People are invited to share their memories of a Chilliwack church that has been standing for 70 years, before it is demolished.
The Spadina Avenue site of Cheam View United Church (formerly called Chilliwack United Church) will have its final service on Feb. 11, and one member is saying it’ll be “quite poignant.”
“It’ll be like a celebration of life,” said Debora Soutar.
Although there is no set demolition date, the decades-old church is coming down and in its place will be a six-storey, low-income housing building.
READ MORE: Rezoning approved for affordable housing project in Chilliwack
But before that happens, members want folks to submit their memories (by email, or on paper) so they can be included in the Feb. 11 service.
Soutar has been with Chilliwack United Church for 30 years.
When asked what she will miss most about the building, she answered: “I’m not going to miss too much because it’s the people that made me feel so welcome when my kids were little. We found a community here right away.”
Her memories include learning how to make little sandwiches and singing in the choir.
Now with decades of sermons, marriages, baptisms and more that have taken place, church members are hoping there will be a lot of reflections.
In addition, there are countless items inside the building that they must sell.
“We’re actively looking for homes for everything,” Soutar said.
Items available include: pews, leaded glass windows, stacking office chairs, wooden chairs, kids’ chairs, tables, furniture, projection screens, communion sets, kitchen appliances and dishes (including hundreds of plates and pounds of cutlery), coffee machines, fans, music stands, sound equipment, filing cabinets, office supplies, paper, a piano, choir gowns, a giant wreath and more.
One of the most significant items for sale is a huge stained-glass window. It’s approximately eight feet by 14 feet, is made up of more than 2,000 pieces of glass, and was installed in 1956. Made in Swansea, Wales, it depicts the Sermon on the Mount.
Everything they’re selling is by donation, including the stained-glass piece.
The church has a long history in Chilliwack.
The site was originally home to a new Chilliwack Methodist Church which was built in 1908. The Methodist Church entered into the United Church in 1925. In 1953, to accommodate a growing church community, construction began on a new and bigger church.
Then called Chilliwack United Church, it opened its doors in 1954.
More than 65 years later, in 2020, Cheam View United Church was born when Chilliwack United amalgamated with Mt. Shannon United and Rosedale United.
READ MORE: Worshipping together: Three United churches in Chilliwack amalgamate
Following the amalgamation, the Rosedale site was sold in May, 2023 (the church is being preserved) and as a result, they were able to renovate and upgrade their Mt. Shannon location on Quarry Road.
As far as the church at Spadina Avenue and Yale Road, Cheam View partnered with Mamele’awt Qweesome/To’o Housing Society to build a six-storey “mixed use” facility, featuring affordable housing for seniors and low-income residents.
The announcement came in 2021 to build the 64-unit, low-income housing, and now that renovations on the Quarry Road site are complete, the time has come for Cheam View United Church to pack up and move to their new home.
One of the biggest reasons for uniting was to do more outreach work as a team. Soutar said the church members didn’t have the answers for homelessness, but “affordable housing seemed like preventing homelessness.”
They also recently donated $10,000 to help feed hungry families in the Chilliwack School District.
READ MORE: Chilliwack church donates $10,000 to help feed kids
“Part of the amalgamation process is a fresh start,” Soutar said, which is why they’re selling nearly everything and not many items will be moved from the Spadina site to the Quarry site.
They will have their first service at the newly-renovated Quarry site – now officially called Cheam View United Church – on Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. The address is 46875 Yale Rd.
Everyone is welcome to attend the final service at the former Chilliwack United Church location at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 45835 Spadina Ave. to say goodbye to the iconic building. People can view the inside of the church and/or look at the items they’re selling at the next three Sunday services.
Those interested in seeing what’s for sale can either drop in around 11 a.m. after Sunday service on Jan. 28, Feb. 4, or Feb. 11, or stop by during office hours (Tuesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.), or contact Debra Soutar at 604-798-0824 or soutar.debora49@gmail.com to set up a meeting time.
Items must be purchased before the church’s moving date of Feb. 13.
People can submit their memories beforehand by writing them down and dropping them into a box in the lobby of the church. They can also email them to cheamviewuc@gmail.com. The deadline to submit memories of the church is Feb. 4.
“Yes, it’s a sad occasion, but it’s part of a big plan and it’s inevitable. We’re trying to do the best with it that we could, and try to still have a positive presence in the community,” she said. “There’s always the hope that the new situation will kindle some interest to come and check us out and see what we’re about.”
