Ship of Fools: St Andrew’s Cathedral, Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada

The Mystery Worshipper

Ship of Fools: St Andrew’s Cathedral, Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada

Where canned music controlled by the bishop’s wristwatch provides the hymn music

Read the full Mystery Worshipper report here

Box Pew

I paid a virtual visit to St Andrews Cathedral on Google earth to see if the hill is really that steep (it really is!) and noticed the poor wooden church is in a far worse state than it appears to be at the head of the MW report. Peeling paint and boards missing from the cladding and the celtic cross roof finial in the photo now blown away and just a broken stump. I fear for the future of this charming little building and its congregation....

Rufus T Firefly

I'm guessing that the orange t-shirt on the pew end is a deliberate symbol of the commitment to reconciliation with First Nations and sorrow over the Residential Schools that caused so much suffering. Orange Shirt Day (30th Sept) is now a very big deal in the Anglican Church of Canada, especially in BC.

The picture of the inside of the church shows that it is very similar to many churches I came across in BC. Although I never got to Prince Rupert, the picture brought back many happy memories of times in churches just like that one. They all smelled the same!

Also - the paucity of congregation was probably very closely linked to the fact that it was Victoria Day weekend. BC people do love a Statutory Holiday, especially Victoria Day. Church attendance is always down that weekend.