Prince Edward Island Window

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 (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.

The first visit was to Victoria and after securing subscription for the British Columbia Window, Honourable Walter Nichol  said: "Now that you have finished British Columbia, I should advise you to go to Prince Edward Island and if you get the support of the far West and the far East, I am sure the provinces in between will respond."

In winter 1928, Lt.-Col. Fallis left Vancouver for Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. No one even knew he was on his way. Judge Shaw of Vancouver gave him a letter of introduction to his brother-in-law, Captain McLeod, who was the skipper on board the ice-breaker between the mainland and Prince Edward Island. Captain McLeod’s kind hospitality led him to believe that Islanders would understand his mission. He landed in Prince Edward Island on a Saturday, preached to a congregation in the First United Church on Sunday, spoke on Sunday night over the radio, and Monday contacted Lieutenant-Colonel Dan MacKinnon, a friend of war days. Lieutenant-Colonel MacKinnon made sure he saw Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Frank R. Heartz, who called together a group of leading citizens as a general committee.

By Wednesday he was on the boat returning to the mainland with a very happy heart. Prince Edward Islanders were thrilled with a Canadian Memorial Chapel and eager to be the second province to subscribe for their window.

Depicted in the Prince Edward Island Window - “David and his Valiant Soldiers” symbolizes the sacrifice made by Canada’s servicemen. The story referenced here is of David’s elite troop of Three who break through the Philistine lines and obtain the water from the well for their King.

The Kings of both France and England also wanted to claim the “fairest land that may possibly be seen” and sent their explorers and soldiers to obtain it for them. The historical panels show images of great ships sailing forth into the unknown carrying Lord Rollo and Jacques Cartier, who brought new technology, goods and war to the “new world.” Their arrival also brought illness, death and the loss of land and status to the Acadians and Mi'kmaq.

"IS NOT THIS THE BLOOD OF THE MEN WHO WENT IN JEOPARDY OF THEIR LIVES?"

Landing of
JACQUES CARTIER
1534

The Coming
of LORD ROLLO
1758.

Parva sub ingenti

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THE
PROVINCE OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WORLD WAR.