The Story of Canadian Memorial Church
 Canadian Memorial Church is unique, not just for its pure Gothic style, not
just for the extraordinary manner in which funds were raised throughout Canada
for its construction, but also for its portrayal of Canadian unity and its
Christian symbolism. This Church in no way glorifies war but is, above
all, a peace memorial.
 While serving as a padre in the Canadian Expeditionary Force
during World War I (1914-1918), Rev. (Lt-Col) G.O. Fallis, C.B.E., E.D., D.D.,
conceived the idea of erecting a Chapel and Community Centre as a Memorial to
the gallant Canadians who made the supreme sacrifice. He arrived in
Vancouver in May 1920, to serve a congregation already imbued with the same idea
and plans were quickly laid. Two competitions were held and all plans were
sent to Prof. C.H.C. Wright, Head of the Department of Architecture at the
University of Toronto for judging. The first project, the Memorial Hall,
was completed in February 1923. For five years the gymnasium was
transformed into a sanctuary for Sunday services.
The second project, the Memorial Chapel, was planned by the
firm of Twizell & Twizell, Sir George Foster, K.C., M.G., the President of
the League of Nations Society in Canada, turned the first sod on July 1,
1927. The Hon. Walter C. Nichol, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia,
laid the corner stone on September 17, 1927 and the address was given by
Major-General W.W. Foster, C.M., D.S.O.
The Chapel was dedicated November 9, 1928, following which the
first communion was conducted by Rev. W.G. Wilson, M.A., D.D., President of the
BC Conference of the United Church of Canada. Regular services commenced
on November 11th, 1928, exactly ten years to the day after the Armistice in
1918.
Specifications for the Chapel involved ten stained glass
windows; one for each province and the Yukon Territory, as well as the Chancel
window and an All-Canada window. The Stained
Glass page shows examples of these windows and a fuller description.
The striking part of the story is the unique manner in which
funds were raised to underwrite the cost of these windows. The goal was to
involve Canadians from coast to coast with the ideal of making this a truly
national church.
The organ is a Casavant pipe organ
donated by Americans in memory of the more than 1,500 Americans
killed serving in the Canadian Armed Forces. The organ cost
$30,000 (which adjusted for inflation, is more than $330,000 today),
and the builders were the pre-emanate organ builders from
Quebec. The organ has been restored and maintained and still
delivers excellent music.
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