On a Saturday afternoon at the end of September the small village of Kingcome Inlet was hit by disaster.
Days of torrential rain suddenly brought down trees and mud from the surrounding mountains. The river that feeds the village swelled its banks, coinciding with high tide in the Pacific Inlet where Kingcome sits. Trapped between a rising ocean and a catastrophic expansion of the river, the residents were rapidly overwhelmed.
An emergency call from the Band Manager to nearby Port McNeil on Vancouver Island quickly brought 12 helicopters in very bad weather across the Johnstone Strait, and within 90 minutes all 70 people were shuttled to safety in Alert Bay without injury.
One week later, Bishop James Cowan of the Diocese of British Columbia and I made a pastoral visit to Alert Bay and Kingcome. We had originally planned our joint visit for another purpose - to transfer ecclesiastical authority for Kingcome to the Diocese of BC. But our visit became a pastoral one instead.
In 1879, when the dioceses of New Westminster and Caledonia were created out of the original Diocese of British Columbia, lines were drawn on a map dividing the province into different Anglican jurisdictions. The people of Alert Bay and Kingcome found themselves in different dioceses. But they are a single community living in two villages. They routinely travel across the 50 miles of water by boat, visiting each other and bringing supplies. The High School for both villages is in Alert Bay.
Kingcome was made famous in Western imagination by Margaret Craven’s 1967 book “I Heard The Owl Call My Name.” But the last full-time Anglican priest left the village in the 1970s and the people have been served since the n by occasional visits from the clergy in Alert Bay.
St. George’s church is a simple and beautiful structure, standing proudly at the edge of the river, the first sight to come into view as canoes from the Inlet approach the community. Next to it is a totem pole, famously erected earlier last century by Archbishop Adam de Pencier and indigenous leaders in defiance of the laws prohibiting Indian totems (they cleverly dedicated it to King George V).
When the September floods came a few weeks ago, a surge of water filled the church, lifting heavy wooden pews and throwing them around. Outside in the village, massive logs swept down by the torrent cut a swath through homes and yards. Of the 41 buildings in the community, 15 were damaged by water ingress – leaving thick layers of mud in basements and living rooms – and 3 homes were lost completely.
Federal and provincial relief assessments are under way. But it is estimated it will be months before people will be able to return. With the onset of winter, it will be hard to dry out the buildings.
In Alert Bay on the first Sunday in October, Bishop Cowan and I celebrated the Eucharist with evacuated members of Kingcome and the parishioners of Alert Bay. The little church was full, and – curiously – the lectionary readings for the day featured Jeremiah’s lament over the destruction of Jerusalem.
Scripture reminded us how frequently people have suffered displacement from their homes, and the importance of lament. We reflected on the hope that shines through these ancient words, the strong belief in God that enabled those long ago people to endure hardship and difficulty, and the glory of God in restoring them to their homes and land.
We will deal with the ecclesiastical matters another day. Most immediately, the need is for emergency relief and the rebuilding of damaged houses. Our two dioceses are making an appeal to PWRDF to assist the village. The Anglican Foundation will soo n be looking at an application for the renovation of St. George’s church. I have asked the Band Chief to let me know how the Diocese can be of help, as opportunities become clear.
Please remember the Tsawataineuk (pronounced 'tsa-wa-tay-nook') people in your prayers.
Bishop Michael
Damage to the church interior