75 years, and they're celebrating that legacy throughout 2011.
"We put together a kind of tag line, which is 75 years celebrating faith, diversity and community," said Rev. Clarence Li.
The slogan fits well, as the Anglican Church on Barnacle Street has been a hub of the community since it was built in 1936, drawing people together from all backgrounds and denominations to celebrate their faith.
"We have a kind of heritage as a place where all are welcomed," Li said.
One obvious sign of that inclusive spirit is the labyrinth that has been erected in the church's former parking lot.
"I think the community labyrinth we put together is a very visible way for us to see that we are all on this journey, and we are all welcome to walk on our journey together. All our journeys are different, but this is a place that is safe for all to celebrate their spiritual journey," Li said.
The idea may be different than what is normally found in Anglican churches, but Li said it fits right in with the way St. Hilda would have done things.
"She was quite radical in her day. She actually ran a co-ed monastery, and she was the abbess of both men and women in the monastery," Li said.
Although the inclusive atmosphere at St. Hilda's Church is seen by some as progressive, it has its roots firmly planted in the past.
Li said St. Hilda's started as a Sechelt missions church, funded by St. Bartholomew's Church in Gibsons, in the early 1900s.
Before the church found its current home in 1936, St. Hilda's held services either in a tent, in the old school house, in a tearoom or at the hotel that used to sit on Sechelt's waterfront.
How it came to its current site has to do with a cemetery and an archbishop.
The famous cemetery beside the church was created in 1923 when the owner of the property, Thomas J. Cook, gave permission for two young children who were not Roman Catholic to be buried there. At the time, there was no cemetery for non-Roman Catholics in Sechelt.
Cook then donated the land to the Anglican Church and tasked them with taking care of the cemetery.
In 1936, Archbishop Adam de Penciere was on a visit in Northern England when he told the Bishop of Whitby that he could build two churches on the West Coast for the price of one of the pillars in his cathedral. A collection was taken, and with the proceeds, St. Hilda's was built in Sechelt beside the cemetery.
Now, 75 years later, the St. Hilda's congregation has seen many changes to their building, to their congregation size and to their leaders, with more than 20 different ministers serving the local church. But their desire to serve the entire community, no matter their religious background, has been steadfast.
"Part of the old parish tradition in England is that the entire country is divided into parishes," said long-time parishioner Lois Gory. "Wherever you live, you're within a parish's boundary, and unless you self select yourself out of it, you are part of that parish and you are the responsibility of that parish. So St. Hilda's has always had the feeling that we're involved in this community, we belong to this community, and this community's cares and interests belong to us."
In honour of St. Hilda's 75th anniversary, the church will dedicate its new pipe organ on June 29 and have an organ recital on June 30.
Li is working with the District of Sechelt to erect a sign describing the church's history and plans to hold a festive gala dinner marking St. Hilda's Day in November.
For more information, see www.sthilda.ca or call 604-885-5019.
