History

The area which is now North Delta was originally a Tsawwassen First Nation hunting ground. In 1861, three years after the excitement of the 1858 Fraser River Gold Rush,  European immigrants who had settled along the river began to open the area to wagons and commercial trade via the construction of the Kennedy Trail.  The route started from Brown’s Landing, a dock just across the Fraser River from New Westminster (at that time B.C.’s new capital city).   The Kennedy Trail stayed below the Kennedy Heights Plateau and wound its way through the popular fishing village of Annieville and along the edge of Burn’s Bog to Mud Bay. In 1875, J.T. Scott was given the contract to build a road from Brown’s Landing up the hill and along the Kennedy Plateau to meet Ladner Trunk Road (Highway 10).  This route offered views of Delta, Lulu Island (Richmond), the Gulf Islands and beyond.  Soon after its construction, this road became known as Scott Road (120th Street).  In addition, that year, Yale Road was constructed from Brown’s Landing to Yale, approximately 160 km (or 100 miles away), as an overland route through the Fraser Valley to the post gold rush Interior.  Browns Landing is now known as “Brownsville” and is near the Surrey foot of the original Pattullo Bridge.   That area, frequented by fishing boat sailors, was prone to flooding and retained water after rains.  Permanent settlements were constructed on higher ground. 

In the 1950s, the North Delta area from Gray Road (80th Avenue) to Townline Road (96th Avenue) saw impressive growth, resulting in large part from the Veterans’ Land Act.  As a child, parishioner Tony Houghton remembers seeing the spruce and hemlock trees being felled, which allowed him to see from 117th Street to Scott Road.  North Delta and parts of neighbouring Surrey saw a housing boom that continued until the mid-1970s including along Sands Road, the current 82nd Avenue location of the Church.

The nearest Anglican Church in the 1950s was St. Helen’s, which is still located at 128th Street and 108th Avenue in Surrey.  This was two to five miles away from the new housing developments in North Delta, which was too far for young families to travel. Hence, a local North Delta Sunday School was created at Richardson Elementary School on 84th Avenue, now across the street from the North Delta police and fire stations.  The school was under the leadership of Jack Major.  Although local adults and families went to St. Helen’s for services, they also began meeting for prayer and Bible study in houses and basements.  Eventually there was a once a month gathering for prayer at Richardson Elementary, but the Eucharist still took place at St. Helen’s.
A Parish Council meeting was held at St. Helen’s to address the significant growth in the Kennedy Heights/Sunshine Hills/North Surrey area as well as in Newton.  It was suggested that two new parish churches be established to meet the local growth.  They would eventually be established as St. Cuthbert’s in North Delta with a parish boundary extending into Surrey, and St. Michael’s in the Newton area of Surrey. The first “Vestry” meeting for the church in North Delta was held in April 1959.  It was decided that the church would be built on land located by Rev. Bill Hillary on 82nd Avenue and purchased by the Diocese of New Westminster. 
Bishop Gower recommended, and Vestry agreed, that the parish be named after St Cuthbert, a revered and very popular saint in the middle ages of England (635-687AD). While a priest and bishop, Cuthbert had stood strong and determined against waves of anger, politics and challenges. He steadfastly put out the call not to focus on local distractions but to focus on Christ and take His word into the community. Through prayer, faith and determination, Cuthbert built a renewed commitment that caused the growth of the Church and saw Christ enter many lives. Thus, the Parish of St. Cuthbert was created.   
The parish neighbourhood looked far different from the paved roads and well maintained lawns we see now. In the 1950s, roads were gravel and often had deep ditches alongside. Yards often had vegetable patches or green houses and it was common to see farm animals grazing. Scott Road itself was two gravel lanes with ditches on each side cutting through farmland and modest acreages.
A Building Committee, chaired by Ray Chadsey, was struck in June, 1959.  He continued in that role until 1960 when Jack Major became its spokesperson.  Eventually the architectural design of Mr. Randle Iredale was recommended by the committee and accepted by the congregation.  
Rev. Holmes, Rector of St. Helen's, turned the sod on March 20th, 1960, which is also the date of international “St. Cuthbert's Day” which is celebrated annually in our parish.  The land was cleared of the tall timbers that once grew on the lot and the construction proceeded.  We are told there was great excitement in the church community as the actual building began to take shape.
Until the summer of 1959, children met in Richardson Elementary School and their parents had church at St. Helen’s.  Occasionally, services were held at Richardson but only Morning Prayer. One unusual service was held in the Majors' basement on Christmas Eve 1959.  June and July 1960 saw services held in the unfinished Pioneer Hall.

When completed, the new building consisted of a Sanctuary (now called St. Cuthbert Hall) and a church hall/Sunday School room (still called Pioneer Hall). The first St. Cuthbert service was held on August 28th, 1960.  

Canon Bayes was a newly retired priest who agreed to be St. Cuthbert’s first Interim Priest-In-Charge.  He began the church ministry but continued the tradition of meeting in homes and basements for prayer as well as leading the services in the Richardson Elementary gymnasium until the church buildings could be constructed.
The first of three rectories was located across the street from the church and was rented from a parishioner.  The Bayes lived there.  In August of 1962, a house at 11300 82nd Avenue was purchased as the Rectory and the first Rector Rev. George Sendall lived there.  In 1978, the bulk of the church lands had been sold, leaving the present grounds plus a lot for a new Rectory.  The new priest was Rev. Bert Ainsley. His son was an architect and he designed the current Rectory at 8224 116 Street which was built in 1979.
In 1965, a fire gutted the church hall.  While the Sanctuary was not burned, there was considerable smoke damage.  Fay Pereira (nee Houghton) remembers attending a darkened church and singing unaccompanied, perhaps due to damaged electrical circuits.  Fortunately the fire occurred at the beginning of summer, so the hall was more or less refurbished by fall. 
As we were a mission church, the Rev. R.N. R. Holmes, the incumbent at St. Helen’s, took a supervisory and supportive role in our early days.  Canon P. C. Bayes joined us in October of 1959 and remained with us until May 1962.  In September of 1962, the Rev. George Sendall was inducted as the combined pastorate of St. Cuthbert and St. Michael.  This combined pastorate continued until around 1970.  The Sendalls continued with us until 1978 when Rev. Sendall retired.  The Rev. Bert Ainsley was inducted in January, 1979.  The Ainsleys were with us until Easter 1983 when he returned to the USA to complete his PhD.  Following that, he continued to minister in the Seattle area.

In August 1983, Rev. Dan Anonby was inducted.  Rev. Anonby had the gift of sensing who would be good for which role in ministry.  Through assignment and persuasion, he built a strong set of ministries that worked together to strengthen the church and to serve the community.  While he was Rector, we had assistance from people like Cpt. Wes. Jenke, and the Reverends Bill Hillary, David Cole, Dudley Ritchie, June Maffin, and Patricia (Pat) Reed who was a member of the first group of Anglican women to be ordained in Canada.  

The parish continued to grow.  In September 1980, Fred Dewick was appointed Chairman of a building program.  The south wall of the Sanctuary was removed and an extension to the worship space was built.  Also, originally to support a large Sunday School, a new building (now called Dewick Hall) was added to extend from the original Narthex. Later, it would be decommissioned as a Sunday School area, walls were put in, and it has been the much needed office area for the church since.

In the mid-1980s after considerable discussion, it was decided to proceed with a significant building program to build a new Sanctuary.  The decision at the Vestry meeting that authorized the construction was based on a leap of faith.  The building would be expensive and would require a mortgage.  Some questioned our ability to maintain payments but Vestry prayed and the bold decision to move forward was made.

Bob Pitcairn led a building fund campaign that involved and excited the entire congregation. Parishioners committed an amount per month and a parishioner offered to hold the mortgage.  

The sod for the new building was turned by Archbishop Douglas Hambidge, Rector’s Warden Allan McDowall and Rector Dan Anonby with Rev. Pat Reed and others present.   Father Dan had persuaded "Reverend Pat" to join St. Cuthbert’s after her retirement from the Caribou. 

The sod was turned on the future spot of the altar on May 14, 1989.  In order to prepare for the new building, the old bell tower was removed.  It never did hold a bell and the foundation was not deep, so the tower had a lean to it.  Removing it made the buildings look more stable but it had been a landmark for a number of years.

The Parish of St. Cuthbert was incorporated on May 19, 1989.  On November 29, 1990, Archbishop Hambidge decommissioned the “old” sanctuary which became “St. Cuthbert Hall” and he came and knocked on the door of the new Sanctuary with his staff.  He then opened and blessed the new building.

Sadly, while still the Rector, Rev. Dan Anonby died of cancer in 2001.  Various priests ministered to the grieving parish including Archbishop Hambidge and Ven. Bill Stephens.  Rev Ian Stuchbery was appointed Interim Priest and supervised the search process for a new priest.  After he left, Rev. Jim Fergusson served as supply clergy for several months.

Rev. Allan (Al) Carson was called to St. Cuthbert in 2003 and served as Rector for 11 years.  Rev. Carson first introduced the idea of property development, perhaps as a seniors facility.   

After Rev. Carson left in 2014, Rev. Arthur Nash joined us for a year while the Search Committee went through its processes to discern our next Rector.  In 2016, Pastor Paul Woehrle was called and served here for 8 years and focused on the pastoral needs of the parish.  He also encouraged the buying of the house on the north-east side of the property, thereby expanding our footprint and furthering the idea of property development.  Pastor Paul retired in November 2022.

Rev. Stephen Laskey, then recently retired from St. Helen’s, stepped in as Interim Priest-In-Charge in 2023/2024 during the next Search Committee.  

On November 25, 2024, the Rev. Monte Tugwete was inducted as the next and current Rector of the Parish of St. Cuthbert.

Until the late 1960s, our activities were largely focused on gathering the parish together for worship and fellowship.  There were “Favorite Dish Dinners” (aka potlucks), Pancake Suppers, Strawberry Teas, Sunday School Picnics, Christmas Bazaars, Talent Nights and Variety Shows.  

Lay people were involved through Parish Council, Altar Guild, Women’s Auxiliary (renamed Anglican Church Women in 1967), Sunday School and Choir.  Pastoral Care was the responsibility of the clergy.

As the church family matured, people became more committed to spiritual growth.  We began to have weekly Bible Studies and later Small Groups.  We began using modern music and liturgy with the introduction of the Book of Alternative Services (now used at the 10:00 services on Sundays and Thursdays, while the older Book of Common Prayer is used at the 8:00 service on Sundays).  Through Cursillo and TEC (Teens Encounter Christ), many members learned how to offer leadership and servanthood.  Realizing that ministry was not the sole responsibility of the clergy, parishioers began to participate as Lay Administrants, Servers, Crucifers, in Prayer Chain, Pastoral Care, Mother’s Union, Fellowship of the Least Coin, Youth Group and new ministries of outreach to the community like weekday and Sunday services at Laurel Place (connected with Surrey Memorial Hospital) and Northcrest Care Centre in Delta.  Today there are over 40 ministries within our church.

For many yearswe had annual family retreats to The Firs (at Mt. Baker) and retreats at Rosemary Heights.  We welcomed theological students and curates, providing a place to practice their skills: Sean Murphy, June Maffin, Tamsel (Thomi) Glover, Guy Bellerby, John Oakes and Peter Klenner spent time with us.  From St. Cuthbert's, Paul Borthistle, Rob Stringer and Mike Kiewitt have gone on to ordained ministry.  

Parishioners have done outreach ministry abroad, been involved at the Diocesan level and taken leadership rolls in summer activities and programs at Camp Artaban.  Many have gained experience and confidence as musicians and singers thanks to the strong music program here over the many years.

There has always been a strong emphasis on sharing meals.  People enjoyed fellowship at these events from the early days.  There have been St. Cuthbert Day Dinners, Progressive Dinners, Spaghetti Dinners, Advent Dinners and Easter Brunches.   Within the last few years, meals have become outreach as well with Men’s Breakfast, Monday Luncheon, Healthy Babies, Front Room and Alpha Dinners.  The Social Committee organizes an annual parish picnic in June, a 'Welcome Back BBQ' each September, and a large Advent Potluck supper in late November.

St. Cuthbert’s has always been known for its warmth and welcome.  From early days when Rev. Ainsley introduced the concept of St. Cuthbert's being a family, that has been at the heart of our parish.  Consistently, people new to the parish comment on the warm welcome they experience. Many people credit that welcome as a reason for staying, despite the many other options in the area.   The other consistent element has been music.  Ever since Rev. Sendall brought a focus on music in our worship, it has been an important part of services.

As this is being written, we are a growing church.  We have had several new members in the last few years and will be adding Newcomers Lunches to our list of activities.