Lynn Valley United Church

Once I had expressed interest in this project, Minister Odney and the members of the Art Committee provided me with more of the backstory of the Lynn Valley United Church’s history and practice: The church’s goal was to be contemporary and inclusive, commissioning chancel ‘art’ rather than traditional chancel furnishings. Focusing on collaboration and transformation, they wanted to be open to all types of people in aid of their personal journeys. We spoke about how the LVUC is in line with modern Canadian values, understanding that in this day and age, many fine Canadian citizens are not in fact Christian

“In a brand new building, reflecting the light of an open tomb, and rooted in its deep sense of historical connection to the early logging community, Lynn Valley United Church is called to invite people into the same path of Christian spiritual practice and worship for the ongoing transformation of their own lives,” (Odney, Historical/Theological Exploration).

After considering what Minister Odney had told me about the church, my goal was to design and create chancel furnishings that would communicate the church’s history of inclusivity and rich identity through symbolism and form. These pieces had to be modern, flexible, and movable to adapt to different events that take place in the church, as it is in many ways the center point of the community. Being a fourth-generation North Shore resident, I also felt compelled to incorporate the history of Lynn Valley through scale, form, and indigenous material.

I began to visualize the furnishings… Over-sized fir timbers would be used to create these pieces. The Douglas Fir timber elements were to acknowledge the early beginnings of Lynn Valley, where logging camps and timber mills were the main employers. The assembled pieces were designed to be modern, reflecting the Church’s mission to be contemporary and inclusive. These substantial timbers would lift and elevate certain theological expressions within the Christian tradition.

The sculpted, solid pieces were inspired by how the United Church of Canada typically sings their theologies and would be made as if full of breath and pride. These pieces were designed to allow people to connect with the simple forms, finding their own meaning and wisdom in them. They would be less about the assemblage of elements and more directly about calling people to worship and follow the path of transformation in their own lives… I feel they offer inner power and wisdom.

After meeting with the Art Committee, they approved the designs and we began production in earnest. And now, with all of the furnishings installed, the whole space seems transformed. Upon entering the church, you are welcomed by tall ceilings and a symbolic pathway emblazoned on the floor leading toward the center of the church. The warm, honey-coloured wood of the chancel furnishings brings your eye around the room, then up to the golden wood of the ceiling above.

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