St. Andrew the apostle was a fisherman from Galilee and hence, is the Patron Saint of fishermen. He is also known to be one of the first people to make a bold statement and follow the spiritual path and teachings of Jesus Christ. Aptly named then is the little church by the sea in the historic fishing village of Bryant’s Cove, one of two beloved churches within the Parish of Upper Island Cove. This year, St. Andrew’s Church is a proud 120 years old.
Over the span of the last several months, our parish has been commemorating this special anniversary milestone of the consecration of St. Andrew’s Church. Starting the celebration this past May, was St. Andrew’s Gospel concert. St. Andrew’s was filled to the brim with celebration from the joyful singing of the congregation and music from a wide variety of performers and musical instruments. Youth and adult performers, including clergy from the parish, gave gifts of music ministry. If words could attempt to describe the energy when the full band night capped the evening with a highly energetic rendition of “I’ll Fly Away,” they would perhaps be closest using the words divine spiritual force, as the sense of unity and connection between all under her roof was almost tangible, and most certainly unmistakeable. There is a reason the Parish of Upper Island Cove is known for her music ministry. Furthermore, on November 9th, St. Andrew’s Church hosted a memorial hymn sing with music provided by St. Andrew’s parishioners, The Rev’d Aubrey Young, and members of St. Peter’s Church Choir. On November 23rd, Bishop Sam Rose joined parishioners and special friends of the parish to celebrate St. Andrew’s Patronal Festival, the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, and the 120th Anniversary of St. Andrew’s Church. During this commemoration service, an extraordinary thing took place. Bishop Sam presented The Rev’d Aubrey Young with his licence as the new Rector of the Parish of Upper Island Cove. Sure, one can say Rev’d Aubrey receiving his rector’s licence during the Patronal Feast of St. Andrew’s service is remarkable. What makes this occurrence truly striking however, is that Rev’d Aubrey was presented with his rector’s licence during the Feast of St. Andrew service, in St. Andrew’s Church during her 120th anniversary service, and it is the very church which his great-grandfather, carpenter John Thomas Jones, built in 1904. Churches are named after saints to honour them and provide spiritual guidance to the communities of faith that serve them. Churches, like the people that do God’s work in them and on behalf them, serve the community. St. Andrew’s Church, of the British Colony Newfoundland, served people and held a memorial service in 1914 for relatives who had perished in the S.S. Southern Cross sealing disaster. She served the people of Bryant’s Cove through the Great Depression, brought refuge during the horrors of two world wars and stability both during Confederation and the collapse of the Cod Fishery. St. Andrew’s Church of Bryant’s Cove is still serving 120 years later. Somewhere, behind the first church building in a garden is said to be the location of the first St. Andrew’s Church, built in 1855; the remains of her foundation lay and remain still, a part of the one foundation that is St. Andrew’s Church today. More than one literal foundation, her strong foundation is built on the type of faith that grows strong by serving as the hymn The Church’s One Foundation states, “mid toil and tribulation” of life.
Mentioned briefly are the people who serve the church like the church serves its people. The Parish of Upper Island Cove is blessed by the many people who give generous gifts of their time to faithfully serve the parish and her communities. One such person is C.L.B. member, Captain Don Sharpe of #4547 Upper Island Cove Company. This November, the Parish of Upper Island Cove commemorated Captain Don Sharpe on #4547 on his 50th anniversary of C.L.B. service. Current and former C.L.B. comrades from across the Brigade, and clergy who served as company chaplains, Bishop Sam, and many family members and friends formed a congregation of 180 strong to celebrate during a C.L.B. church service, with fellowship social to follow. In true C.L.B. style, it came complete with a vibrant singing of “Johnny Appleseed” as the Grace before the meal.
One very special guest in attendance was Capt. Sharpe’s mother Mrs. Sharpe, who at 96 years young made a choice 50 years ago to enrol her 11-year-old son in the C.L.B. Like Bishop Sam remarked during his sermon that day, and as Mrs. Sharpe and Capt. Sharpe would agree, saying “yes” to the C.L.B. was one of the best choices that he ever made.
Finally, to wrap a busy November, the Parish of Upper Island Cove: North Shore Wildfire Faith in Action Project came to a close with strong support of monetary donations given graciously from the Parish of Upper Island Cove itself and her two churches, many parishioners, the Upper Island Cove Volunteer Fire Department, The C.L.B., J.A., children of the Sunday School and our friends from Holy Redeemer Anglican Church in Spaniard’s Bay. All money donated was given to one family with two young children who lost their home and all belongings during the North Shore wildfires this past summer. The children of the parish remain a shining inspiration of service by their compassionate actions of loving your neighbour. The money raised by the youth groups went towards the repurchasing of loved and lost items of the children’s they enjoyed doing with their family. The children’s artwork created on their “thinking of you cards” especially came from the heart. The money they gave came from their families, the gifts purchased on behalf of them, but their cards, the children who made them and their efforts remain the heart of this mission work, and embodies the universal one foundation of the church itself: love.
The saints whose names are chosen for churches are carefully selected as reflections of the histories, traditions, a church’s location. Saints and their lives can serve as unique spiritual inspiration, inviting parishioners to embody their teachings and enter divine relationship with them as faithful followers of Jesus Christ and his teachings. St. Andrew and St. Peter are seafaring saints, fishermen and brothers in faith turned “fishers of men.” They were Jesus’ first apostles—the first to follow—bringing people along the journey of transformation through Christ. Together and to conclude, let it be read in prayer that the Parish of Upper Island Cove, through divine inspiration and communion of St. Andrew and St. Peter, continues to stand for and compassionately serve the one foundation that is, the Church in all her forms, within church buildings themselves and within the hearts and minds of all her followers.
