July of 1891.... It must have been a beautiful summer day when a Methodist Minister, the Rev. Elihu Manuel and a companion rowed from Gibson's Landing to Squamish.  His journey took him along the west shore of Howe Sound, north of Anvil Island to the head of the Sound, and then up the Squamish River to near its present confluence with the Manquam River.  In the area now known as the North Yards, he and his companion visited the home of an early settler, presumably that of the Rae family, where the held what is believed to have been the first divine service in this region.

Upon his departure, the settlers were once more left to worship in their own unassisted way until 1894.  On May 6th in that year, Miss Annie Edwards (later to become Mrs. Harry Judd) started the first Sunday School and Bible Class in the community's first schoolhouse, close to the duplex just north of the Wagon Wheel Trailer Court.  During 1894 and 1895 a number of Methodist ministers and students periodically found their way to Squamish to assist and encourage the worshippers.  Each Sunday, Miss Edwards would appoint one of the settlers to lead the service on the following Sunday.  At these meetings, hymns were sung, prayers offered and a portion of the Scriptures was read and discussed. Attendance was good, ranging from twenty-five to forty. The services continued on an interdenominational basis until 1904, when a lay reader of the Anglican Church Mr. William Mashiter and his wife went to England, and the organist (Miss Judd) moved to Vancouver.

But changes were taking place. In 1907, the Howe Sound and Northern Railway decided to construct a railway from the head of Howe Sound, passing through the Cheakamus Canyon to Pemberton, with the hope of continuing onwards into the interior.  However, progress was slow.  In 1913, the Pacific Great Eastern took over the original company, and backed by the provincial government, continued the project.  The centre of the valley had moved southward to what is now downtown Squamish.  And as the population grew, Bishop Dart recommended that the Anglicans in the community appoint their own minister.  The Rev. Allan Greene began to hold regular services every second week; the first communion service in the Valley was held on July 7th, 1912, with seven taking part.  The Rev. Pentcroth officiated.  The Rev. Greene soon recommended building oa church and raising funds for this purpose. He left in the fall, and was succeeded by the Rev. Baxter, who carried the project to a successful conclusion. Thus, the Anglican Church on Sixth Street was officially opened on July 20, 1913.  This left those who were not Anglicans without a church home, but not for long.

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