Seafarers

It was 1835, when the young Anglican priest, Fr.John Ashley, stood on the banks of the Bristol Channel in England gazing out at the many anchored ships. Lighters were plying to and fro the vessels, loading and unloading supplies and cargo. The hundreds of sailors aboard each ship were clearly visible, hauling on lines, carrying heavy loads, climbing in the rigging, patching the sails. And he wondered --- who cared for the spiritual load of these men? who led them in worship? who gave them Communion?

As if exploring a new country, Fr.John Ashley headed out to the vessels, offering to take a Church Service for the sailors. Astonishment quickly turned into eager acceptance --- as Captain after Captain requested him to come aboard, and take Church Services for the men. He was overwhelmed with the needs --- and so when his Bishop offered him a quiet parish in the country, he replied: "I already have my Mission to Seamen".

And so was born a Mission to the seamen of commercial vessels (the British Navy already had chaplains) a Mission that Fr.John Ashley pursued until, broken in health, he had to retire in 1850. But his vision had been contagious. All along the coasts of England, other priests and laity had begun to visit the merchant vessels and to take services aboard, to give counselling and advice, to take Communion, to hear Confessions, to bring Bibles, and other religious material --- to care for and serve the Seafarers of every nation.

In 1855, these Missions were joined together in the "Mission to Seamen", an organization which was carried to every port in the British Empire, and beyond. Today there are 300 Missions --- one in every major port in the world, serving sailors of all nationalities, and all religions. About 80 of these have full time Staff, most are operated Ecumenically. The name has been changed to the "Mission to Seafarers" to reflect that women are now serving as officers on board vessels, and that the Mission cares for all ranks and all genders. All were founded and all are owned by the local diocese of the Anglican Church. Though the Senior Port Chaplain is an Anglican priest, Roman Catholic priests, Protestant ministers, or licenced lay visitors are also Chaplains, working together as a Team. Every day, the Chaplains visit ships to care for the seafarers, and serve the workers of the Port. Volunteers, the lifeblood of the Mission, are needed to staff the Flying Angel Club, and continue this vital work.

The picture above shows the Mission Building in the 1950's when The Rev. John Leighton was the chaplain (1935 - 1954). The building was located at 1121 West Hastings it was dedicated by Bishop Godfrey Gower before a crowd of 400 people and visiting seamen. A record of the dedication with a CBC commentator is stored at the Anglican archives at VST featuring the dedication by Bishop Gower and the ribbon cutting by a Norwegian Motorman Olav Eliassen. Queen Elizabeth sent along a special greeting. Once a proud mansion it fell into a state of disrepair but after several coats of paint and extensive renovations it was transformed into the new home away from home for the seafarers from around the world.

All of this "caring ministry" has been going on in 300 ports around the world for almost 150 years --- but it is virtually unknown by the majority of the priests and people of the Anglican Church. This does not have to be so. Will you help tell others of this, "the Best Kept Secret of the Anglican Church"? Will you volunteer to help?

In 1897, Fr.Clinton, parish priest of St.James' Anglican Church, in downtown Vancouver, founded a "Seamen's Institute" to care for sailors. In 1903, this Institute was joined to the worldwide Mission to Seamen, and was established as a diocesan ministry. Though the location of its building has changed over the years, the ministry has continued unabated. The Mission is now located on the waterfront, in a beautiful and large Heritage House, painted blue, right next to the Centerm docks, at 401 East Waterfront Rd.

The pictures show the waterfront in New Westminster in the early 1900s, it was to this waterfront that Fr. Clinton first carried out his ministry that grew into what we have today. We do not have any pictures of the orginal mission but a stained glass window for the original building is located in the chapel in the present building.

It was a cold and soggy day, as I approached the giant cargo ship, moored to one of the many docks in Vancouver Harbour. Its main deck towered 50 feet above me. The gangplank, suspended over the water between dock and ship, was hanging nearly perpendicular, as I began to climb. I was about half way up, when (like Elijah in the Cave) the Word of the Lord came to me --- and it said: "What in the blazes are you doing here, Ron?"

Now, I'm a retired priest and I should be happily at home, lying back in my easy chair, tending to my tropical fish. But no --- last November the Bishop phoned me and said: "Fr.Ron, I am appointing you as the Senior Port Chaplain at the Mission to Seafarers, on an Interim basis".

So here I am today, visiting Ships in Vancouver Harbour, caring for Seafarers from around the world --- leading a staff of 7, including 3 chaplains --- at 2 Flying Angel Clubs --- a virtual parish of 16 thousand sailors, with a variety of religions, and many languages. How did it all begin?

Back in 1835, a young Anglican priest, (Fr. John Ashley) began to visit ships in England's Bristol Channel. At the request of the Captains, he held services for hundreds of sailors on each ship. It was such a needed Ministry, that he turned down his Bishop's offer of a secure parish, and chose to be a Chaplain to Seamen. In 1850, broken in health, he retired, but his leadership had been contagious. Many other Anglican priests were following his lead in their own home ports.

In 1855, the first Mission to Seamen was organised, and since then, has spread around the world --- there are now 300 Flying Angel Clubs, all established by the Anglican Church, all supported by donations and volunteers, most now working ecumenically. In our own Mission to Seafarers we have a Roman Catholic Chaplain, a Protestant Chaplain, and the Anglican Senior Port Chaplain.

The first "Seamen's Institute” in Vancouver was founded in 1897 by Fr.Clinton of St.James' Church --- St.James' Church has been a great influence ever since. In 1903, the "Seamen's Institute" became part of the worldwide Mission to Seamen. It is now known as the Mission to Seafarers, because it includes all genders and all ranks. The Mission is located in a large heritage house (painted blue) on Waterfront Rd, and in a satellite Flying Angel Club at Roberts Bank, in Deltaport.

The Flying Angel Club (that's the Seafarers name for the Mission to Seafarers) is to "care for Seafarers from all around the world". We are not there to convert people, or to preach to them. We are there to love each sailor with the love of Christ. St.Francis said: "Preach the Gospel always --- if necessary, use words". So like St.Francis, we preach the Gospel with our prayers, our unconditional acceptance, our work for justice, our caring, and our love. Everyone is welcome --- and over 16,000 Seafarers from 2800 vessels came last year.

Let me tell you a story: Recently, Seafarers, from an Iranian vessel loading wheat to take back to Iran, visited the Mission. It was a Sunday evening, and we had talked with them both on the ship and at the Mission. Fr.John, the Roman Catholic Chaplain, announced at 8pm that he was about to say Mass, and anyone who wished was welcome. Since I was sitting with some of the Iranian Seafarers at the time, I told them I was going to go to Mass, and they were certainly welcome. Six of the Iranians followed me into the Chapel. When I stood they stood, when I knelt they knelt, when I said Amen they said Amen. But when Fr.John invited all RCs to come forward to receive the Blessed Sacrament, nobody moved. He repeated his invitation, still nobody moved. So he invited them for a Blessing, and they came up for that. A few minutes later, Mass was over, and the six Seafarers left. I walked up to the Altar and said: "Father, you might like to know that you had 6 Muslims at Mass tonight". I tell this story to show how we, without any pressure, quietly witness to Christ to all. Who knows what seeds were planted that evening? Who knows what doors to mutual understanding were opened? But note, no pressure, no preaching, no attempt to convert. We simply care for and serve the Seafarers, with the love of God, based on love and respect for them.

Did you know that Vancouver is the 2nd largest port in North America! Sailors come here from all countries of the world. Several weeks ago, I was visiting a Korean Ship, flying a Panamanian Flag, chartered to a Greek Company, with a Greek Captain, Romanian and Bulgarian officers, Filipino and Chinese crew, taking Canadian wheat to Japan. It's quite a United Nations!

We care for everyone, without question. The 5 Chaplains visit almost every ship that enters the Harbour. Each evening, our Mission Van brings Seafarers to the Flying Angel Club. In the morning, Volunteers man the Front Desk; in the evening, Volunteers run the store; Volunteers set up telephone calls; Volunteers care for and love the Seafarers with the love of Christ. We desperately need more Volunteers --- single or couples, old or young. Please come and help us! We need you!

Yet, with all this work for Christ, very few Anglicans know of the work of the Mission to Seafarers. The Mission has been caring for and serving Seafarers for over 100 years in Vancouver --- but it is still the Best Kept Secret in the Anglican Church. It is the largest Outreach Ministry in our Diocese, yet is virtually unknown --- we need your support, we need your Donations, we need your Prayers.

Please come and visit us. Learn how we at the "Flying Angel Club" are your hands and hearts reaching out to Seafarers far from home. If you can, Volunteer to work with us; if you can, make a Donation to support us. In whatever way, join with us in becoming the Heart of Christ loving “those who go down to the sea in ships”.

In 1864 the ‘50 North Dunlevy’, now ‘401 E.Waterfront Rd.’ of today was very near the water’s edge of Burrard Inlet. North-East across the inlet was Moodyville with its adjacent sawmill. To the West, towards the promontory partially guarding the inlet, were the Three Greenhorns with their small clay and coal claim, whilst on the East was a small summer resort called New Brighton, used by New Westminster people.

On November 30, 1865 the English-promoted British Columbia and Vancouver Island Spar Lumber and Sawmill Company received a land grant of 243 acres for about $250 on which they were to build a sawmill. The mill started producing in 1867; however in 1870 it was bought by a San Francisco firm for $20,000 and renamed the Hastings Saw Mill Co, after Rear Admiral Hon. G. F. Hastings, Commander of the Royal Navy base at Esquimalt.

In 1925 when the Vancouver Harbour Commissioners purchased the remaining land — 40 acres with 250 feet of water frontage, for $2,450,000 — the entire area was known as the Hastings Mill. The land west of the mill was surveyed as the town site of Granville in 1870, popularly known as Gastown, the nucleus of the future city of Vancouver.

In 1873 the first public school was opened on Hastings Mill property and the Granville Post Office opened in the Hastings Mill Store. In June 1886 fire swept Vancouver, incorporated in April that year, and although the Mill was saved, many of the houses and outbuildings surrounding the plant were lost. In 1889 the mill was sold and when the new owners merged with the Royal City Planning Mills Co. The new firm was called B. C. Mills Timber and Trading Co. Ltd.

In 1900 this company decided to produce semi-prefabricated houses, schools and churches which they shipped as far as Winnipeg. As samples they built two offices, the first on Carrall Street for the office of their False Creek plant, and in 1906 the office building which is now the Flying Angel Seafarer’s Club. These two buildings were ‘showplaces’, each individual office was paneled out in a different type of B.C. wood — fir, hemlock, red cedar, balsam, etc. — unfortunately all painted over in the nineteen twenties. After the purchase of the mill in 1925, the Vancouver Harbour Commissioners in announcing the move into their new quarters in 1930, stated in their monthly report, “The site on which the offices are located is one of historical value, for around it was built the City of Vancouver.”

When originally constructed, there was a rather grand port-cochere on the North side of the building which was undoubtedly put there for the use of the senior officials of the company. This was eventually removed, having deteriorated rather badly, to make way for the laying of a small park. The construction of this park was motivated by several considerations not the least of which was the belief that such an addition would not only provide a green space on the waterfront but would also be an additional deterrent to those who might want to raze the whole structure at a future date. •