A history of the Columbia Coast Mission
Date
1974
Authors
Lonsdale, Ribhard John
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Abstract
Christian churches in British Columbia have long been active in missionary work in pioneer communities. As civilization arrived this missionary enterprise gave way to established and more permanent church work. The history of the Columbia Coast Mission from 1904 to 1969 exemplifies this pattern. This marine medical mission operated in the coastal waters between Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia.
Two men had a profound influence on the work of this Anglican Church Mission: its founder and first Superintendent (1905-1936), the Rev. John Antle, and its second Superintendent (1936-1959), the Rev. Allan Greene. Antle founded the Mission to provide adequate medical services for the coastal loggers. Therefore, during his term of office a heavy stress was placed on the building of hospitals and hospital ships. Facilities at Rock Bay, Alert Bay and Pender Harbour were augmented by the medical Mission ship Columbia. This stress on practical Christianity was carried out very much at the expense of spiritual ministrations.
During the second half of the Mission's history, under the guidance of the Rev. Allan Greene, several factors altered the direction and emphasis of the Mission's work. Transportation facilities in the coastal area both increased and radically changed. The advent of frequent ferry service and the airplane made the Columbia Coast Mission hospitals redundant. Thus, during the late 1940's and early 19SO's these establishments were either disbanded or handed over to the local communities. Because of the decline of the Mission's medical work and also because of Greene's primary interest in spiritual work, the Mission became increasingly involved in spiritĀual ministrations throughout Greene's years as SuperintendĀent.
By the 1950's the improved transportation had brought about much permanent settlement in the area which the Mission served. Therefore, during the 1960's missionary work gave way to regular parish work and the role of the Columbia Coast Mission decreased to the point where, in 1969, it ceased to function as a marine mission altogether.