St. Andrew's Revitalization Community Consultation

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Sunday, February 13th, 2022
4:30 AM to 5:30 PM

St. Andrew's Church and cemetery has graced a small rise above the bridge over the Koksilah River for the last 116 years on traditional unceded territory of the Quw'utsun' People. Now the Cowichan Station Area Association is asking for input and support from First Nations, the local community, and anyone with a connection to this historical property. In 1903 an acre of land was donated by the local community to the Anglican Diocese of British Columbia for the construction of a church. The community fully embraced the prospect of building a place of worship with fundraising, volunteer labour and support from businesses. The church was named St. Andrew's. It was consecrated in 1906; the cemetery was consecrated for burials in 1925. A church hall was added in 1956. St Andrew's continued to reflect the lives of the community over many, many years. For example, as a World War I memorial, the church commissioned an English firm to construct a large stained glass window, which bears the names of thirteen local men who died in the war. This window has been described by The Institute for Stained Glass in Canada as, "..one of the most precious memorials in B.C." The cemetery holds the remains of many local families and veterans. Unfortunately, St. Andrew's was one of a number of churches decommissioned in 2010 due to financial difficulties. However, there has always been a very strong sense of community ownership of the church and grounds, and it has always been a gathering place regardless of faith. The Cowichan Station Area Association (The HUB) has begun negotiations with the Diocese to take over management of St. Andrew's. The CSAA is a volunteer-run and community generated charitable organization which has done an exemplary job of revitalizing the near-by Cowichan Station School (1914) and adjacent buildings and grounds. It has become a place for gatherings, the pursuit of the arts, recreational opportunities and environmental awareness.

Please join the zoom conference and share your ideas. Express your interest at [email protected].

If you are not online, drop by the HUB and pick up a paper questionnaire to fill out during office hours, Monday-Friday, 11:00 am - 2:00pm.