The Elliotts

by Helen Elliot

When we arrived in Cochrane in August, 1960, I felt comforted to be living across the street from the little All Saints Anglican church. I have a very clear memory of the trees on the street side of the church being laden with new snow on Christmas morning. Snow began to fall on the bare ground early Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day was a winter wonderland. For someone raised in the Peace River country, this was a blessing. Reverend Tom Wright, who lived in Canmore, did not venture out that day.

All Saints Anglican has many fond memories for the Elliott family. Danny remembers the thrill of ringing the bell, that is, pulling on the rope, when he was six. Of course, the boys never missed Mrs. Lewis' Sunday School class.

During the first year in Cochrane, we were able to lighten Reverend Wright's Sunday duties by lighting the fires on cold days, and by having him for lunch after the morning service. The two churches he served - Canmore and Cochrane - were a long way apart in 1960.

I remember Robin Harvie, Sharon Engert, Molly Broatch, Kathleen Welham and I spent hours making new white linens for the altar—especially the little mitered corners and embroidered crosses on the purificators.

I became the first Flower Secretary and enjoyed arranging the flowers for several years. One day I decided to use a larger metal vase that seemed to have been in the cupboard of our little Bell room far too long. All was fine until the water seeped through the wax that filled in the cracked bottom of the vase. What a disaster!

Helping to organize and serve on the Altar Guild was indeed not only a pleasure but a privilege. I have always appreciated the ladies that carried on after we moved to Calgary in 1967.

Vestry meetings were usually held at our house because we lived so close to the church. I remember Jim Kerfoot, Henry Whitfield, Sam Peverell and Neil Harvie in particular. I could only wait in the kitchen until it was time to serve lunch—of course, the vestry was all men in the early sixties, and once more Reverend Wright often became our dinner guest on vestry night.

I especially remember the evening Neil said, "I often feel closer to God when I am out riding my horse than I do in church." It brought back childhood memories of riding my horse when I was seven or eight to get the cows from an open pasture. I was never afraid because I knew that my horse would get us all home.

I would be remiss if I left out Edie Robinson's presence on Sundays. She very faithfully played our old church organ, which must have come with the church when it was moved in 1892. It took a lot of pumping and coaxing to fill our little church with heavenly music.

We made many lifelong friends in our connection with church activities, and are really pleased that the church has now been moved to the Bethany Care Centre. We miss our little Bell room and the deacon's bench from the back of the church. The painting of The Last Supper over the altar, and the stained glass windows still contribute to a reverent and quiet atmosphere for prayer and worship. I trust it will continue to be a centre of worship, and bring peace and contentment to those seeking comfort within its walls.