150 year old church celebrates with a new steeple in Victoria

The steeple was being installed at the Church of Our Lord on April 11, 2025." data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.

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jpg?fit=780%2C439&ssl=1" />The Church of Our Lord in downtown Victoria is celebrating its 150 year anniversary by installing a refurbished bell and steeple that had been missing for over two years.Although not the tallest building in Victoria by far, the history of the church on the corner of Blanshard Street and Humboldt Street has towered over the city since it first opened.“It’s 150 years old this year, it wasn’t the first church in Victoria, but it was one of the first ones and we think its the oldest existing one,” said Rob Szo, Church of Our Lord rector.

Szo says that despite so much development in the area around the church, it’s been able to maintain its gothic-revival esthetic.“The wood was completely rotten and it was unsafe and so it was taken off site. It was in much worst shape than we realized and it’s been completely rebuilt so it probably looks even better than when it first went up,” added Szo.

The refurbishing project cost the parish $230,000 and 75 per cent of it was paid by the Victoria Civic Heritage Trust. The rest was funded by church members.Parishioners like Bryan Wilson have always loved the look and feel of the historic church, it’s why many of them donated.

“We value this building highly and we are spending more money to recondition and renovate the outside to just preserve its heritage nature to let it survive another 150 years,” said Wilson.The final installation phase is now under way, just in time for the bell to ring once again this Easter Sunday.RELATED: ‘I really don’t think I would have made it without them’: Sanctuary Youth Centre celebrates 20 yearsThe post 150 year old church celebrates with a new steeple in Victoria appeared first on CHEK.

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