Due to increasing population and differing ministry needs, the Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster passed a motion to form a new diocese in 1914, to include the area from “the point where the summit of the Cascade range touches the present West boundary of the Diocese of New Westminster…along the summit of the Cascade rage East of Lillooet Lake…” etc. That motion passed, and though the new diocese could not elect their own bishop until they had raised enough money to pay him, they were quick to plan their first synod – to be held October 28th, 1914 in Ashcroft, with Bishop dePencier in the chair.
As per above, dePencier wasn’t a fan of the name of this new Diocese, feeling it sounded rather ridiculous. He had the support of several clergy – though this support was conditional on his agreeing to change it to the name of their city. A new diocese meant new executive and higher positions, and the jockeying is less than subtle in the archival records! Both the” Diocese of Kamloops” and the “Diocese of Lytton” were proposed but “Cariboo” stuck because no one could propose another name that was “sufficiently inclusive”. Bishop dePencier had to live with it for 10 years until Cariboo could afford to elect their first bishop, Walter Robert Adams.
It was with all this early organizing, excitement and posturing of the last century in mind that I climbed into a car with Communications Officer, Randy Murray, and the last bishop of the Diocese of Cariboo, the Right Rev. Jim Cruikshank to make the trip to historic Ashcroft to celebrate the centennial of the Diocese. Because as archivist I operate daily with one foot in the past and one foot in the present, as we drove through the lushness of Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, into the foothills of the Coast Mountains and into the Fraser Canyon, I saw not only that which was before me, but that which I have seen in hundreds of photos – horses and carriages clinging to rock faces on gravel trails, tunnels freshly blown, mule-pulled rafts and determined steamers bringing supplies up the Fraser to the heart of our province.
The drive itself is, of course, fantastic. What made it even more fantastic for me were the stories and reminisces materializing from the front seats as Randy and +Jim – both having spent many years in the area – told stories of their trips up and down these very roads, the faithful people they knew and loved, the darkness, like a fog, that settled on the area for some years, and the new life and breath that has emerged.
After what could be described as a very “brisk” drive through the Fraser Canyon, we arrived at the historic parish of St. Alban’s, Ashcroft in time for +Jim to vest and process in on schedule for the 4 pm Holy Communion. The service was based on the 1918 BCP service, with a welcome from suffragan Bishop Barbara Andrews, and sermon from Archbishop John Privett. The Archbishop reminded the congregation in the very full church that in all ways, “Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again” – both in the life of the church, and our individual lives. All three bishops extended their hands to bless the sacraments. The hymns were familiar old favorites, and it wasn’t hard to imagine the smell of leather saddles and spats, wood from the stove and real wax candles as the sound of these same hymns reverberated off the wood of this frontier church in 1914.
The church hall was filled to capacity for the potluck dinner which followed. Bishop Barbara was kind enough to thank me for the “heads up” that the centennial was forth-coming, and for my work with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and many residential school survivors and former students in the area. Long-time former Diocese of Cariboo Chancellor, Bob Hunter garnered some chuckles and nodding heads as he spoke of some memories and “big names” in the life of the diocese.
It didn’t surprise me to see a crowd form around Bishop Jim Cruikshank as many friends and parishioners were overjoyed to see him. Though his episcopate was marked by a period of great hurt and sadness culminating in lengthy litigation resulting in the bankruptcy and dissolution of Cariboo, the love for him in the area is palpable. We could hardly tear him away as the evening came to a close. I was personally very honoured to meet, for the first time, the Rev. Jim White. Jim was very active in the Ashcroft-Lytton-Thompson region with the First Nations peoples, and he walked with them through some of the early and excruciating years of coming to grips with the depths of damage inflicted by the residential schools system. I found him outside in clerical garb, collar and Birkenstocks leaning on the outside wall of the hall smoking a cigarette. His laugh and his tears as he talks about “those dark days” will stay with me. But so do the tears of joy that filled his eyes as he told me of the precious eagle feather he was given by a First Nation woman who wanted nothing to do with “the church or priests”. He grins as he recounts to me the baptism he performed a few weeks ago. “People still cross the street when they see me, but now they cross towards me, not away”, he told me.
I think that is representative statement of what is beginning to happen in this area. A lot can happen in 100 years, and a lot has happened in 100 years in the Diocese of Cariboo, and now in the Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior (APCI). People of faith are walking, and people are crossing the street to join them.
Images: Homepage: The three bishops at the Altar during the Eucharistic prayer.
- Melanie reads the Epistle, 2 Timothy 4-5
- Archbishop John Privett preaching
- Bishop Jim Cruickshank and the Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Kamloops, the Very Reverend Louise Peters enjoy a chuckle. The nave behind them is full to capacity.
- Long time Chancellor of the Diocese, Mr Justice R. B. (Bob) Hunter receives the wine of Holy Communion from Bishop Barbara Andrews
- Archbishop John Privett with the Reverend Jim White at the reception.
- St. Alban’s, Ashcroft in 1912 when it was still a Mission Church of the Diocese of New Westminster.
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The three bishops cut anniversary cake.
All photos by Randy Murray except for #6 which is Courtesy of the Anglican Archives of the Diocese of New Westminster/Ecclesiastical Province of BC/Yukon