Printed: 2013-06-19
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All Saints' Parish (Agassiz, B.C.)
Identity area
Type of entity
Corporate body
Authorized form of name
All Saints' Parish (Agassiz, B.C.)
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
The history of All Saints goes back to the building of alternate routes to gold fields through the Fraser Canyon and to the increased number of people who moved to Yale (ca. 1860). The Bishop at that time was Bishop Hills. Anglican services began in Agassiz from 1888 through 1892 under the auspices of the Fraser Missionary District, as part of the Diocese of New Westminster. The matter of building a church in Agassiz was taken up in 1882 and subscriptions were commenced by Mrs C. Agassiz who also donated the land where the church now stands. The church was built and opened for service on 1896, August 23. Between 1892 and 1911 the parish boundaries extended from Yale to Harrison River. Agassiz remained connected with Yale and Hope until 1911. A rectory was built in 1913 and the church's history knew a steady time: All Saints' had its own priest living next to the church; the congregation was growing; a Sunday School and a Young Men's Bible Class were formed. Agassiz went through difficult financial times between 1918 and 1940. The Sunday School attendance dropped by fifty per cent. During the 1930's and 1940's All Saints' was again associated with Yale and Hope. A Ladies Guild was formed in 1934, a very dedicated group of women who had many successes in fund-raising activities. The years from 1955 to 1959 were described as a time of revival for All Saints'. The congregation was growing, two youth groups were formed. In 1963 Archdeacon Watney, consequent to an inspection of the rectory, instructed Reverend Davenport to dispose of it. In 1963 it was decided that All Saints' Agassiz and St. Peter's Rosedale would merge. A new era began for All Saints' in 1971 when it became part of a geographical parish team known as a Team Ministry Parish. All Saints' was part of Fraser-Cheam Parish from 1971 to 1986. The parish of Fraser-Cheam was dissolved in 1986 when it was felt that the parishes involved in Team Ministry should become self-supporting units. All Saints', Agassiz became a single point parish in 1987.
