Prayers and hope: Jasper's historic Anglican church looks ahead to building a new future

Bright and early on a Sunday morning in March, Christian hymns ring out from the headquarters of Jasper's Masonic Lodge, where the Anglican church has been holding its weekly service.

St. Mary & St. George Anglican Church hasn't been absorbed by the world's largest fraternity. Instead, the Freemasons lent their lounge to the congregation after the nearly century-old church burned in the July 2024 wildfire that ravaged Jasper National Park and its historic townsite.

There are plans to rebuild. Some in the parish's leadership, including people's warden Nancy Addison, have put forward an idea for a new worship space for people of all faiths.

"I would really dearly love to see a multi-denominational church," said Addison, speaking by phone from Ontario where she is staying with family after losing her Jasper home in the fire.

"A place for Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, Jews, anybody from any background to come and use," she added.

As people's warden, Addison's role includes managing the church's Facebook page and replying to emails from all over the world. She says rebuilding the church as a more inclusive space should be a priority.

"In this time of division and hate and distrust in the world, I think you tend to hate things you don't understand and things that you don't know. If we were all sharing a building, that would facilitate conversations and build bridges. We could be an example for the rest of the world," she said.

"That's my magical dream."

The roots of the Anglican church in Jasper date back to 1909. A small wooden boxcar was donated in 1913 to act as the first building to hold services. Other timber additions were added over the next several years.

Inside Jasper's archive building, retired Rev. David Prowse, flips through photos of the original church from the 1910s.

"The two railways were being built through the Rockies, and the first church was a log church building. One of the leaders of the construction of one of the railways arranged to have B.C. cedar logs brought in," said the 84-year-old.

In 1928, a more permanent parish was built primarily from stone. It was declared a provincial historic resource in 1985, as an example of the 14th-century English Gothic revival architectural style in Canada.

It was a recognizable town landmark, tourist attraction and community gathering space until it was destroyed in last summer's fire.

WATCH | Reimagining Jasper's Anglican Church for future generations: