History Still in the Making

Since 1866, beginning with the first service held by Rev. Gibson, St. Paul's in Beaverton was always associated in a multi-point charge with Cannington and West Brock.  Late in the year 1877 with the arrival of the Rev. Mr. H. W. Robinson, St. Paul's came into the orbit of Atherley.  Later with Point Mara, then Brechin.  In the late 1930's, St. Paul's was united with All Saints in Cannington and St. Mary's in Sunderland, otherwise known as the Parish of Brock, a union which held until July 1, 1999, marking the day in modern history in which St. Paul's officially became a parish on it own with its own full-time Rector.  

At a vestry meeting in January 1999, the congregation of St. Paul's moved for a permanent full-time incumbent to better serve the needs of a growing community.  As pointed out in the minutes of the meeting, within the Parish of Brock St. Paul's was the largest and further growth was difficult without a full-time Rector.  Brock represents a large area for a Rector traveling between three communities, and because of this Sunday service times did not always meet the needs for each community.   With a full-time Rector, Sunday service can be scheduled to meet the needs of the community and Sunday School organized to attract the younger generation and stimulate further growth.  Furthermore as the largest of the three, for the first time in its history St. Paul's had grown in a position to be able to support a full-time incumbent.

The Right Reverend Bishop Blackwell approved of the motion passed by vestry and installed the current incumbent of the Parish of Brock, the Rev. D. E. (Ted) McCollum as the full-time Rector of St. Paul's as a separate parish for a three year pilot project.  The Rev. Earl Gerber was given the responsibility for the congregations in Cannington and Sunderland.  

The three-year pilot was to end June 30, 2002 with the concept to be reviewed by the Bishop at some point prior to that date.  Two years since the original vestry motion, at the Diocesan Executive Committee meeting of January 20, 2001, a motion was passed to officially end St. Paul's trial period as a separate church and officially become a single point parish.

In making his mark in the modern history of St. Paul's, Rev. Ted and his family moved from Cannington and took residence in Beaverton closer to faithful parishioners, where he became very active in the community and took on additional responsibilities with other organizations in his efforts to bring new members to the congregation.  Rev. Ted has always made himself available for the people of the community.  

Many thanks to Mrs. Betty Ballard, faithful parishioner of St. Paul's and current President of the Beaverton Thorah Eldon Historical Society, for the historical material without which this page would not have been possible and would have remained "Under Construction".

This page originally created: 23-Nov-2002