The figurative flames of Pentecost burned bright at St. Dunstan’s, Aldergrove on Sunday, May 19, 2013, and so did the physical flames that consumed the church’s mortgage. It wasn’t the first time flames played a key role in the St. Dunstan’s story. On Halloween night 2000, a Molotov cocktail set the old church on fire, an event that became the catalyst for a long journey, which brought the congregation to where they are today.
The fire at the old church was a pivotal point in the journey, but the journey had begun long before. The winds of change blew into the parishes of St. Alban’s and St. Dunstan’s in 1994, with the induction of the Reverend Beverley Stewart as rector. The Reverend Stewart challenged the two small parishes to look beyond Sunday worship and led them through a process of visioning, planning and hard work, which would culminate in a new church building and a new way of being in the community.
In 1996, the two parishes voted to amalgamate and on Palm Sunday 1996, celebrated at St. Dunstan’s as one church family. Already a vision for a new church building, honouring the history of both parishes, and embodying a new vision of the church’s role in the community was beginning to develop. The St. Alban’s building was sold and the contents stored. A financial plan, including sale of assets, a capital campaign, a Diocesan loan, and a private donation was put into place.
The journey was not destined to be an easy one. One piece of land, then another, proved to be unsuitable. Then there was the disastrous Halloween fire and the journey began in earnest. The congregation embarked on the exhausting task of setting up for church services in local schools – Sunday after Sunday for 4 years. As is often the case, adversity brought out the true mettle of the people. This time, often referred to by the congregation as “our journey in the wilderness,” taught them that church is not about buildings but about people, and also profoundly affected the design of the new church they wanted to build. In the words of the Venerable Beverly Stewart (who was collated Archdeacon of Fraser December of 2001), “Working through this experience we have come to see ourselves more fully not as a building, but rather as a Body of Christ…"
Trusting in God, the congregation moved forward with faith, courage and generosity to turn the dream of a new church into reality. In the fall of 2001 a suitable piece of property was found, a very successful Capital Campaign initiated and a Building Committee, under the leadership of Jim Stewart, established. Construction commenced in 2003. As the building began to take shape the congregation made regular monthly visits checking out progress and anticipating the finished product. On St. Dunstan’s day, May 19, 2004, Bishop Michael Ingham dedicated the new building. On June 13, the congregation held a Pilgrimage walk from the worship space at Betty Gilbert School to the new church and held its first official service.
Moving into the new church was a major milestone, but it did not mark the end of the journey for the St. Dunstan congregation. As Archdeacon Stewart had prophesized, “the easy part was building the building, the hard work begins with living out the Parish Mission Statement.”
That statement reads: “Listening to God’s call and walking humbly with Jesus, we are seeking justice and loving kindness for all God’s Creation. Acting on the faith that we were born with a meaning and purpose, we build relationships with each other, our community and our world and offer this facility and ourselves, a warm welcoming resource for the community.”
In the intervening years Archdeacon Stewart retired and on February 7, 2008 the Reverend Paul Guiton was inducted as rector of St. Dunstan’s. Under his leadership the St. Dunstan congregation has worked hard to make their Mission Statement a reality. The journey has focused on discerning what God wants us to do, and how we carry out God’s work in the community. This journey too, has not been easy, but the St. Dunstan’s of today is a vibrant active church community. The parish supports multiple ministries, the building is in use over 230 hours a week each month and approximately 1300 people pass through its doors. The building is well used, not only by the congregation, but also by the surrounding community.
Through it all, the St. Dunstan congregation has been steadfastly faithful to the pledges made to the Capital Campaign and with the help of the Diocese was able, on May 19, St. Dunstan’s Feast Day, to make the last payment to Rob Dickson and burn the mortgage. The Venerable Beverley Stewart and Jim Stewart joined the congregation, long-time members and new, as they celebrated another milestone along the journey.
Images: Homepage, the mortgage papers burn. Top, parishioners throw their pledge cards in the flame; Jim Reimer in the foreground, Heather Bergen in green on left and Charlie and Doreen Reid (seated). Middle right, Ian Elliott gives Diocesan Business Administrator Rob Dickson the last payment to the diocese. lower left, Paul Guiton fuels the fire. Below, The Reverend Paul Guiton, the Reverend Helen Tervo, Janette Kovacs, the Venerable Beverley Stewart and Jim Stewart.
PHOTOS: Hattie Hogeterp