ST. GEORGE'S ANGLICAN CHURCH
St. George's Anglican Church is the oldest church in North Kamloops. Anglican worship in this area began around 1900 and early services were held in the BC Fruitlands office and the local community hall.
On March 5, 1927 a meeting was chaired by the Reverend Canon Henry Akehust, and held at the home of Mr. & Mrs. C. Venables. This meeting resulted in great local support for the founding of an Anglican church to serve this area, and the subsequent purchase of land at Royal Avenue and Knox Street. The church was built in April, 1927 at a cost of $656.75. By May it was in use and officially dedicated on October 18, 1927.
In 1930, a lych gate arch from St. Peter's Church in Goose Lake, Knutsford was donated by Mr. Haverfield when that church closed. St. George's is the only church in Kamloops with a traditional British lych gate on site. The vicarage was built beside the church in 1938 and first occupied by Canon J. Phelps, his wife and family. This cottage, now named 'Shekinah' that translates as 'glory of divine presence' is now a place for parish meetings, offices and outreach.
After World War II approximately 1,700 Japanese Canadians came to North Kamloops and for many years services were held for them at St. George's in Japanese. In 1966, the church was raised up and a basement added to create a larger parish hall for Sunday School classes and parish activities. The most notable feature of St. George's is its beautiful stained glass windows. This house of worship has been a beacon of strength and hope in North Kamloops since its inception.
Source: Kamloops Heritage Commission