Anglican Church of Canada
Diocese of Kootenay, Nelson, British Columbia
Anglican Church of Canada
Diocese of Kootenay, Nelson, British Columbia
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723 Ward Street, Nelson Mission Statement"We are a caring Christian community growing in the knowledge of our faith, committed to love and nurture; reaching out by sharing our gifts and welcoming all compassionately." HistoryThe Rev. H. Irwin, affectionately known as Father Pat, first came to the Nelson area to visit the men of the mining and railway camps. There is little known about the early services; however, Father Pat earned great respect among the pioneers of the Kootenay. His life and work have been the subject of several books. Bishop Sillitoe of New Westminster and the Rev. A. J. Reid returned to Nelson in 1882. A service was held at the Oddfellows Hall on May 15 presided over by the bishop. The bishop’s wife provided the music on the only organ in town borrowed from a local saloon and brothel. At that time, the Bishop revealed that he had secured a sum of money from a Miss Bertton, from England. Local churchmen rallied around the announcement and in a few hours promised to give $400 toward the building of a church. This set the impetus to buy land on the corner of Silca and Ward Streets, the site of St. Saviour’s today. The original structure of St. Saviour’s burned down to its granite foundations in 1928. It was rebuilt and reopened for services in 1929. Parishioners donated the stained glass windows and organ. The current structure includes a Columbarium Chapel. In honour of those who lost their lives serving Canada in World War I, the Memorial Hall next door was built in 1922. The congregation at St. Saviour’s at one time reached six hundred parishioners, with four services every Sunday. At other times the congregation diminished to only a handful of the faithful. However, St. Saviour’s stands as a testament to the efforts of many generations of Anglicans. A walk through this historic building illustrates a century of faith, love and commitment.Worship ServicesSundays – Holy Eucharist – 10:30 a.m.Book of Alternate Services, Choir, Sunday School and Nursery. |