The Thomases

by Shirley Thomas

Bob and I started going to All Saints Anglican Church soon after we moved to a dairy farm near Cochrane in 1958.

I had connections with All Saints while growing up in the Glendale district. My Dad, Thomas Wearmouth, came to Canada in 1906, and homesteaded on Lochend Road. My mother's parents, Richard and Mary Ann Standring, homesteaded a few miles north.

Tom and Annie Wearmouth were married in the Church of the Redeemer (not yet a Cathedral) in 1913.

My sister Winnie was baptized at All Saints in 1915. The Currey Wearmouth family lived at Glenbow, near the Quarry, and attended All Saints in the early 1900s.

In 1963, Bob and I moved to an acreage on Lochend Road. Our sons, Bruce, Glen, Keith and Wayne were baptized, attended Sunday School, and were confirmed at All Saints.

It was quite a scene getting four boys ready for church, but an even greater challenge for the Sunday School teachers.

Some of the teachers were Ava Levis, Dorothy Field, Diane McClennon, Kathleen Welham, Robin Harvie, and Sharon Engert, with Leigh Blackwell helping with the singing and Melva Blood playing the piano. Christmas programs were fun with everyone participating.

Many church picnics were held at the Fina grounds. A church service, games, kids activities, and food made for a fun day.

Bob was on the Vestry. He remembers others that served at that time such as Jim Kerfoot, Henry Whitfield, Frank Hutchinson, Bill Lewis, Ted Lee, Curly Elliott, and Sam Peverell.

It was always a struggle financially to keep the Church open. More than one time Henry put in money so the priest could be paid. A great deal of volunteer work was done on repairs and improvements.

When All Saints Altar Guild was formed in 1964, I became a member. It was quite a learning experience.

The manner in which the vessels and linens were set out depended on the priest's wishes. We felt privileged to handle the linens and vessels. Each year we had a day of Dedication. Our meetings began with special prayers. New linens and hangings were made. Lovely linens were hand hemmed and embroidered. Robin Harvie, Sharon Engert, Margaret Kerfoot and Margaret Leith, along with others, did beautiful sewing and embroidery on new hangings.

One activity that was started was an ecumenical Walk-a-Christmas—Mile.

People from the three churches joined together to walk to each church for a special service and end with refreshments. Sometimes the weather was very cold, but people dressed warmly so they could walk the few blocks. All three churches were downtown.

Pie making was an innovative project. Each fall, Leigh and Jean Blackwell would go to Creston, BC. to bring back boxes of apples. Jean made up a huge quantity of pastry. A real production line was put into action.

Leigh and Peter Hunziker used the apple peeler, others were cutters, sugar and spice experts, pastry rollers, toppers and baggers.

It was a great day when someone raised the tables onto bricks to make it so much easier to roll the pastry.

The best part of the day was when we baked and ate a sample pie.

The Church Bazaar and Bake Sale was an important fundraiser. One year we made Christmas wreaths out of computer cards - the ones with holes. The cards were folded and stapled, and placed on cardboard. We put them on the lawn to spray various colors. These wreaths were very pretty and lasted for years.

Sharon Engert always had great ideas and was very artistic. She worked very hard for our church, and we all missed her when they moved in 1970.

All Saints has gone through many ups and downs. Even when the membership was few, there were always Sunday School classes and the bills were paid.

It was exciting when improvements were made, and Ford Hall was built. Finally, with a growing congregation, our need for a new facility was realized in 2004 when we arranged to buy the Roman Catholic Church building.

It was sad and wonderful to see our historic church moved to be a chapel at the Bethany Care Centre. Residents and families can share a beautiful sacred place that has influenced many people for more than one hundred years.

We look forward to a renewed spirit and commitment as we move to our new location in 2006.