Denomination: Anglican Church
It was spring, the year was 1910; and a small group of Anglicans gathered for worship in a tent in the Calder area in northwest Edmonton. Two lots had just been purchased on which to build a place of worship. The church was built with volunteer labour and dedicated on October 28 of that same year, and the Good Shepherd parish became a reality. Nearly fifty years later, considerable expansion had taken place to the north and the west of the Calder area and more land was purchased to erect a building for the larger congregation. The second building was dedicated on February 15, 1960.
In the early ‘70s, with the growth that was being experienced in St. Albert, a small city on the northwest boundary of Edmonton, Good Shepherd parish split to form a mission in that community and St. Matthew’s, St. Albert, was born. Both parishes shared the same clergy until the summer of 1976.
Again, in September of 1982, with an expansion of the area north known as Castle Downs, and with considerable growth in the congregation from that area, the parish split again and the mission church of St. Mark’s was formed, holding services in Bishop Savaryn School and again sharing clergy. In 1985, due to the volume of work for the priest and financial struggles of both parishes, the congregations met and decided to amalgamate. It was also decided to sell the church building on 127 Street, to purchase land in Castle Downs and hold services in Bishop Savaryn School until financial growth would allow the building of a new church.
In 1990, Sunday Services were being held in a school; with no additional meeting space there was something missing in the life of the parish. The financial picture being brighter, the congregation started looking at building a new church. Our land was big enough for a sanctuary holding 250 people, an architect was hired and prices were soon out of reach. About that time, St. Charles Roman Catholic Church came up for sale and with the building being adequate for our congregation, the Parish and the Diocese decided to purchase it, and regular Sunday services and two anniversary services have been held in the building since the fall of 1991. Even though the parish continues to grow, we anticipate that the building will meet our needs for many years to come.
In the early ‘70s, with the growth that was being experienced in St. Albert, a small city on the northwest boundary of Edmonton, Good Shepherd parish split to form a mission in that community and St. Matthew’s, St. Albert, was born. Both parishes shared the same clergy until the summer of 1976.
Again, in September of 1982, with an expansion of the area north known as Castle Downs, and with considerable growth in the congregation from that area, the parish split again and the mission church of St. Mark’s was formed, holding services in Bishop Savaryn School and again sharing clergy. In 1985, due to the volume of work for the priest and financial struggles of both parishes, the congregations met and decided to amalgamate. It was also decided to sell the church building on 127 Street, to purchase land in Castle Downs and hold services in Bishop Savaryn School until financial growth would allow the building of a new church.
In 1990, Sunday Services were being held in a school; with no additional meeting space there was something missing in the life of the parish. The financial picture being brighter, the congregation started looking at building a new church. Our land was big enough for a sanctuary holding 250 people, an architect was hired and prices were soon out of reach. About that time, St. Charles Roman Catholic Church came up for sale and with the building being adequate for our congregation, the Parish and the Diocese decided to purchase it, and regular Sunday services and two anniversary services have been held in the building since the fall of 1991. Even though the parish continues to grow, we anticipate that the building will meet our needs for many years to come.
