For Anglicans on Salt Spring Island, this year’s season of Thanksgiving was the perfect opportunity to share with the community their celebrations for the 30th anniversary of the dedication of All Saints by-the-Sea. The service of blessing held on Oct. 9, 1994, for their new church, was remembered and embraced in October 2024 over two weekends.
In 1993, under the leadership of the incumbent at the time, Barry Valentine, and after more than a year of thought and preparation, old St George’s Church, which had stood across the road since 1940 was prepared for transformation into All Saints by-the Sea, which was to become the thriving hub of worship and creative activity it is today. Only a few still remember being part of an excited crowd of community members and parishioners who stood by to watch the old church be lifted, turned around, and carried by Nickel Bros to the prepared foundations over the road. Everyone held their collective breath as the delicate task of lowering it into place was perfectly accomplished. Old St George’s now formed the heart of the project.
It took a year for the completion of All Saints by-the Sea, which included up to 30,000 hours of volunteer labour from the community. When it was time for the dedication, several days of celebration were shared with islanders, including an evening of dance, a concert, a play, an ecumenical hymn singing and a dinner, all in thanksgiving for a project smoothly accomplished.
From then until now, regular worship services have continued, on Sundays and during the week. Appreciated for its ambiance and outstanding acoustics, the church is also a favourite venue for countless concerts. The halls are used by groups of all kinds, for meetings, fitness and dance classes, bridge events, community meals and much more.
The 30th anniversary celebrations echoed the festivities of 1994. Visitors and islanders were invited to join in the two weekends of thanksgiving. The first, on Saturday, Oct. 5, began with an open house at All Saints by-the-Sea, where some of the history of the transformation was visible in photo displays, a CBC news video of the move in 1993 and posters of subsequent creative endeavours, all served up with light refreshments during the afternoon. This was followed by a concert in the church featuring music, song and dance, performed by several Friends of All Saints who have contributed to concerts and services offered throughout the past thirty years, highlighting the rich musical tradition of the parish.
The celebrations continued on Thanksgiving Sunday with the service of holy eucharist followed by a delicious lunch, featuring cake, balloons and gratitude for everything that All Saints by-the-Sea and the Anglican parish means to the community of Salt Spring Island.
