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By Lloyd Mackey
ARBUTUS Christian Fellowship (ACF) has a new meeting place – in a church that is likely close to 100 years old.
And it came together after the Victoria church’s husband-and-wife co-pastors, John and Lynne Schaper, had an ice cream cone a
couple of blocks away, near the Hillside Shopping Centre.
Their new church has a bell in the steeple – which church members are ringing each Sunday, to call neighbours to worship.
Further, there is a cross on the top of the steeple, which leaders want to
refurbish and illuminate as a further focal point for community attention.
The church was formerly St. Alban’s Anglican; it is at the bottom of the Ryan Street hill, and just west of
Oaklands School.
It is the fourth meeting place for the Baptist congregation; less than a decade
old, it is now 110 strong.
The first three, in succession, were in the University of Victoria (UVic) area:
at Goward House; then at Queenswood Retreat Centre, across the street; and
finally, at Maria Montessori School.
Although it is in a new neighbourhood, the fact that they are in a real church – with a church hall facility – is giving members of the congregation a new sense of permanence, John Schaper
told BCCN.
“On Monday before our August 16 move-in, we had the doors wide open. Countless
people stuck their heads in the door, and asked what was going on. And some of
them have actually started attending. Our first our services have been mostly
filled.”
He noted that some people from their previous locale, near UVic, are still
involved.
“Interestingly, our student population moved with us. And having a youthful
congregation is an appeal to lot of people. Our services are almost two hours – so they tend to appeal to youth. But since our move, there have been many new
faces – among them, middle and older people.”
That ice cream coincidence, referenced earlier, went something like this: John
and Lynne had been enjoying a cool treat break when they saw a sign at the
nearby street corner, pointing to the church.
They checked it out, and learned that Anglican worship services had just wound
up. While most of the parish leaders were on vacation, that was all right,
because the bishop had the authority to make arrangements for the facility’s use – at least temporarily.
St. Alban’s had a declining elderly congregation and the Anglican diocese had been working
with the church leadership to encourage the remaining people to go to other
Anglican churches.
The aforementioned church hall is large enough for social and recreational
activities.
It is much newer than the church – which was already aging when it was moved onto the site from elsewhere in the
city some 65 years ago.
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The Anglicans were happy not to have to deconsecrate the church.
Schaper said a fair number of building improvements need to be made. ACF is
working out the repair logistics with the diocese.
“The bishop has been most helpful. We are still working out the exact
arrangements of the contract and conditions for building upkeep, but hope it
will have a three year term,” the pastor noted.
ACF will not have exclusive use of the hall. A dance studio and child care
centre rent parts of the facility for certain hours of the week. But they have
enough access to accommodate a Saturday night recreational session.
And on Wednesdays, they have a fasting day, when the church itself is open for
prayer.
Interestingly, Schaper said, those sessions are popular with younger
parishioners.
This is the second time ACF’s closest church neighbours have been larger, well-established congregations.
Near UVic, the neighbour was Emmanuel Baptist. Now, it is Oaklands Chapel,
which began in 1908 and now has a 300 to 400-strong congregation.
Schaper said the relationship with Rob Fitterer at Emmanuel has been good, with
Campus Alpha being their main collaborative activity.
He has not had a chance to meet with Oaklands pastor Phil Horton, as yet. But as
soon as things settle down, he hopes to put that on the agenda.
Meanwhile, the bell will continue to ring out every Sunday, and the Anglicans
appear happy that worship – albeit contemporary Baptist style – will keep old St. Alban’s in good use.
November 2009
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