Our Rector is the Reverend Richard Stetson:
Salt Spring, 110 Park Drive, BC V8K 2R7
Telephone: 250-537-2171
Email: ssanglican@shaw.ca
The people of the Parish of Salt Spring Island are as varied in background and opinion as the rest of the population of this mystical island. The difference is that we are committed to being a comprehensive and inclusive presence in this community. Our stated intention is to provide a parish home for people from a variety of experience and practice in the Anglican Church and from other backgrounds as well.
You get to know us best by joining in worship with us. Anglican Christians treasure worship, the proclamation of the Living Word, Jesus and the celebration of the sacraments, mysteries of the grace and presence of God to, for and in us. Anglican worship seeks to evoke the beauty of holiness in our lives.
We have three places of worship each has its own history, character and style, though many members attend all of the churches at various times. Each church intentionally serves the whole parish, not only an individual congregation. All Saints’ By-the-Sea, on the Lower Ganges Road at Park Drive, is the largest building and the Anglican Centre located there serves the mission, outreach and a variety of arts, exercise and community groups with its upper and lower halls. The congregation here uses the Book of Alternative Services, alongside the Book of Common Praise, the Anglican hymn book published, and other music. The church houses a fine piano and the island’s only pipe organ. The Sunday service is enriched by the participation of the choir. You are welcome at the sung celebration of the Holy Eucharist at All Saints’ on Sundays. There is also a reflective, contemplative Eucharist on Thursday afternoon and occasionally sung Eucharist with incense for holy days on Thursday evening.
Historic St. Mark’s stands on a knoll near Central on North Road. There are several remarkable stained glass windows, fine oak and brass furnishings and appointments and beautifully embroidered textiles. Much of the building dates from the time of Queen Victoria. There is a feeling of solemnity at St. Mark’s undergirded by the classical expression of the Book of Common Prayer and traditional hymns. At St. Mark’s on Sunday you may experience a reverent sense of transport before God’s holy altar. Tuesday morning at 10 am the Eucharist is celebrated with laying-on-of-hands and prayers for healing. This well-cared for church, as well as Leigh-Spencer Room attached to it, serve the parish in a variety of ways.
Historic St. Mary’s, across from Fulford Community Hall, offers a charming, rural setting, with its lych gate at the entrance, local wild flower garden and historic cemetery spreading beyond the church. The image in stained glass of Mother Mary holding the infant Jesus over the altar creates a welcoming and comforting atmosphere. The church is cared for lovingly by the local guild and is seeing increasing use as a setting for worship, music and weddings. The building is undergoing repairs and improvements. There is an 8 o’clock quiet Eucharist each Sunday in the summer and Eucharist is celebrated at 11.30 am on the last Sunday of each month, autumn through spring. Either the Book of Alternative Services or the Book of Common Prayer may be used with familiar hymns at services at St. Mary’s.
There are other opportunities: Bible study in small groups, contemplative prayer, study evenings on various topics and preparation for baptism and Christian formation that may lead to confirmation by the bishop and full participation in the life of the Anglican Church.
Please feel free to be among us as you are and we hope to be friendly without crowding you. Every new person and visitor is a gift to us from God. We expect your presence to change the chemistry of our community and renew us in our commitment to serving God and our neighbour.