Anglican Diocese team recommends closing several churches around Victoria, Vancouver Island in “transformation”
St. Paul's Anglican Church (click image to enlarge)
Ten Anglican churches in Greater Victoria should close and their parishioners move to other congregations, says a report released yesterday that calls for sweeping changes to deal with declining attendance and aging congregations.
The report was commissioned by the Diocese of British Columbia, which governs Anglican churches on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. It also recommends the closing of churches at Crofton, Cowichan Station, South Pender and Saltspring.
Church leaders, priests and parish representatives are expected to vote on the recommendations at a meeting of the Diocesan Synod in March. If approved, the changes could take effect within 18 months.
On December 6th 2009, the Bishop appointed the Reverend Francis Lynford Smith as our temporary Priest-in-Charge.
