(Webmaster's note - In the year 2000 The Anglican Church Of The Good Shepherd celebrated its 90th Anniversary and the committee that was formed was charged with the task of writing a history of the church.  The result is below.  Thanks to Lois Anderson for all the Church sketches.  If you know any more information or if any of the information is incorrect, please contact me at hlake@telus.net

Preface

We looked through papers and books at the Church and took note of pertinent information. Other data and facts were also obtained from the Provincial Archives. We would like to thank the 25^th and the 65^th Anniversary Committees for the information they had obtained for their special celebrations. They were able to interview many parishioners who would have been with the Good Shepherd both at Calder and on 127 St.

Throughout the 90 years of the history of the Good Shepherd Church, many parishioners have tended to the ministries including the Vestry, Choir, Altar Guild, ACW, Men’s Group, Sunday School, Youth Group, Outreach and Stewardship, Grounds and Building Maintenance etc. It would be impossible to name all the faithful and not miss someone, so we have just named a few that have been acknowledged in many of the papers. We apologize to all others and say that your work did not go unnoticed.

We apologize for any errors or omissions in the following information we have obtained.

For a list of our clergy, their biographies and pictures please click here.

The 90^th Anniversary Committee

In 1910, Edmonton was part of the Diocese of Calgary, as the Edmonton Diocese hadn’t been formed yet. The Anglican Church purchased two lots for $1200.00 in the Calder area 12945-123 St, in the spring of 1910. A group of devout people set up a tent on the lots and services began during the summer months by lay reader G.W. Jones. The tent had folding chairs, some benches and a portable organ. Two other denominations shared this tent with the Good Shepherd.

In September, a meeting of the congregation (23 families) was held to discuss the ways and means of how to build a Church building before cold weather moved in. The people voted to start building in October and it was not to exceed $800.00 in costs. Under the direction of G.W. Jones, the building committee canvassed the Anglican families in the area. They collected $329.51. Mr. Fred Jones (brother of G. Jones) and two other members, Mr. Young and Mr. Bowsfield signed for the cost of the building – the sum not to exceed $800.00. Construction began October 1. It is believed the cost was kept under the $800.00 as the building was done largely to volunteer labor. There aren’t any records of the exact costs.

Although some of the finishing was incomplete, the Dedication took place on the eve of the feast of Saints Simon and Jude, October 27, 1910 at 8:00 P.M. The Right Reverend W.C. Pinkham, Bishop of Calgary, conducted the service. Also present was Archdeacon H.A. Gray (later to become 1^st Bishop of Edmonton 1913), and Rev. Orion Creighton. The services were held in the home of Mr. Bowsfield, after the Dedication, until the Church was completed.

By November 20^th the group of dedicated workers had completed the plastering and the painting. The first Church School service was held at 2:30 PM and the first evening Prayer service was held at 3:30 PM, both conducted by lay reader G.W. Jones. The first baptism was April 7, 1912, -- Cecil Alexandra Costello. One of the first weddings recorded was July 1,1912, between John William Bowden and Harriet H. Bainbridge.

A loan had been made from the A.W.C.F. (Archbishop’s Western Canada Fund) for the building. At the end of 1910, the congregation had paid back $561.05 loaned to them. Quarterly payments were made on the two lots.

A small church house was build October 7, 1910. A two room shack as it was called, cost $200.00. A late parishioner, Dilys (Jones) Rankin, remembered taking confirmation classes in this house when Reverend and Mrs. Allwood resided there. In later years it was used as a caretaker’s house. The caretakers were Mr. & Mrs. Stan Woods who tended the Church and the grounds.

A bell was purchased in 1911 from T. Eaton Co for $5.00. A belfry was erected on the Church and the bell was installed that same year. Chairs were donated from a lady in England. Mrs. Rankin recalled her dad and her brothers (Fred and Harry Jones) spending all Saturday night assembling and gluing the chairs together, as they had been packed flat to ship. The chairs were ready for the service on Sunday.

The Parish of the Good Shepherd was located outside the City of Edmonton in the town of Calder. The Parish received administration from the Anglican Mission House with the Reverend Olsen Creighton being the first Priest-in-charge.

The first congregational meeting recorded was held January 11, 1911, 8:00 PM at the home of Mr. Squires. Rev. O. Creighton was in the chair with nine members present. Attending were Messrs., Young, Turpin, Edwards, Green, Bowsfield and Squires. Messrs., Bowsfield and Squires were the auditors. The committee voted to raise $100.00 towards the stipend during the year 1911. A committee was formed to organize a Young Men’s Club.

The vestry meeting held June 8, 1911; it was decided to start a choir. Mr. Jones asked to fill office of choir leader and to hold weekly practices. On June 27, 1911 the Ladies Aid held a sale of bake goods and needle work and netted $100.00 for the Church. On September 20, it was voted to purchase an organ as the one being used was on loan and was wanted back. It was discussed whether to have envelope system for collection and it was decided to leave it up the will of the people. Envelopes became the weekly system January 1912. The final payment of Church property was voted by vestry paid February 27, 1912. A Bible was presented to the Church by the Edmonton Mission, January 28, 1913. The first dates in the Lectern Bible being 1845. The system of lighting was replaced with oil lamps September 1913.

A branch of the Women’s Auxiliary was formed in 1912 under the Diocesan Board of Calgary. Our first president was Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Jones.

In 1914, the vestry made a motion to have two women on the council of the vestry.

The Church House or shack was paid in full June 9, 1915. At the vestry meeting of March 29, 1916 there was one lady and six men present. Of the seven people present—four were carrying the surname of Jones. The first vestry meeting allowing unmarried ladies to attend was January 17, 1917 – Miss Rose Briggs ( Mrs. A. Stewart), and Miss Dilys Jones ( Mrs. W. Rankin). Also at this meeting it was mentioned that Good Shepherd was helping with the stipend portions for St. Michaels and All Angels.

The Good Shepherd was closed in February 1918 until April 1919 because of the war and the Spanish flu, which caused a shortage of parishioners. When the Church reopened in 1919, a number of parishioners had gone to other Churches, so the work was begun to build up the congregation again. St. Peter’s approached the Good Shepherd to discuss sharing services on a financial basis. During this time, Mr. Elmer Brown donated the baptismal font on April 25, 1919. April 1919, it was voted to rent the Church House (shack) to earn extra monies for the Church some $5.00 per month. A social was also formed 1919 to welcome back the soldiers who had been away fighting during the war. July 13, 1919 found Rev. M. Allwork at the helm. A "union" with All Saints was formed September 21,1919. September 1919, Rev. T.W. Scott presented the Good Shepherd with an oil painting of the "Good Shepherd".

The W.A. purchased the Calder fire hall and jail from the City of Edmonton. The building was moved from across the corner to the Church property (south lot), May 1921. While the hall was in still rough shape the ladies held a bazaar and raised $300. So, in two months the purchase and moving of the hall were completely paid for. With willing workers and hours of labor, the jail and fire hall was soon turned into a Parish Hall. It was a two floor structure. In later years the second floor was declared unsafe and they had to remove it from the building and made it into one floor. The hall served the parish for 38 years. A unique feature of this two story building was the town jail. There was an ironed barred area under the stairs used as the jail. A parishioner, Wilf Collier took the iron bars and made a lych gate for the front entrance walk of the Church.

In 1921, the parish was greatly enriched with the arrival of Mr. & Mrs. W.E. Briggs. For the next four decades, they both served the parish in many ways. The notice in the Edmonton Churchman – March 1955 – stated, "A surprise party was arranged in honour of Mr. W. E. Briggs, who is retiring from the offices of Peoples Warden and Secretary-Treasurer, which offices he has served for the past 31 years. This must be a record for unswerving faithfulness and devotion to duties at all times. The above mentioned were his official offices; actually he was a plumber, carpenter, electrician and any other tradesman you care to mention. No one will ever know the hours of toil Ed Briggs put in on the buildings, the books and the general operating of our Church."

In 1944, an addition was made to the Church, known as the "Arch". It was consecrated by Bishop W. Barfoot.

During the next decade the area to the north and west was developed into housing and the Synod Extension Committee decided to move the parish to a more central site at 134 Ave and 127 St.. The old buildings were put up for sale and were purchased by Ruse & Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church on February 28, 1960. It was decided to remove five memorial windows from the building at the time of sale. The Synod office had given the Good Shepherd three of the stained glass windows, which had come from an abandoned Church in Levoy. The other two windows were donated in memory of faithful WA members by their families. These two windows were placed at the entrance by the stairwell in the new building. (In 1977, they were moved to the Sanctuary and placed in frames with lights behind the glass.) The whereabouts of the other three windows is unknown. The last service to be conducted in the Calder Church was February 14, 1960.

The first service to be held in the new building on 127 Street was February 19, 1960 at 7:30 PM. The Dedication service of the new building at 13428-127 Street, on October 1960 was also the 50^th anniversary of the Parish. The Rt. Rev. G. Burch, Ven. S.F. Tackaberry and Rev. David Jones officiated, with 155 people in attendance. The Christmas Eve service 1960 had an attendance of 130 people. The Easter service of 1961 had an attendance of 160 people and Easter 1963, had 203 in attendance and unfortunately had to turn people away.  There is mention of three men who had given 35-40 years of service to the Good Shepherd. These gentlemen are: Rectors Warden, Thomas E. Jones (father of Rev. David Jones),: Envelope Secretary – Walter Bridge: and People’s Warden – Wm. E. Briggs.

Good Shepherd had a Church Council with St.Albert from 1970-1977, when St. Albert was appointed their own priest. The St. Albert parish had worshipped in the United Church, St. Albert. The combined parishes met deciding ways and means of keeping both parishes in operation. Harry Wigglesworth, owner of Seed Centre, offered the Seed Centre – for the Parishes to run a coffee stall (at the Seed Centre) for the month of May. Harry supplied the stall, tea, coffee, milk and sugar and the Parishes supplied the labor. He also refunded the Good Shepherd 25% of any purchased the parishioners made at the Seed Centre. The A.C.W. undertook paper drives and other groups undertook other ways of raising monies. By the end of August 1976, both parishes had been able to pull themselves up from near bankruptcy to meeting all current expenses.

By 1976, the Castle Downs area was starting to build up and there was a meeting held with the Bishop and the people of the Castle Downs area. It was decided these people would continue going to the Good Shepherd. The city’s long range plans for the Castle Downs area was that there would probably be about 20,000 residents and the area was to extend roughly 97 Street to 127 Street, 137 Ave for 2-3 miles north. No provisions had been made for any Church land at that time. Rev. Barford met with other denomination leaders and mailings were sent out advising people of the nearest Church to their homes.

By September 1977, St. Matthews, St. Albert, had their own priest and parish. Both vestries met and split up the balance of the monies as per their individual input.

Theological students, Kathy Bowman, Diane Nixon and Linda Howitt worked out of our Parish in 1981. Terry Leer joined up during the summer months also for part of his training.

The Anglican population in the Castle Downs area had grown enough to form St. Mark’s Mission, on September 19,1982 at Bishop Savaryn School. With St. Mark’s Mission increasing congregation and the Good Shepherd’s steady base, solutions were looked at for a larger building. The first options looked into by the Good Shepherd at this time were to buy land north on 127 Street (the old speedway area), or fix up the old buildings on at the present site. Upgrading the old buildings would have required many changes to be made to the plumbing and the heating etc. The city at the time would not pass any additions to the old buildings, since there wasn’t enough room on the present land as it was. The parking was also going to be at a premium as the long-range plans for the city was to extend the LRT down the east side of 127 St.. At this time due to the many costs of maintaining the rectory and since the last few priests wanted their own housing, the rectory was sold October 1, 1984, and the monies were put into a trust fund for us by the Diocese.

The next alternative was to look at four properties that a new Church could be built on. They were; the SE corner of 127 St and 153 Ave, a lot on 125 St. between 145 Ave and 148 Ave, a lot on 108 St and Beaumaris Road, and also on 161 Ave and 112 St.

The first joint service of the Good Shepherd and St. Mark’s was held on September 9, 1984 at the Good Shepherd. The second shared service was held at St. Mark’s, on October 14, 1984. A meeting of all parishioners from both Churches was held November 4,1984 at Good Shepherd to decide a name for the new parish. The people voted to name the parish "The Church of the Holy Redeemer." Bishop Clarke suggested maintaining the name of The Church of the Good Shepherd, as we were about to celebrate the 75^th anniversary. With the Church on 127 Street being sold in September 1985, the last service in the building was the 75^th anniversary service, held October 27, 1985. The Church items were all stored in the basement of Donna & Joe Worthington’s until a new building was to be built. The brass lectern and Bible was donated to St. Michael’s and All Angels, Fort Edmonton Park. Most parishioners moved to Bishop Savaryn School for worship and some chose to go to other Churches not being able to worship in a school. The auditorium at the school was set up like a Church with an Altar area, piano etc. By this time land had been purchased on the corner of 153 Ave and 109 St. and we were beginning to dream of our new Church building.

A park in the Wellington area was dedicated August 1985, in memory of our long time verger, Bert Nickel. Bert did a lot of work for our Church and for the community.

On October 6, 1986, St. Mark’s Church (original Church in the downtown area) was sold and was to be demolished. Before falling to the wrecking ball, Rev. Ted Clarke received permission from the Diocese to remove the stain glass windows. One was of Jesus and has the Good Shepherd on it and the other was of St. Mark. A table and lectern was also retrieved from the building.

By 1988/89, we were ready to begin planning for a new building. Many meetings and discussions were held and the Vestry looked at many other Church buildings to get more ideas etc. Many fundraisers were held to raise monies toward a new building. Some of the fundraisers were a walk-a-thon held May 28 to kick off the Good Shepherd Building Fund Account. Fifty-seven people got pledges and raised $2700. There were three choices of walks we could take – all starting from the property on 153 Ave and 109 St., One was to walk down to the Calder area and back; the second was over to the 127 St Church and back; and the third was a complete circle around Calder, 127 St and back to the property. Bishop Ken Genge and his wife Ruth joined us in our marathon. The other fundraisers the parish took part in; were inventory counting at K-Mart, wrapping gifts for Woodward’s, West Edmonton Mall (for their customers); one parishioner did income taxes for parishioners; we bought gift certificates from Safeway; the youth group hosted a "Coffee House" etc, etc.

In 1991, St. Charles Roman Catholic Church, Castle Downs, decided to sell their Church, as it was too small for their congregation. They decided to build a new building at 176 Ave and 112 St. The Roman Catholics approached the Good Shepherd to see if we would be interested in their building on Castle Downs Road. Our Parishioners were allowed to tour the building and everyone was able to make a decision of trying to raise enough money for a new building or to purchase the St. Charles building. It was decided to go with the St. Charles building. On November 3, 1991, the Good Shepherd congregation marched from Bishop Savaryn School carrying our banner to our new building and St. Charles parish marched to Bishop Savaryn School, as their new building was not quite finished yet. Our first service was held in the old St. Charles building November 10, 1991. The building was dedicated November 17, 1991 with Bishop Rt. Rev Ken Genge officiating.

All of the organizations of the Good Shepherd Church have helped to make our parish what it is today, with all of their hard work, dedication and strong faith over the past 90 years. There is the Vestry, voted into office by the congregation to govern the Church. Vestry consists of the Priest, Rector’s Warden, People’s Warden, Synod delegates and vestry members. There is the Altar Guild who tends to the Altar at all times making the necessary preparation for Holy Communion. The Choir who works so hard and diligently for Sunday services and with special anthems for Christmas and Easter and other special services. The Sunday School has entertained us with Christmas and Easter pageants over the years. A picnic is held each year for the young people in June. The Youth Groups have helped at many functions in the Church. They have served at teas, suppers; entertained the Sunday School with Halloween parties etc; put on a "Coffee House" for the Parish; gone to Space & Science Centre; bowling; skating; gone camping; visited other parishes and seniors in homes etc. The ACW (Anglican Church Women) or WA (Women’s Auxiliary) as it used to be named, consists of all ladies of the Church. The ladies hold bazaars; cater to functions; hold book sales; have printed cookbooks; during the war they made up baskets with food, cigarettes etc for our soldiers; held Whist nights during the war to help the wives left at home; held harvest suppers etc. Most money raised by the ACW goes to help with our Church plus they have many outreach programs they donate to – Prayer Partner in the North; WIN house, OUR house, Youth Emergency Shelter; help diocesan ACW with the adoption of a child; and many others. The Men’s Group has met for breakfasts over the years and they work hard to maintain the work around the building. The Outreach Group obtains information about unfortunate areas in and around our city that can use our help. Some of their projects are serving lunch to the Bissell Centre during winter months; collecting school supplies for the Inner City; collecting mitts and gloves for the Inner City; collecting items for the Youth Emergency Shelter etc. The Grounds and Building Committee work hard to maintain our building and mowing lawns and shoveling snow in the winter.

There aren’t many early records to be found about the various groups of the Church and it wouldn’t be right to name any names without missing some along the way so it would only be fitting to say a big thank you to everyone who has graced the steps of the Good Shepherd Church from the days of the tent services until our present day as we celebrate our 90^th anniversary 2000.

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