-  David Van Blarcom

- photos by Robyn Worcester 

Like the boughs of great trees, the dark wood arches of our cathedral form a forest canopy above, and the crucifer leads a procession toward the altar along the forest path we call an aisle.

A different way of looking at our nave, to see it as a forest instead of as the upturned boat imagined in our sea-going heritage of navigators.  But, an image more common in landlocked European countries, and an image that springs immediately to mind to those who wander through the rain forests of British Columbia. 

The outdoors people who christened “Cathedral Grove” on the road to Tofino knew a cathedral to be a holy place that, by its grandeur, inspires a feeling of nearness to God.  And so, as they wandered the trail among the towering Douglas Firs and Red Cedars of the British Columbia coast, they felt the same nearness to God, and named it for a cathedral.                               

There is a “Cathedral Trail” in Stanley Park, inspired by the grandeur of its old growth trees.  The trail invited people in to experience reverence and to learn, much as the “trail” of this cathedral does. That trail was badly damaged in the recent windstorm.   While old growth trees cannot soon be replaced, I hope the efforts to restore the damaged park can again provide a place where passers-by feel close to God, like this place.  I see that Cathedral Trail as part of this cathedral’s trail:  The crucifer leads our splendidly robed procession from the narthex to the altar, the path soft under foot, the grace-filled arches whispering overhead.  

spider's web

Bench in Stanley Park                               Sapsucker

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See Robyn's  Stanley Park slide show

or more storm damage