St George West Kelowna turns 100

St George Parish in West Kelowna celebrated its 100th Anniversary on April 20th and 21st.

Archbishop Lynne McNaughton Was present along with current and past parishioners.

You can read a reflection By Rev. Jackie Eton below 

Rooted in Who You Are
100th Anniversary Reflection
St. George’s Day, April 23, 2024
(Celebrated on the weekend of April 20/21)
By Rev. Jacqueline Eaton, Incumbent Priest, St. George Anglican Church, West Kelowna

What an occasion upon which to reflect! In a time of so much change in the church as an
institution, change in society, change in the understanding of decolonization and understanding
power and control, it is remarkable to be writing about the centenary anniversary, the one
hundredth anniversary, of the parish of St. George Anglican Church West Kelowna in the
Diocese of Kootenay.

The anniversary date is traced back to the gift from St. George’s Church of England in
Camberwell, England in 1924. The Vicar, the Rev. Leslie Lang, encouraged a gift of $2,500.00
(Can$) from their parish, to the Diocese of Kootenay for the establishment of a new parish
building to mark their thanksgiving to God in celebration of their centenary anniversary. It is
reported that Rev. Lang had, after WWI a few years prior, been to the Kootenay and Okanagan
areas, likely working in the logging industry. Having returned to England and entering the
priesthood, Rev. Lang recalled fondly his time here, and thus the gift was made. St. George’s
Camberwell today, joins St. George West Kelowna in celebration as they now mark their two
hundredth anniversary!

Our beloved parish has a full history seeing a number of priests over the years bringing a
different iteration to parish life each time. All the while, being anchored by steadfast members
who cherished their parish and their community of West Bank. The parish community includes
families who are an integral part of the history of the West Kelowna area, West Bank at the
time. A time long before a bridge was built, when ferries used to shuttle people to and from
Kelowna across Okanagan Lake. The Paynter’s, the Pritchard’s, the Drought’s, the Browne’s, the
Reece’s and the Dobbin’s, among others, are long time families in the area who are part of the
history of St. George as well as the history of West Kelowna. This demonstrates to myself who
comes from outside the area, the strong sense of community at St. George and how deeply its
roots are to the West Kelowna area. Driving along Drought Road and Paynter Road is like
driving along a bit of history. History that lives and breathes today. I love stopping at Paynter’s
farm for an espresso and ice cream, and watching children play in the orchard below.

Celebrating a centenary anniversary brings about reflection on tradition and renewal. Renewal
comes from knowing one’s tradition well and in it being deeply rooted. As we know with the
nurse log in nature, new growth comes from a decaying log. Roots and nutrients give birth to
new growth. Similarly, a Christian faith understands and lives into the wisdom that death brings
life; that a cycle of creating and recreating is eternal. The eternal story of death and

resurrection. The roots of who we are continually bring new life. Knowing your tradition
provides the ability to receive new ideas, to grow and to learn, because a steadfast trust in your
identity is not contingent upon external meaning making and defining. Being rooted in who you
are equips you to evolve, learn and grow. And, knowing your tradition equips you with the
ability to have deep respect for other traditions, because you are firmly rooted in your own.
There is no competition, simply respect.

According to history that has been passed down from parishioners, St. George was the first
church in West Bank, and provided space to other denominations for their worship services.
The welcoming spirit, and ecumenical nature goes back to our roots!

Societal change has surrounded the corner of Brown Road and Highway 97 on which our
beloved diocesan parish building sits. What was once a country parish is now a downtown
urban parish, with highway traffic on one side, retail and community services on another, and
down the road multi-family homes and single-family homes. As one new parishioner described:
we are both a downtown and a neighbourhood church. There we sit like a tree, deeply rooted
in the lands and people around us, while also learning to adapt to the changing culture around
and within us.

We give thanks to God for the gift of community, of God’s grace in our world, and hope to
continue to discern where God calls us, and wills for us, as a community. We hope the parish of
St. George Anglican Church sees its two hundredth anniversary in the years to come!

Thanks be to God. Alleluia!