Celebrate 100 years of Community Heritage at St. John the Baptist Heritage Church
Where can you take a free horse drawn carriage ride, watch a free performance by Four Seasons Musical Theatre and listen to live music while you enjoy heritage crafts, kids activities and free refreshments?
Centennial Community Celebration - a Free Community Event
Saturday, August 24, 2013 from 11:30 am until 4 pm.
St. John the Baptist Heritage Church is a little known historical treasure in Colwood. It was built 100 years ago through the efforts of a caring community on land donated by a generous Colwood family. In that same spirit of community, the City of Colwood invites people young and old, from far and near, to travel back in time to 1913 for a great day of family fun at this summer’s centennial celebration.
Read the Goldstream Gazette story about the event and the wedding that will take place!
Horse Drawn Carriage Rides
Arrive by horse drawn carriage and enjoy a heritage tea and fashion show featuring ladies in period dress, just as you may have done in 1913 at a garden party hosted by Laura Dunsmuir at Hatley Castle. Town Crier, Kenny Podmore will keep you informed about all the activities happening throughout the day. Let the kids run off their energy in the old time picnic games hosted by West Shore Parks and Recreation as musicians, the Myles Thomsen Trio and Mike Raymer and the Riffriders perform on stage.
Four Seasons Musical Theatre performance
You will be treated to a play by Four Seasons Musical Theatre. Watching this performance inside the church, you’ll experience the grace of the building and the amazing acoustics of the simple and elegant Carpenter Gothic architecture.
Heritage Artisans: Our history brought to life
Step back in time to simpler days when wool needed to be spun for the mending, the cooper hand-crafted buckets for the water pump and photos were taken by a tin-type photographer. Throughout the day, you will learn about the rich history and heritage of the area as you visit with the heritage artisans, view photos and artifacts from 1913, stroll among the oak trees and wildflowers throughout Hatley Memorial Gardens and Pioneer Cemetery, and view the vintage cars that will line the drive.
The day begins with a short 1913 church service that people of the time enjoyed – a community coming together to give thanks for the simple blessings of family, health and home.
Funded by Heritage Canada
Enjoy this community gathering just as you would have in those simpler days – with no tickets or tokens or fees for activities. The event is funded through a generous grant from Heritage Canada - Building Communities through Arts and Heritage - in recognition of the important role that heritage sites like St. John’s play in honouring those who came before us and keeping our community connected to each other and to our past.
The event will be held Saturday, August 24, 2013. St. John the Baptist Heritage Church is located at 537 Glencairn Lane in Colwood. The non-denominational church and heritage site offer a special gathering place for your next wedding, baptism, art exhibit or performance.
Call the City of Colwood at 250-478-5999 for more information or to inquire about facility rentals.
