British Columbia

St. John's Shaughnessy Memorial Church was designed by Major G. L. Thornton Sharp and built in 1949 to stand as a memorial honouring all Vancouver’s sons and daughters who answer the call to serve their country. Funds for the project were raised from all over the Lower Mainland, some coming from outside the Anglican community, but nevertheless bonded by a common desire to build a living memorial. The cornerstone was laid by J.E. McMullen K.C., on May 29, 1949, and it was dedicated on June 18, 1950. 

Founder's Portrait is located in the East Transept of Canadian Memorial Chapel, between the Ontario and Quebec windows. The portrait of the Reverend Lieutenant-Colonel (Lt.-Col.) G.O. Fallis, CBE, ED, BD, DD, the founder of Canadian Memorial Church. The portrait by Kenneth Forbes, R.C.A., was unveiled by Lt.-Col. Fallis' daughter, Mary M. Fallis, on November 16, 1942. Captain Howard Green, MP, gave the address and a congregational reception was held afterwards.

Canadian Memorial Chapel was born in the hearts of private soldiers who, guided by a sergeant, formed a working party to bury six of Canada's war dead. On a November night of 1915, in the Ypres Salient, France, one of the soldiers said to Reverend Lieutenant-Colonel Fallis, "Padre, after the war is over some chaplain should build a memorial in Canada in memory of fellows like these who have given their all." From that moment on, he would never lay away their beloved dead without the idea of a memorial chapel in his mind.

Canadian Memorial Chapel was dedicated on November 9, 1928. Regular services began on November 11, 1928, exactly ten years after the 1918 Armistice. As the first hymn was being sung the chief usher handed Lt.-Col. Fallis a cable. It was a message of congratulations from His Majesty King George V.

In the first week of the Second World War, Major-General R.O. Alexander, Command Officer in MD 2, Toronto, called Lt.-Col. Fallis to his office. "Fallis," he said, "you are the Senior Reserve Chaplain in this district. Get yourself a uniform and report for voluntary duty until Ottawa appoints. Already the help of the chaplains is needed." Thus began his second period of active military duty as a Chaplain and five more years of mutual devotion with men of The King's Forces.

The Transfigured Soldier was erected in Canadian Memorial United Church by the widows, wives and mothers of Great Britain’s Heroes’ Association and was dedicated by Mrs. J.C. Kemp. It depicts a soldier dying on the battlefield with Jesus ministering to him. 

The Sailor and The Airman were both erected in Canadian Memorial United Church by Mr. William Poulton and their inscriptions are to be read together. For many years, Mr. Poulton and his wife had taken a great interest in Canadian Memorial Chapel. 

A tribute to the many young Canadians who lost their lives on the high seas while serving in Canada’s navy, The Sailor depicts an ordinary seaman with sincerity, strength and courage standing out in his strong face.

The Airman honours the hundreds of young Canadians who gave their lives in flimsy aircraft with the Royal Flying Corps or Royal Naval Air Service  and, when the two joined, the Royal Air Force. It was reproduced from a painting by Sir William Orpen, R.A., and depicts the extreme youthfulness of those who served in the Royal Air Force in the First World War. It was unveiled by Mrs. N. B. Gale, sister of the late Mrs. Wm. Poulton and dedicated by Reverend Arthur Bischlager, Naval Chaplain, Esquimalt.

The Nurse was erected in Canadian Memorial United Church by Nursing Sisters of the First World War and dedicated by Captain the Reverend E.D. McLaren, MA, DD. The spiritual expression on the face of the nurse typifies sacrificial service. This window was held in special regard by the congregation because for years the surviving members of the Nursing Sisters attended their Remembrance Day service.

The Soldier was erected in Canadian Memorial United Church by the Amputation Association of Canada on behalf of their membership, who continue to be a living testament to the sacrifices that occur in war. It was dedicated by Brigadier-General Harold McDonald, CMG, DSO. 

In the west transept of Canadian Memorial United Church is a plaque honouring the men of this church who fell in the Second World War. It was donated, along with a picture of the grave of the Unknown Soldier, by Mrs. Louis Bennett.

Canadian Memorial Chapel was born in the hearts of private soldiers in the First World War who, guided by a sergeant, formed a working party to bury six of Canada's war dead. On a November night of 1915, in the Ypres Salient, France, one of the soldiers said to Reverend Lieutenant-Colonel (Lt.-Col.) George Fallis, CBE, ED, DD: "Padre, after the war is over some chaplain should build a memorial in Canada in memory of fellows like these who have given their all." From that moment on, he would never lay away their beloved dead without the idea of a memorial chapel in his mind.

The organ was being constructed by Casavant Freres of St. Hyacinthe, Quebec and was not intended to be a special memorial. Lt.-Col. Fallis was invited to address several Rotary Clubs in Oregon, where Senator R.A. Booth was district governor. At the senator’s home, Lt.-Col. Fallis told his family the story of Canadian Memorial Chapel, which was to be dedicated on Remembrance Day, 1928.

The next morning at breakfast, Senator Booth said that he and his wife were amazed to hear that some fifteen hundred Americans were killed while serving with the Canadian army. He suggested, in the interest of international good will, that he should start a movement to have the organ erected in memory of those citizens of the United States of America who had crossed the border, joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force and had given their lives. He went on to say that if this appealed to the Trustees of Canadian Memorial Chapel, he would start the fund by subscribing five thousand dollars. The organ was costing thirty thousand. Senator Booth worked faithfully towards funds for the organ, as did many of his friends in Portland, Seattle, Eugene, Tacoma, and other Pacific Coast cities.

The Reverend Captain R. J. Edmison of South Orange, New Jersey, gained loyal support from interested citizens of the United States on the Atlantic Coast. He had been a beloved Padre overseas and was minister of First Presbyterian Church.

Each Sunday morning a dear old member of Lt.-Col. Fallis’ church, Mrs. William Alcorn, would pause at the church door to say she was praying daily to God that he would be given the physical strength to carry on his heavy task. One Sunday she handed him a letter in which she wrote that while she was saying her daily prayer for him, God revealed to her that Lt.-Col. Fallis was to write John D. Rockefeller Jr. and ask him for a subscription toward the Memorial Organ. He accepted the letter as a notion of a very old lady. Sunday after Sunday, she would ask if he had written Mr. Rockefeller. One day she handed him a second letter and it was a rebuke at his lack of faith. She said every time she prayed for him, God would reveal to her that he should write. To please the dear lady, Lt.-Col. Fallis wrote, never dreaming that he would get a reply in which Mr. Rockefeller sent twenty-five hundred dollars.

The Memorial Organ was dedicated on November 18, 1928, by Senator Booth. It was followed by an organ recital by Mrs. Montgomery Lynch of the Music Faculty of the University of Washington in Seattle. Her program was from composers of nine nations, symbolizing the international character of this organ.

In April 1960, the organ was reconstructed and rededicated in memory of those who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars. In 1971, it was rebuilt and rededicated in memory of all members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives in the service of their country.

Canadian Memorial Chapel was born in the hearts of private soldiers in the First World War who, guided by a sergeant, formed a working party to bury six of Canada's war dead. On a November night of 1915, in the Ypres Salient, France, one of the soldiers said to Reverend Lieutenant-Colonel (Lt.-Col.) George Fallis, CBE, ED, DD: "Padre, after the war is over some chaplain should build a memorial in Canada in memory of fellows like these who have given their all." From that moment on, he would never lay away their beloved dead without the idea of a memorial chapel in his mind.

On his return to Canada he was advised by Reverend S.D. Chown, DD, General Superintendent of the Methodist Church, to go to Vancouver and choose a site in Shaughnessy Heights facing the eternal hills to erect the chapel of his dreams. He arrived in Vancouver in May 1920, to a willing congregation and plans were quickly laid. 

Lt.-Col. Fallis' friend Chris Spencer, CBE, advised him that in order for there to be national significance to the chapel, he should go across Canada and interview lieutenant governors, premiers, statesmen and leaders of each province, asking them to underwrite the windows. Yukon Territory was last.

He did not travel to Yukon, but in January of 1929 wrote Major George Black, Member of Parliament, whose machine-gunners were a brave formation from the Sourdough country made famous by the Gold Rush and poems of Robert Service. During the First World War, Black recruited a regiment from the Yukon, became the company's captain ;and was wounded at the Battle of Amiens. A letter was sent to Major Black outlining the ideas to be incorporated in Canadian Memorial Chapel and asking for advice as to how to raise the money for the Yukon Window. Within forty-eight hours a telegram read, "Order the window. Yukoners will underwrite it."

The Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire in Yukon set itself the task of raising funds in the territory, while George Black contacted friends in various communities that he thought would commit themselves to collecting contributions.

The dedication of the window on 23 July 1929 was one of the most colourful as Sourdoughs came from San Francisco, Portland and Seattle to join with British Columbia's ex-Yukoners in seeing Sheriff Charles MacDonald, a typical son of the North, unveil the window and to hear the well-loved Reverend (Captain) George Pringle, BA, DD, of Yukon fame, give the dedication sermon. George had served Yukon parishioners for a decade and later served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the war. His son, George Pringle, Jr., was also a minister, but joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and was killed in action during the Second World War. George's nephew, John Percival Pringle, was killed in the First World War.

It was a reunion never to be forgotten, for Sourdoughs met that Sunday evening who had not been together since the stirring days of the gold rush. Mrs. George Smith (nee Beatrice Lome), the Klondike Nightingale, sang Knapp's "Open the Gates of the Temple."

Depicted in Yukon Window - “A Symbol of Comradeship.” The Biblical scene shows Jonathan and David making a covenant. David has just killed Goliath with a mere slingshot. Jonathan was so taken by David that we are told his soul was “knit” with David’s. He gives David all his weapons and armour, demonstrating his love. David and Saul, Jonathan’s father, have a falling out. Two years later Jonathan dies in battle. Both David and Saul come together in grief. The historic images depict the Chilkoot Pass of Gold Rush fame in 1898, and the Royal Mail-Dog Train and cariole.

Canadian Memorial Chapel was born in the hearts of private soldiers in the First World War who, guided by a sergeant, formed a working party to bury six of Canada's war dead. On a November night of 1915, in the Ypres Salient, France, one of the soldiers said to Reverend Lieutenant-Colonel (Lt.-Col.) George Fallis, CBE, ED DD: "Padre, after the war is over some chaplain should build a memorial in Canada in memory of fellows like these who have given their all." From that moment on, he would never lay away their beloved dead without the idea of a memorial chapel in his mind.

On his return to Canada he was advised by Reverend S.D. Chown, DD, General Superintendent of the Methodist Church, to go to Vancouver and choose a site in Shaughnessy Heights facing the eternal hills to erect the chapel of his dreams. He arrived in Vancouver in May 1920, to a willing congregation and plans were quickly laid.

Lt.-Col. Fallis' friend Chris Spencer, CBE, advised him that in order for there to be national significance to the chapel, he should go across Canada and interview lieutenant governors, premiers, statesmen and leaders of each province, asking them to underwrite the windows. Alberta was the ninth province he visited.

In Edmonton, Lt.-Col. Fallis met with Judge William Legh Walsh whose son was a lieutenant in his old battalion of 1915. Judge Walsh sent Lt.-Col. Fallis to the Premier, Mr. Brownlee, with his blessing. When the Premier heard of the great success across Canada he smiled and said: "Well, it certainly is up to Alberta to do her part." He drew up a list of those that he thought should be interviewed, and commended Dr. Edgar Allin. He was the first subscriber to the Alberta window after the Premier. After being told one hundred dollars would be his share, he said, "Oh no, I should give at least two hundred."

Dr. Allin telephoned one of the leading merchants of Edmonton, W.T. Henry, and told him to meet with Lt.-Col. Fallis. Mr. Henry asked Lt.-Col. Fallis to be brief, but as the concept of Canadian Memorial Chapel unfolded, his interest grew, and Lt.-Col. Fallis asked him to subscribe at least one hundred dollars to the Alberta window. He opened his desk and wrote a cheque for two hundred. With a twinkle in his eye he said, "You're the only man who ever pried two hundred dollars out of me and made me feel actually good."

Mr. Brownlee advised that Patrick Burns, the elder business man of Alberta, would be a better choice to provide names to be interviewed in Calgary. Patrick was a devout Roman Catholic and had just recently been given an outstanding honour by the Pope. Lt.-Col. Fallis conferred with the Honourable R.B. Bennett who said that Patrick had long since outgrown parochial-mindedness and that he counted some of his greatest friends among Protestants. Patrick was impressed with the Canadian Memorial Chapel and said if Lt.-Col. Fallis would return the next day he would give him a list of those whom he thought should be asked to underwrite Calgary's share of the Alberta window. The following day Patrick said he had thought a great deal about the whole matter and felt that the names he should give would be those of men who had made the greatest contribution in the development of Calgary and Southern Alberta. "I have drawn up a list," he said with a quiet smile, "but alas they are all dead, so I have written a cheque for seven hundred dollars, which will be one hundred dollars for each of them."

Patrick was a broad-minded man for the list was headed by two Methodist ministers, the McDougalls, who had been pioneer missionaries. The third name was a Roman Catholic priest, Reverend Father Lacombe, after whom Lacombe, Alberta, was named. Another was Major-General P.B. Strange who was commander of the Northwest Mounted Police in Southern Alberta.

Lt.-Col. Fallis’ last visit was to Lethbridge where he was greeted by another friend of the war, Brigadier-General J.S. Stewart. He had made arrangements for Lt.-Col. Fallis to speak to the Canadian Club. Brigadier-General Stewart and Senator W.A. Buchanan quickly made sure that Lethbridge did their part.

Depicted in Alberta Window - “The Vision of Democracy” portrays the prophet Micah inspiring his followers to turn swords into ploughshares, designed to symbolize a warless world. This vision appealed to many Canadians after the death of nearly one in eight soldiers during WW I. The historical events depicted are the Great March of the Northwest Mounted Police in 1874 and the arrival of Sir George Simpson at a Hudson’s Bay fort.