The Parish of St Matthew, Abbotsford added special touches to its Vestry day on February 15, 2015.
Outgoing Bishop’s Warden, Linda Burton made arrangements with The Reach Gallery and Museum in Abbotsford to borrow the model of the original 'old' St Matthew's for the day of Vestry. That building was demolished in the late 1970s, but its altar wood, steeple cross and bell were transferred to the new building. Viewing the old original building in miniature helped create a feeling of connectedness as the current St. Matthew’s faith community moves forward with re-building its numbers and ministry.
The maker of the model, Don Bladon, passed away in 2014 -- this model that he built, following old photographs, was among the last hand-crafted pieces that he’d created for the museum. Alma Bladon, along with her family, attended the morning’s service in order that parishioners could thank her for her husband’s attention to detail in depicting this part of the parish’s history.
Since it was also the 50th anniversary of the raising of the maple leaf Canadian flag on February 15th, the Vestry meeting hall for the Parish of St Matthew went with a red-and-white theme, with the flag in prominent place. Who says a Vestry meeting day can’t be colourful?
PHOTOs
1. St. Matthew’s parishioners; Margaret Dingwall, Bob Burton, and Ross McLeod admire the finely-wrought model of the old St Matthew’s. PHOTO Linda Burton
2. The Vestry meeting with a Canadian flag theme.