Peter & Christine Goodman
by Christine Goodman
Our family moved to the small town of Cochrane (population about 1200) in July, 1978.
We joined All Saints Parish in August. Christine's mother, Millie Jensen, also joined, although she did not live in Cochrane at that time.
Our three children (Kathy, aged 8, Christopher aged 6 and David, aged 3) were about to experience the great sense of security and safety of small town life and the love of belonging to dear All Saints parish.
At that time, Canon Leonard Hill was our parish priest.
The very first Sunday that we attended, there were probably only about ten of us at the service. Halfway through the liturgy our three-year-old, David, became very restless and was making quite a fuss for such a quiet service. There were no other children present, so feeling very self-conscious, we left early.
However we did return, and have been happily involved in the parish ever since. Christine taught Sunday school for a few years. Classes were held in the Community Hall and also at Andrew Sibbald elementary (now Holy Spirit) school.
She also became a member of the ACW and Altar Guild, and has served as a sidesperson, communion assistant, reader, vestry member and people's warden. Peter has served as a sidesman, communion assistant, vestry member and people's warden.
Christine has especially enjoyed her involvement with the ACW. This small, dedicated group of women has been very important in parish life, both with fundraising activities and faithfully responding to all sorts of parish needs.
It meant even more that her best friends, and one-time neighbours, Dot Pellow and Alison Dobruk, were also enthusiastic members.
Happy memories include our time with Canon and Frances Hill, David and Elizabeth Asher, Bishop Doug and Doris Ford, wonderful Christmas parties that Richard and Gladys hosted, Choir practice led by Lee Blackwell, picnics, dances, banquets and the completion of the new parish hall.
How special it was for us to have Peter's father, the then Bishop of Calgary, confirm his grandchildren in All Saints Church.
Our two grandchildren were christened there. Both Kathy and Christopher were married there, and Christine's mother's funeral was held there.
Some of the names of parish families we remember from the early years at All Saints are Henry and Barbara Whitfield, Jim and Margaret Kerfoot, Tom and Doris Ashton, Larry and Diane McClennon, Lee and Jean Blackwell, Edie Robinson, Jim and Lydia Graham, Neil and Robin Harvie, Pearl and Patsy Parker, Richard and Vicky Savage, David and Sharon McGraw, Morris and Mary Dawn Robertson, Shirley Bays and Glenn and Brenda Sine.