THE STORY OF SHAWNIGAN LAKE UNITED CHURCH

Story by Anna Kennedy - January 23, 2000

We are here today to celebrate the life of our much-loved church. We came to honor the many folk who kept the faith alive during pioneer days, when the walks to evening services were lit by lantern, and the nails in the walls of the old building were where you hung your light. The more people who came meant more light was spread.

The light of the early congregations was maintained by several memorable people—who we honor Margaret Maitland and Brownie Gibson, with dignity and deep faith kept the congregation of the time together. We remember the Clarkes, the Brookes, McClures, and Andrews. To them, we say Hail and Farewell.

I believe our church to be unique and different from any other—it has its own D.N.A. It will be replaced but never duplicated. Many people have stopped to talk as I walk about the village. They have wanted to share their memories of attending Sunday School—church—of weddings, baptisms, memorial services—the harvest dinners, pancake breakfasts, choir concerts. All these became woven into the life of the village. They have spoken of the sorrow of losing this landmark of stability.

When we arrived in Shawnigan in 1946, the United Church services were held in the small frame building behind the present Masons store at 7 p.m. It is known that from 1905–1907 non-denominational Protestant services were held in a large tent, each summer, on the beach near the lake outlet—leading no doubt to the building of the little Methodist Church in 1910. This burned but was replaced. This was the building we gathered in. Sunday School was held in the community hall during the 1930s and moved to the church in 1937, where it was held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon. At best, the building could seat about 50, and with many people moving to the area, it was soon evident more space was needed. Sunday School filled the church and overflowed into a nearby beauty shop.

Bernard and Kay Knipe arrived in 1952—they lived for a brief time in the manse at Koksilah, but it had neither running water nor electricity, so a place was found in Shawnigan for them. Our church had little organization—the Women's Association simply paid any bills—for firewood for the heater, the electricity, the expenses of the Sunday School, and any shortfall in the Minister's salary. Mr. Knipe soon recruited people to fill the office of the church, and meetings started to find solutions to the overcrowding. Annual reports showed Sunday School attendance to be 45 to 55.

We struggled for a year and a half to find solutions, but the lack of finances was always there. We canvassed the area for support but came up short. We pursued the idea of enlarging the old building—only to find it was half on the road allowance, had no proper foundation, no water or inside plumbing.

We finally begged audience with the Home Mission Board and were visited by the congenial superintendent, Dr. Bunt. He had sympathy, but a grant of $1,500.00 and a loan of $1,500.00 was only available after we had the plans and the lot. Later we learned that the roof had to be on the building first.

The committee made several trips up and down the Island, and finally, the plans for Qualicum Beach United Church were approved. A retired architect, W. Muir Little, would give us the updated plans without charge. Two lots were found in the village—owned by an Alberta resident—and were available for $250.00 each. The lots were acceptable, but the combined finances of the whole church—Stewards, Sunday School, and Women's Association—was only $270.00. Like Jim Beal's story of the "Bend in the River," we couldn't go back, and we couldn't go ahead. With failure facing us, Bill offered to pay for one lot, and there was $20.00 left over for the transfer of the property. Now we could proceed.

On February 28, 1954, visiting dignitaries, our minister, and our youngest Sunday School member, assisted by the superintendent, Mrs. Andrews, turned the first sod, and the project was underway.

With the necessary excavations done, the forms were built by volunteers under the direction of a paid carpenter, with lumber cut by Fred Wood in his small sawmill.

So, on a sunny Saturday morning, June 26, 1954, 21 volunteer members of the congregation poured the cement. Remember that there was no Gravel Hill pre-mixed cement trucks with pumping devices to go up and around corners—instead, there were two small mixers powered by a motor that had to be hand-filled with a shovel—then wheelbarrow up ramps to fill the forms. We like to think that the hot meals served throughout the day by the women helped to finish this project by sundown. I might add that there was food provided every day that there was a work party, and Brownie Gibson and Jessie Hallet served morning coffee and treats at 10 o'clock each morning from their shop across the road.

A mortgage was taken out to finance the purchase of the building materials needed, and with the promise of volunteer labor and a paid foreman, the framing of the building proceeded. The walls were about window height when the foreman quit and gave the blueprints back to Bill.

No replacements could be found, so reluctantly Bill took on this heavy responsibility. So, from then on, the church was built by volunteers. Their only credentials were a steady hand, a cheerful disposition, and a lot of common sense.

Little by little, the work progressed. There were no cranes to lift heavy beams—they all had to be maneuvered by hand, ropes, and ingenuity. Eventually, the roof was on, and the 6,300 hand-split cedar shakes that Bill had carefully cut were laid by Andy and Bill. After being exposed to all weather for 45 years, they are still in amazingly good condition.

By the summer of 1955, Bernard Knipe left, and Rev. Howard Turpin and wife Marylin came. As soon as was possible, we moved our worship service downstairs and were then able to sell the old building. We received $1,225.00 for it.

Many people helped in many ways. The boy from the young people's group helped with the insulation. The CGIT helped with painting—there is even one notation in the minutes to ask permission to paint the piano! My Dad spent several winters here and, being a talented artisan builder, laid the floor. My youngest daughter, who was 2 years old, and I were the sweepers. The Sunday School raised money and presented the pulpit bible. Ernie Clarke crafted all the furnishings, and always when anything needed to be moved—Lloyd Edgson was there. Ernie Gamble built all the kitchen cupboards with the help of Mr. Baldwin. Chuck Curtis' management skills helped us through, as did those of Pete Ferguson.

MacMillan & Bloedel, BC Forest Products, and Cameron Lumber Company each had active logging sites in the area and helped substantially by making top-quality lumber available to us at wholesale prices.

By the fall of 1956, plans were made for the official opening and dedication January 18, 19, 20th.

Part of the report of the opening as given by Howard Turpin in the yearbook of 1958 follows, I quote: "Of the many events of the past year that best marked the growth of the church in this area was the official opening and dedication of the new church at Shawnigan Lake. This took place on the most wintery weekend of the whole winter. On Friday, January 18, the dedication took place with William Kennedy, on behalf of the architect, presenting the keys to E.J. Clarke, representing the builders, who in turn presented the keys to Ralph Osland, Chairman of the Building Committee, who presented them to Rev. Turpin who placed them on the Communion Table.

Also participating in the ceremony were representatives from Home Mission and Victoria Presbytery as follows: The Rev. Golightly, Rev. T.H. Nuttal, Dr. Peter Kelly, who dedicated the sanctuary, and Rev. T.G. Griffiths, who delivered the message. The bell—a gift from BC Forest Products, Port Renfrew Division—was rung for the first time by Andy Kennedy.

On Saturday, the congregation met for a Fellowship Dinner served by the Young People's Group. The weather made it impossible for our guest speaker, Rev. Laura Butler (of the then Metropolitan Church), to get through the snow, and she spent a good part of the evening stuck on Tunnel Hill. Dr. Taylor, President of BC Conference, spoke instead and again at the evening service January 20. It was all in all a long-remembered weekend." end of quote.

By dint of hard work and determination, we cleared the mortgage and loan in five years. Just in time to take out another one to build a manse at Mill Bay. By the time we had finished paying that one, manses were no longer needed or wanted, so it was eventually sold, and the building moved. The land will house the Lions Cove Senior Citizen Retirement Complex.

In closing, I want to pay tribute to our neighbors living nearby, especially the Odegaards, who have been "Keeper of the Key" for over 30 years, always helpful and generous. The many people who live here and drive by on this busy road may not always have loved us, but they have respected us and this building. It has never been vandalized. For over 20 years, the church was never locked. We trust the same caring community will embrace the new building on Hutchison Road.

So to this building, we say "Hail and Farewell."It has stood firm through sleet and storm,Through rain, sun, and snow,But it could not escape the Winds of Change!

Again—Hail and Farewell! Amen