St. Michael and All Angels' Church

St. Michael and All Angels' Church is valued as indication of the community spirit and generosity of early pioneers. Land for the church was donated by John Stevens, proprietor of the Halfway House. Local resident Louis Duval cleared the ground, hauled in the lumber and cut all the roof shingles by hand. Donations and grants were solicited, some from as far away as England, and the church was built following the plans provided by Henry Mitchell (active in Victoria 1862-1888). This community spirit and enthusiasm has continued over the years and provided such items as stained-glass windows, embroideries, and the bell, which was brought from China and for which the bell tower was built in 1913.

St. Michael and All Angels' is valued as a fine example of the Gothic Revival style, with windows that were rare on churches of this era. The church was enlarged in 1953 by architect Studley Patrick Birley (1904-1962), with sympathetic design to the original. Its architecture is modest but refined, reflecting the sensibilities of appropriate ecumenical expression, based on the church designs promoted through pattern books and a romantic picturesque ideal of rural life.

As a centre for social gatherings and events, the Church played an important role in the lives of members of this agricultural parish and it is valued for this fostering of community spirit. From the beginning, social events such as musical entertainments, garden fetes, and strawberry festivals were held, not only for the enjoyment of parishioners but also to raise money for causes such as church building and feeding the needy.

The cemetery at this site makes a valuable contribution to the history of Saanich by providing a tangible reminder, in the memorial inscriptions, of the pioneers who are buried there. The rural setting and landscaping are important as they provide an outdoor sanctuary for reflection and remembrance within the cemetery.