Caledonia sister parishes receive $20,000 in Diverse Infrastructure funding
The sister parishes of Christ Church (Kitimat) and St. Matthew’s (Terrace) in the Diocese of Caledonia were able to green light much-needed improvements thanks to two Diverse Infrastructure grants totaling $20,000 from the Anglican Foundation of Canada (AFC) in 2021.
The Rev. Emma Vickery, Incumbent at the two-point parish since 2021, has overseen a busy renovation season. “The foundation repair at Christ Church was particularly challenging,” says Vickery. “The church’s water seepage problem was long overdue to be fixed, but this small northern parish was paralyzed by the magnitude of the project.”
Thanks to generous grants from both AFC and the Diocese of Caledonia, parishioners were able to rally to raise the remainder of the funds. “Everyone at Christ Church is grateful to AFC for giving us the hope and drive to move forward in faith!”
The situation was no less challenging at St. Matthew’s, where exterior and interior improvements had spent years on the backburner, waiting for funding. “As we were choosing which pictures to re-install on our beautifully painted walls,” says Vickery, “I saw the placard from AFC commemorating a grant at the time the church was built 30 years ago!” Vickery says it warmed her heart to see the legacy of support, “helping our parishioners continue to be good stewards of the property and worship space God has given.”
Vickery is grateful to all AFC donors and supporters for making these two grants possible. “I hope that for many years to come the Anglican Foundation will continue to be able to support all types of ministries at St. Matthew’s and at Christ Church. As the world around us changes and we continue to face a variety of trials, we have hope for a future that will look as bright and cheerful as our two churches.”
