We have an Historical committee. They have great fun developing events and memorabilia to educate and interest parishioners and the public about our "Church on the Move"
Do we have a history? You bet we do!
St. John the Divine Anglican Church has been in its present location since 1882. It was in 1859 that St. John's was originally built on the south side of the Fraser River, in a town called Derby near Fort Langley. Derby was being considered at that time to possibly become the capital city of British Columbia. The church was first constructed in Derby by the Royal Egineers military. However, with the coming of the CP railway on the north side of the river, the population of the Maple Ridge area increased and the town of Derby decined into obscurity.
In 1882 permission was requested and obtained from the Bishop to transfer the church to the north side of the river. It was decided to dismantle the church building and float it across the river to the MapleRidge side. Floating across on a raft of its own timbers, it was then hauled up the river banks by oxen and reassembled on the corner of River Road and Laity Street. The first service at the new location was held on December 20th 1882.
101 years later (1983) the foudation was found to be crumbling, so the church was moved once again, but this time it was reconstructed a short distance back on the property to its present location. The operation was again conducted by the Royal Engineers. There have been several additions to the structure over time but it is still the oldest surviving church in the Diocese of New Westminster and as far as we know the oldest wooden church in the mainland of British Columbia.
 St. John's in 1859
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