Anniversary Celebration

On Sunday, February 27, St. Margaret's Anglican Church in Edmonton hosted a Zoom gathering to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first service in their church building at the corner of Ellerslie Road and 127 Street. As with so many events over the past two years, it wasn’t the party they might have had if it had been less complicated to meet in person. But it was still an opportunity to see parish members, former members, and friends from over the years, and to give thanks for a church they love. As people joined the Zoom call, several called out, “Hey, I remember you! Remember me? Good to see you!” In the end, 33 Zoom ‘windows’ filled two screens.  

St. Margaret’s rector, the Rev. Tim Chesterton, began the celebration with prayer, followed by a video greeting from the Rev. Ed McNeill in Hawaii, who was the rector of St. Margaret’s through the construction of the new building in 1996. He says the process was not just the construction of a building but “the construction of our faith.” He concluded with the hope that the church continues to be stretched in its faith and trust in God.

Chesterton and parishioner Gary Hughes then talked the group through a one-hour slide show, telling the story of the building project and some of the highlights of the church’s history since then, including significant milestones, programs, and special events. Hughes says going back through the photos and church records to prepare the presentation brought back a lot of pleasant memories. In the first photo, he appears wielding a shovel at the sod turning with McNeill and then-bishop the Rt. Rev. Ken Genge to his right. To his left is a long-time parishioner and much-loved benefactor, Mary Steer, now deceased.  

The trip down memory lane also included photos of former Bishop Jane Alexander, as well as some members of her family. As St. Margaret’s choir director in 1996, Alexander played the organ at the first service in the church on December 22, 1996. St. Margaret’s new building was officially dedicated the following year. It was consecrated by then-bishop the Rt. Rev. Victoria Matthews in 2004, the year after the mortgage was paid off. Chesterton, the current rector, came on the scene in 2000 and has steered the church through the intervening years, including building renovations and now, plans for further expansion.  

Before closing the anniversary celebration in prayer, Chesterton played a video greeting from Bishop Steve London, who prayed for St. Margaret’s and congratulated them for their faithful service to God, past, present and future.    

Timeline of events surrounding St. Margaret's Church Building  

• 1980 - Parish of St. Margaret is founded and meets at Providence Renewal Centre
• 1996 - First service in the new building (December 22)  
• 1997 - Building Dedication (September 17)  
• 1998 - Ordination of Jane Alexander as deacon (Nov 30)  
• 1999 - Departure of rector Rev. Ed McNeill; departure of then-Rev. Jane Alexander to Immanuel, Wetaskiwin; Rev. Terry Dunn appointed interim priest-in-charge  
• 2000 - Rev. Tim Chesterton begins as rector (February 1)  
• 2003 - Mortgage paid off!  
• 2004 - Consecration of Church Building by Bishop Victoria Matthews (March 28)