We are a member of the Anglican Diocese of British Columbia, those Anglican churches found on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and Kingcome Inlet on the Sunshine Coast.
In 2015, we adopted a Vision as a diocese: Renewed Hearts, Renewed Spirits, Renewed People. Since then, we have embarked on a vision fullfillment journey to discern how God will guide us towards seeing our vision come to life in our parishes, communities and regions.
Learn more about our Diocesan Vision
As a diocese, we are also part of the Anglican Church of Canada and the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Anglican Church of Canada is also in a ‘full communion’ partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.
The Diocese of British Columbia is a regional expression of the Anglican Church of Canada, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and one part of the whole body of Christ. Established in 1892, the Diocese of British Columbia originally covered the entire Canadian province of British Columbia. Over time as the population of the province grew, new dioceses were formed. The Diocese of British Columbia is now one of five dioceses of the Ecclesiastical Province of BC & Yukon, and includes Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands of the Salish Sea (Strait of Georgia), and Kingcome Inlet.
Diversity & Unity
We are a thinking church; we value reason and thought, and we value diversity as part of our unity. With our roots in the British Isles, our current expression has been uniquely shaped by a long history in a Canadian context. We are progressive church, open to the leading of the Spirit in this time and place. We are committed to healing and reconciliation with the First Peoples of Canada. We seek the full inclusion of all people, are committed to serving the poor and working for economic equality for all people on these islands and inlets. We acknowledge that we are on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish, Nuu-'chah'nulth and Kwakwaka'wakw and we thank them for their hospitality.
Faith in Action
Over 4000 members strong, the Anglican church on these islands and inlets is actively engaged in service to our communities in the areas of healthcare, food justice, affordable housing, seniors' support service, prison ministry, military chaplaincy, environmental stewardship and activism, LGBTQ2 services, childcare, art and music, education, refugee sponsorship and newcomer support, poverty reduction and reconciliation. Learn more about the collective ways we are a part of what God is up to in the world by visiting the Faith in Action section of our website.
Our Bishop
On May 1, 2020, the Right Reverend Dr Logan McMenamie retired as the bishop of the Diocese of British Columbia after six years' service as our diocesan bishop.
On January 30, 2021, Anna Greenwood-Lee of Calgary AB was consecrated and installed as the 14th bishop of the Anglican Diocese of British Columbia (also known as the diocese of Islands and Inlets). Greenwood-Lee was elected on the seventh ballot at a unique virtual sitting of the diocese of British Columbia's synod in September 2020. Greenwood-Lee becomes the first woman bishop in the diocese.
As bishop of the diocese of Islands and Inlets she intends, on behalf of the church, to continue to speak out about and get involved in issues that impact the most vulnerable, and will call on church members to do the same. "For all sorts of reasons, many people these days say that they ‘don’t believe in organized religion'. The flip-side of that, however, is that no one is looking for disorganized religion. The reality is that we are living at a juncture in history when the church needs to organize itself to bring more love, more justice, more compassion and more understanding to our communities," asserts Greenwood-Lee.