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ST. PHILIP'S ANGLICAN CHURCH
St. Philip’s Church has been an integral part of the Dunbar community since 1925. This year, the church celebrates its centenary, a significant milestone marked not only by gratitude for the past, but also by renewed energy and vision under the leadership of its new rector, Rev. Anne Privett.
One hundred years ago, Dunbar was still a developing corner of Vancouver. Streetcar tracks had just reached this outlying area, Lord Byng Secondary and Lord Kitchener Elementary had opened their doors, and the business district between West 25th and West 30th Avenues was beginning to grow.
Amidst this growth, the seeds of St. Philip’s were planted. The church began with a Sunday school program, followed by worship services held in a Lord Kitchener annex. By 1929, parishioners had constructed the Church Hall, a multifunctional space designed for both worship and community gatherings. Over the decades, the hall became a vibrant hub, hosting worship services, youth groups, concerts, dances, Scouts and tennis matches, and during the 1940s and 1950s, it was home to the largest Sunday school in Canada.
For many, St. Philip’s is more than a church; it’s a place where lifelong memories have been made.
Diana Bragg, a devoted parishioner, recalls arriving at St. Philip’s as a four-year-old in 1943. “We walked up the steep wooden stairs and entered a hall bursting with over 1,000 children,” she recalls. “I’d never seen that many kids in one place!” That day marked the beginning of her lifelong connection to the church.
Diana’s memories bring to life the vibrant energy of those years, from Maypole dances led by the rector’s wife to packed Easter services. Parishioners dressed in their finest new coats, straw hats and white gloves would line up almost to Dunbar Street waiting to go into one of two packed services. “We could smell the Easter lilies even outside the church!” she says.
Her recollections span decades, from her teenage years setting pins in the church’s stilloperational bowling alley to joining the choir, where she has now sung for 45 years.
In 2018, Nadine Gomm was a relatively new singer in a small choir at Dunbar Community Centre. “When scheduling problems came up, our little choir began renting space at St. Philip's. Unfortunately, the old upright piano in the Fireside Room had a wobbly leg and couldn’t be shifted around; this allowed us to move into the sanctuary, which was so beautiful in design and acoustics!”
“Over the seasons, there were lots of laughs, shared tears, and the odd, less joyful episode, but that’s what life and community are all about,” Nadine says. “I'm grateful to have shared in a small fraction of St. Philip’s century of love, service, and stories.”
The Rectory was built in 1938, followed by the Church Sanctuary in 1941, and the Fireside Room was added in 1948 to support returning servicemen and women, as well as their growing post-war families.
This calling to serve the community continues today, with St. Philip’s providing a home to a wide range of non-profit groups—from AA to Aikido, preschools to pickleball, Guides and Scouts to the Seniors Café, as well as the Kiwanis Music Festival and music of all kinds.
Since 2008, St. Philip’s has partnered with neighbouring Anglican churches in the Westside Anglicans Neighbourhood Ministry, providing essentials and support to people experiencing homelessness. Other outreach initiatives include cooking and serving meals for residents at Dunbar Apartments. Volunteer Suzi Noetzel notes, “We often have our youth participate, which provides them with a way to give back to the community and helps teach them the importance of volunteering.”
Parishioners also generously fund grocery gift cards for families. Joanne Vondette leads this effort. She says, “The Outreach Committee actively supports food security programs for families in four Vancouver elementary schools. The expressions of gratitude and relief from school principals reinforce our will to continue this ministry year after year.”
This fall, the church will launch a four-part educational series titled “To Everything There Is a Season,” designed to help community members navigate the final stages of life, from end-of-life planning to spiritual reflection. “There’s a real hunger for thoughtful, compassionate discussion about these transitions,” says Daphne Francis, a former nurse who leads the church’s Pastoral Care team.
St. Philip’s invites the community to welcome Rev. Anne Privett.
As St. Philip’s marks its 100th year, it also welcomes a new leader: Rev. Anne Privett, who was officially appointed rector by the archbishop on July 1, 2025. Her induction service is set for Wednesday, September 10, at 7:00 p.m., and the entire community is invited.
Rev. Privett arrived at St. Philip’s in December 2024 and undertook a discernment process with the parish before her appointment. She brings a diverse background, having served parishes in Toronto, Nanaimo, Gabriola Island, Victoria, and Kelowna. Before joining St. Philip’s, she spent a decade at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Kelowna, where she helped cultivate a ministry centred around urban farming.
With a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Alberta and a Master of Divinity from the University of Toronto, Rev. Privett also brings rich pastoral and theological experience, including time spent on placement in Kingfisher Lake First Nation. She is deeply interested in the intersection of faith, community, and sustainable agriculture.
“My role as priest and leader is to help the congregation listen to their deep desires and to the needs of our neighbours. When well discerned, our truest desires reflect God’s desire for us. The truest needs of our neighbours reflect God’s call to us. A vision for St. Philip’s will be discerned at the intersection of these two things and will require listening, prayer, creativity and risk,” explains Rev. Privett.
She and her husband, Nick, live nearby with their cat, Evie. This fall, St. Philip’s will also become a training site for theological students, a move that reflects her commitment to lifelong learning and equipping future leaders.
The centennial year has already featured a wide array of events, from a Beatles sing-along that drew over 170 enthusiastic singers to a Centennial Speaker Series featuring esteemed guests Elizabeth May and Dr. John Helliwell. Historian John Atkin led a neighbourhood walk from St. Philip’s exploring Dunbar’s rapid growth in the 1920s, and Lord Byng’s own centennial concert took place inside the very church that grew up alongside the school.
Ongoing celebrations include the Centennial Courtyard Project, led by Derek Simpkins. The initiative is transforming St. Philip’s courtyard into a landscaped public space featuring many native plants and trees, with fixed benches and movable tables and chairs for outdoor activities. A new glass enclosed-lift, reconstructed entry stairs and an improved ramp will provide safer access to the church buildings.
Looking ahead, a Centennial Evensong with Archbishop John Stephens will take place on Sunday, October 5, at 4:00 p.m., followed by a joyous community-wide reception for everyone with ties to St Philip’s. You are invited to bring your photos and stories to share!
Through a century of history, change, and renewal, St. Philip’s has remained steadfast in its mission: to be a place of worship, welcome, and witness. As the Dunbar neighbourhood continues to evolve, so too does the church, ever grounded in faith and ready to embrace the next 100 years.
St. Philip’s Anglican Church
3737 W 27th Avenue Vancouver, BC V6S 1R2 Phone 604-224-3238
Article by Sarah Gordon (August 2025) @PallaMedia
