Long in the planning stages here at St. Michaels and through the inspiration and organization of Lanny Hubbard, we are excited to announce that St. Michaels is now a part of the global Quiet Garden Movement. 

Overview

The Quiet Garden Movement is a global network of outdoor spaces set aside for reflection, prayer and stillness, open to people of all faiths or none. St. Michael's has the first and only Quiet Garden in Western Canada, and only one of two in all of Canada, with other being in Montreal.

The Quiet Garden Movement was founded in 1992 by Reverend Philip Roderick, inspired by Jesus’s example of withdrawing to quiet natural places for prayer (St Mark 6:31) and his own experiences visiting Christian communities in India and America The movement encourages the creation of gardens and outdoor spaces where individuals can pause, reflect, pray, or simply rest, fostering spiritual, mental, and physical well-being 

Purpose and Values

Quiet Gardens are designed to provide sanctuary and stillness in a busy world. They emphasize:

• Hospitality: Welcoming all visitors regardless of faith or spirituality 
• Contemplative practice: Encouraging prayer, meditation, and attentiveness to nature 
• Connection with nature: Promoting environmental awareness and care for creation 
• Well-being: Supporting mental, spiritual, and physical health through quiet reflection 
  The movement also highlights the "Power of Pausing," helping visitors focus on their senses, relax, and become present in the moment.

We invite and encourage everyone to come and spend time in quiet contemplation on our beautiful grounds, whenever rest and respite are needed. Sit under the comforting, protective dome of ancient towering firs in the outdoor worship area, walk the labyrith in meditation, or just come to enjoy the flowers and birdsong. What a blessing it is to have the peace and stillness of a Quiet Garden available to us -and to our community, during these times when the world seems filled with noise and chaos. Come... rest your soul, heart, mind and body.

We are now live on the Quiet Garden Website:

St. Michael & All Angels Church (Victoria) Quiet Garden - The Quiet Garden Movement 

Highlights from Parish Council

Our parish council meets the third Tuesday of each month for about 2 hours. At our most recent meeting, we heard about plans for reconstituting the search committee for a new rector. The wardens and treasurer will remain on the committee, but will be joined by two or three new members. We are currently refreshing our parish profile, parts of which are either outdated or “old news,” and our advertisement will be posted near the end of May.

We also role-played a “reverse interview,” in which Dean Ansley “played” a prospective rector interviewing the search committee (played by the Council). Here are the questions she asked:

1. I read in your parish profile that you are a eucharistic parish with two services on a Sunday. What would you say that members of the parish find most important about the Sunday service (and this could be anything from the “feel” of the service to its content)? What is the music like?

2. I also see that you have an outdoor worship space and a labyrinth. I’m wondering how you are using these assets, or how you imagine they could be used.

3. I am impressed by the generosity of the parish in assisting other not-for-profits. I wonder what would you say are the greatest needs of the community of Royal Oak, and how is St Michael’s addressing them? What is your understanding of “outreach”?

4. Could you describe to me an issue where the parish had a major disagreement, and how (or if) you managed to resolve it? If you could describe the parish in terms of a “corporate personality,” how would you say this parish deals with conflict?

5. What are the most important things you feel you need to address if you are to have a viable future as a parish? Is it a matter of strengthening strengths (if so, what), or addressing weaknesses (if so, what)?

Properly restoring a church such as ours under necessarily stringent Heritage standards and guidelines, means that it can take time... It can take time to find the right contractor who understands our vision and has the skill, tools and crew to bring it into reality. It takes time to source out the specialty millrights who can mill our wooden clapboard siding to accurate standards of the days when the church was first constructed. It can take time and care to ensure that the steeple is properly lifted out down or that the protect coverings for our hertitage stained glass windows are properly fitted- and much more.

So when you come to the church and see that it seems that progress may be slow remember patience is a virtue, and rest assured that there is plenty going on behind the scenes to ensure that in the end, St. Micheals will stand beuatifully and proudly, a true reflection of its past, and a beacon into the future.

A reminder to all 8:30am and 10:30am service attendees that this Sunday, May 31, we will will have a combined Coffee Fellowship in the Parish Hall at 9:30am.

See you there!

We would like to thank everyone who has already filled out and returned their parishioner data forms. This is so important in keeping our records up to date so that we can serve one another to our best ability.

The data forms are beginning to come in, but there atill quite a few missing.

If you haven't submitted your form yet, it takes less than 5 minutes to fill out. Then simply drop it in the mailbox or through the mailslot in the office door, in the envelope provided. We hope to have everyone updated in our database system very soon, so please do your best to get yours in.

Many thanks to Lanny and Helen for the tremendous amount of work they have done in revamping our old system!

As many will know, St Michael’s was one of five parishes in our diocese whose cemeteries have been prohibited from functioning over the past year and a half or so. Apparently, the government changed the regulation concerning how frequently a licence to operate needed to be renewed – but without sufficient fanfare to have caught everyone’s attention. Our licence to operate therefore lapsed, and we were forbidden either to sell new plots, or to perform burials. We have been working closely with the diocesan cemeteries manager (a position created on account of such issues) and the Consumer Protection Agency towards reinstatement. Just two weeks ago, we received notice that we are “back in business.” Our grateful thanks must go to Lanny Hubbard, who was our liaison with the diocese, and to the many families who patiently – and above all, graciously – awaited the opportunity to commit their loved ones’ remains to their final resting place. – MAT

Diocesan Summer Retreat - Tuesday, August 4 to Thursday, August 6, 2026 - Salt Spring Island

Each week we provide a new link posted here in the newsletter, so please make sure you watch this space for the latest link to attend the service live.

HERE is the link to tune in this SUNDAY

And don't worry- If you missed the service last Sunday, you can still catch the recording (scroll down to the section below: "Sunday Services at St Michael's" and click on: "Watch the Service here.").

Our Sunday 8:30am service is shaped by the 1962 Book of Common Prayer. The lilt and rhythm of old English finds its way into this liturgy, and some beautiful turns of phrase illuminate this service where there is no music. While the service itself is quiet, regular attendees are lively, friendly and very welcoming.

Our Sunday 10:30am service, shaped by the Book of Alternative Services, includes music and more contemporary language and images for understanding God. This service is normally recorded and available for view on Sunday afternoon on the website.

Watch the most recent service HERE

There are several email addresses setup for your convenience contacting the church.  Please refer to the list below and feel free to reach out when you need to.