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There was great excitement Aug. 3 as friends returned to the church. After visiting and observing the photographic displays of the church's history, many gathered at the site of the "the old church" building to reminisce. They toured the renovated facility and held a time of worship and remembrance. The building in now being used as an Anglican-Catholic church.
There were tears and laughter as former members shared how they had come to the church, had been nurtured and had grown through happy times as well as sad.
Dinner at a nearby church, and an evening program in Saanich Community Church followed. All former pastor couples who had led the congregation were present: John and Evelyn Baerg, George and Carol Braun, Paul and Anne Unger, Les and Carol Biggs, along with current pastor couple Doug and Naomi Enns.
On Sunday, Aug. 4, the morning worship and praise service was followed by a barbeque lunch, recreation and visiting, plus a buffet supper. Some of the families were able to participate in optional activities Sunday evening and the following day.
Verna Duncan
The Baergs moved to Victoria from Fraserview MB Church in Vancouver in 1968 and began making contacts, primarily among university students, and holding meetings in their home. Then, in early fall, 1970, George and Carol Braun and their family moved from Central Heights MB Church in Abbotsford to Victoria to assist the Baergs. George continued as executive director of the Board of Church Extension.
By early spring, 1971, the average attendance was nearly 30 people. The group had been meeting in homes, but larger facilities were needed. The first move was to the Gordon Head Recreational Centre in March, 1971. But then something happened which this church has faced many times. Several families moved out of town. In fact, between the end of March and the middle of May, 1971, 21 people moved away. Understandably, this numerical setback caused discouragement, but only for a short time. More people began to attend and a church organizational meeting was held Oct. 31, 1971. By winter, numbers were up again and on Dec. 12, 1971, at an evening service, 18 of the 33 people became charter members as Saanich Community Church became formally constituted. The church joined the B.C. Conference of MB Churches June 16, 1973.
John and Evelyn Baerg, who had resigned in late 1972, left in the spring of 1973 to take a position with Campus Crusade for Christ. When they resigned, George Braun stepped down from his position on the Board of Church Extension so he could spend more time in Victoria. Since George was not in a full-time position, it was necessary for him to work part-time outside the church.
In 1974, another church was being built close to the Gordon Head Recreation Centre where the church had been meeting. Consequently, the congregation moved to the Cedar Hill Recreation Centre. In January, 1975, though, the municipal workers went on strike and the congregation was suddenly without a place to worship. Arrangements were made with the Lutheran Church of the Cross and services were held there on Sunday afternoons during the strike. Discussion about purchasing their own facilities had been going on for some time because of the obvious need for more space.
The congregation was made aware of a new possibility--the site of the old Lakehill Mission just off Quadra Street. The congregation had only a couple of days to look at the property, make their decision and arrange financing. The facilities at 990 Falmouth Road were purchased for $35,000 on Mar. 23 with possession date April 1, 1975. When the church moved to its new facility, the Brauns became the full-time pastor couple. In early 1979, after eight years of service, the Brauns moved to Morden, Man., to pastor a church there.
In June, 1979, Paul and Anne Unger moved to Victoria from Parliament Community Church, Regina, Sask. to take up pastoral duties. In June 1980, the church dropped its request for Conference subsidy and became self-supporting. In 1983, the membership stood at 43, with the average attendance at 74. The mean age was between 20 and 40. Then numbers increased to the place where, once again, the facilities were inadequate and the church sought to relocate. Several possibilities were considered, but, for a variety of reasons, nothing worked out. The Ungers stayed until March, 1984 when Paul became the director of development at Columbia Bible Institute in Clearbrook, B.C.
A pastoral search had been initiated at the congregational meeting Jan. 28, 1984. In April and May, Les and Carol Biggs met with various church leaders and members and were subsequently asked to be the pastoral couple beginning July 1. Les had been serving as associate pastor at Maranatha Baptist Church in Clearbrook, B.C.
Again the congregation discussed the possibility of relocating. On April 10, 1986, the bid of $89,000 for 1.15 acres on West Saanich Road was accepted. The property included an older house which could be rented out during the building and occupation of the first phase of the building plan. The building at 990 Falmouth was sold and the last service was held there Oct. 25, 1987. On Oct. 29th, the congregation moved to Royal Oak Middle School. On Palm Sunday, Mar. 27, 1988, a sod-turning ceremony for the new building was held. Paid tradespeople and many volunteers from the church family worked on the new facility in the next few months. The first service in the new building was held Sept. 25, 1988. George Braun, the former pastor, gave the message at the dedication service Oct. 16.
More changes were to come. On Oct. 21, 1990, Les Biggs announced his resignation and a search committee began to look for a new pastor. The congregation met Doug and Naomi Ens May 10-12, 1991, and subsequently asked them to become the next pastor couple. They left Elmwood MB Church in Winnipeg, Man. where Doug was serving as associate pastor. Their commissioning service was held Sept. 22, 1991. They are still serving at this time.
Through the years the church family has shared many sad and happy experiences. Many will be memorable--annual MCC sales, weekend family camps, picnics, potlucks, music, drama, Christmas and Easter celebrations, youth and family activities. Frequently students have made the church their home while they've been studying in Victoria. It's been both frustrating and encouraging to see so many people come and go through the church doors. Although people have left the church for a variety of reasons, Saanich Community Church has been a blessing, safe haven, family, and place of encouragement for many of the lives that have been touched here. The church has been enriched by those who have come. Saanich Community Church has a history; because of the Living Lord, it will also have a future.
Verna L. Duncan
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