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ST. CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH

St. Christopher's Church as it appeared in 1957.

St. Christophers is probably the only church to be constructed by a logging company. It was designed by the Stone family (of Mesachie Lake). Although there was nothing unconventional in the general design, there is originality in the use of materials which were all local. The poles of the roof trusses were cut on the site, the corner posts are round Douglas fir logs with the bark left on. Yellow cedar was used for the siding. Hillcrest's carpenters did the construction work as paid employees, but there was one company employee who took a more personal interest. As a volunteer job Dick Horsfall split the 7000 cedar shakes which roof the church. Inside the little 24x48 foot church imagination really went to work. The fronts of the choir stalls are composed of red cedar panels framed with yellow cedar: the reading desk and font are make of maple burls and the cross on the altar is based on a maple burl. Hemlock is used largely for the interior lining.

The jug on the font was fashioned by a woman parishioner, the vases and candlesticks on the altar were turned on a home workshop lathe by an employee and the illminated scroll, which tells the legend of St. Christopher, was the work of Robin Maunsell. The company blacksmith, Bob Biskupovich, make the iron work for the lamps and door hinges. Only one item was made out of the district, the glass dogwood, which is the centrepiece of the east window, was fashioned in Victoria. The corner stone was laid in November, 1948 by Mrs. Carlton Stone and the church was ready for use the following summer. Along with his dream of a British Columbia woods church, Carlton Stone, although an Anglican, envisaged a church which would know no denominational barriers. However, some organized religious group had to be found to take responsibility. Also, the church was sitting in the middle of Hillcrest property and it was practically impossible to give title to it. A solution was eventually found and on August 12, 1951 two Anglican bishops stood outside the closed door of St. Christopher­s and knocked three times for admittance. The door was then opened to them by the warden, who requested, in the ancient form prescribed, that their church be dedicated. In 1952 the need for a Sunday School was met by the addition of a 20x30 foot hall, which was built in the style of the church. Due to declining attendance and increasing vandalism it was decided to move the church to Lake Cowichan. In June of 1980 the building was partially disassembled, transported, rebuilt and attached to St. Aidans Anglican Chruch. St. Christophers serves as the church and St. Aidans as the hall. The church was re-dedicated on October 19, 1980..

St. Christopher's and St. Aidans Anglican Church as it appears today

St. Christopher's Church attached to St. Aidans Church.  St. Christopher's is used as the Church while St. Aidans is used as the hall.

These are the hand made wrought-iron hinges and door latches that Bob Biskupovich made in the machine shop at the Hillcrest mill. Still functional after more than half a century.

Stained glass depicting Jesus on the sidewall of St. Christopher's Church

Looking from the alter toward the front door. Note the beams in the ceiling.  These are the beams that Cliff Pascoe shimmied along gouging out a grove to conceal the wiring when it was being built in 1948

BARB HARSENT'S OWN STORY:

 

 I lived at Mesachie Lake in 1943 – Yvonne Grant, Donna Nokes and I Barbara Heidel went to school at Lake Cowichan via bus – I started Grade one there in 1943 and also graduated from Lake Cowichan high school. My Aunt and Uncle (Lil and Pete Watson) raised me as their child. Pete worked at Old Sahtlam Hillcrest in 1927 and then left and went back in 1942. He was first brakeman on the train with George Grant.

 

I remember the community hall being built and St. Christophers Church. I played the Organ and taught Sunday School in St. Christophers. All of us kids would go to Pop Monti”s to play Monopoly with Henry, Jackie, Jo Monti, Lemmy Traer, Yvonne Grant, Donnie Grant and others. A very large table of us. Pete Watson was a first member and Secretary - Treasurer of the Mesachie Volunteer Fire Department. While going to school, I worked in Berry’s store. I started when Pop Berry ran the post office. Barry and my first daughter Kelly was the first Christening in the Church in 1959.

More stained glass above the alter at the end of the church.

Looking above the alter to the stained glass window at the end of the church.

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            From Left: 

Yvonne Grant

Dorothy Peacock

Barb Hiedel (Harsent)

1943

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