St. Paul’s Anglican Church at Golden, BC
St Paul’s Anglican Church at Golden, BC
By Joyce Fisher – excerpt by Rev. Walter Adams, Bishop of Kootenay. Found in 2000 Golden Memories.
Cradled in the bosom of the Rockies and Selkirks, near the junction of the Columbia and Kicking Horse rivers There lies probably the most beautiful little church in the interior of British Columbia. In the town of Golden, St Paul’s Anglican Church, celebrated its 90th anniversary in 1981.
The first Anglican services in this area were held in May 1891 in St Peter’s church at Donald Reverend Henry Irwin or Father Pat was the first Anglican Minister. It was reported that if nobody came to Father Pat’s services, he would give them a sermon wherever he could find a crowd which was often in the bar of a hotel.
On a lovely morning on December 6th 1891, six years after the Canadian Pacific Railway was built through the Rockies and Selkirks, The Reverend. C. C. Keem, Incumbent of St Peter’s Church in Donald, Golden, and vicar of St Peter’s church, Donald, held the first service in this little church, assisted by Mr. F Armstrong who was the lay reader. First resident vicar of Golden was H.B. Turner.
From 1900 to 1911, Reverend C. F. Yates had charge. Bishop Dart consecrated the church in 1901. Two years later the chancel was added and the east window was dedicated. The window was dedicated in memory of Gilbert Harvey Taylor, son of Doctor and Mrs. J.N. Taylor. He died on November 25 1902, at the age of four years from diphtheria.
Rev. Ernest Thatcher followed Rev. Yates as Vicar of St. Paul’s. He moved to Spillimacheen in 1912 to become Vicar of St. Mark’s Church. The names of some of the Vicars who followed were Field Yolland, C.G.M. Littler, and C.E. Davis.
Lay names connected with its history are Francis C. Lang and his sisters, the Capt. F.P. Armstrongs, the J.F. Armstrongs, and Capt and Mrs. Bacon (these people were responsible for the erection of the church).
Mrs. Mabel Wixon and Mrs. Doris Spowart devoted many, many years to teaching Sunday School
The original belfry tower stood just outside the church entrance with the bell supported by four square timbers inside the tower building. In the mid 1930’s, Mr. A. Spowart and Rev. D.F. Watney put cement under these timbers because they were rotting. When the church was lengthened the present belfry was built on top of the extensions.
A plaque in memory of C.F. Parson, who was killed in World War I, hangs in the Church. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Parson. There are plaques erected in memory of Bessie Shaw, and John N. Taylor M.D.
A beautiful altar dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Fred Jones, and given to the church by her husband, stands in front of the interior. This altar was designed by the Rev. E.P. Laycock and made by J.W. Sandifrod of Kamloops. The panels and frieze were carved by George S. Gibson, well-known artist of Shawnigan Lake. Across the upper part of the Rerodos in raised and gilded letters is the inscription “All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea.” The carved frieze above this inscription illustrates the mountains and trees of the valley and the animals found here: the white tail deer, bear, and beaver, also the eagle and wild fowl, and a trout is shown below. Under the inscription are three finely moulded panels separated by pilasters supporting the frieze. Each panel bears a carved and coloured plaque with raised design in gold leaf. Mrs. Jones bore the Christian name of Mary.
It is believed that this was the first time that local scenery and the birds and animals of the district have been used for such work.